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Two pilots filed lawsuits for sexual harassment by the billionaire behind the sparkling water of LaCroix, claiming that Nick A. Caporella, 82, had touched them repeatedly while they were flying with him. in the cockpit of his business jet. 19659002] Allegations by former employees, both men, were made in lawsuits filed over the past two years in Florida and appointing both the CEO and
National drink
Corp.
as defendants. Mr. Caporella is the President, Chief Executive Officer and majority shareholder of National Beverage, whose market value is $ 5 billion, thanks to the increased sales of LaCroix.
Caporella, a rare CEO who also piloted the business jet, and the company denied the allegations in court documents. The lawsuits claim that unwanted touching occurred on more than 30 trips from 2014 to 2016.
Glenn Waldman, a lawyer for Mr. Caporella and National Beverage, described the allegations as lies and "slanders". to conduct an investigation and determined that the allegations were unfounded. He said the plaintiffs were targeting the CEO because he is wealthy and that he is over 80 years old.
Waldman said that he spoke with other pilots who flew with Mr. Caporella and they said that they had never seen such behavior. "I've talked to all the old drivers going back several decades," Waldman said. In the court records, Mr. Caporella and National Beverage denied any inappropriate contact, writing in separate responses to both trials that "any contact would be the equivalent of a harmless tap on the back or Handshake after a completed flight. In court documents, the company says the two pilots have left their position due to poor performance.
A complaint filed in December 2016 in the Federal District Court South Florida was settled in January 2018 according to court records. The terms have not been disclosed. The other suit, which was partly dismissed by a federal court invoking jurisdiction, was filed in December 2017 at Circuit Court in Broward County and is pending.
The two pilots were hired in recent years to fly as an assistant commander alongside Caporella, whom the company's court documents described as an accomplished pilot. The men were paid by Broad River Aviation Inc., the company that operates the jet used for domestic beverage business trips, according to federal and corporate lawsuits and records. The state records of North Carolina list Mr. Caporella as president of Broad River.
Both pilots complained to airline and National Beverage executives of alleged inappropriate contact with Mr. Caporella, but the behavior continued, according to the lawsuits.
The pilot's lawyer, Lee Schillinger, said that Mr. Caporella pays his crew a generous salary. One of his clients had previously worked three jobs to make the salary that Mr. Caporella offered, according to court documents. "He reaches out and catches his co-pilot," said Schillinger. "He's trying to prove that he's in control."
Mr. Schillinger confirmed that one case has been settled.
million. Waldman said the regulation was "de minimis" and covered "modest wage demands". He said he reported the findings of his investigation to National Beverage management and did not know if the council had voted on the settlement. "It would be unimportant from the point of view of the board of directors," he said.
A National Beverage spokesperson referred questions to Mr. Waldman. Mr. Caporella is chairman of the five-person board of National Beverage.
The business jet, a twin-engine Falcon 2000EX, flew regularly during the period in question from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to destinations like Portsmouth, NH, Oakland, California and Los Cabos, Mexico. , according to federal flight records. The trip corresponds to the dates of the alleged trips in both trials.
A lawsuit was filed by pilot Terence Huenefeld and his wife. Huenefeld, who spent about five months working for Caporella, accused the CEO of landing 18 flights between March and July 2016, according to court documents.
The lawsuit alleged that Mr. Caporella had committed "unjustified, unjustified, and unmotivated repeated actions, rubbing and groping Terry's leg in a sexual manner, reaching Terry's sexual organs."
Huenefeld withdrew all of its allegations against Mr. Caporella under the settlement, according to a document dated February 2, provided by Mr. Waldman. Mr. Huenefeld could not be reached for comment
. Waldman said his second trial investigation is underway and that the depositions are scheduled for later this month.
The second pilot, Vincent Citrullo, alleged in his trial similar behavior for more than a year alongside Mr. Caporella. The prosecution alleges that on 14 flights from March 2014 to July 2015, Mr. Caporella had unwanted contact, including seizing Mr. Citrullo under his armpit, under his thigh and moving his right hand to Mr. M's left leg. Citrullo to his genitals.
Reached by phone on Tuesday, Mr. Citrullo said that he stands by his allegations "100% .It was really inappropriate."
National Beverage was a distant competitor for large corporations. drinks up to the recent success of LaCroix, a flavored seltzer brand that has been a hit with consumers who are turning away from soft drinks and sugary sodas. National Beverage acquired it in 1996 and has successfully relaunched it with neon colored packaging, targeting Perrier consumers with a cheaper alternative.
Caporella, who runs National Beverage since 1985, holds 73.5% of the beverage manufacturer's shares, according to the company's statement in 2017.
According to a structure in place for decades, Mr. Caporella and Dr. Other leaders Do not lead National Beverage employees, even if they hold high-level positions. They work for a management company, Corporate Management Advisors Inc., owned by Mr. Caporella. The management company also owns 20% of the aircraft that National Beverage uses, according to SEC filings.
In June, National Beverage changed its corporate charter to give Mr. Caporella more control over his business, allowing the removal of directors. and eliminating the need to gain the support of minority shareholders for a merger or acquisition.
Write to Jennifer Maloney at [email protected] and Mark Maremont at [email protected]
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