In a dramatic legal showdown that underscores the perils of business partnerships gone awry, Eric Francis has filed a lawsuit against his former business partner, Robert Burns, accusing him of fraud and other serious misconduct. The complaint was lodged in Harris County, Texas on April 11, 2025. Francis alleges that Burns misappropriated funds from their jointly-founded whiskey distillery, Chapel Dome.
The roots of this legal battle trace back to March 2021 when Eric Francis and Robert Burns co-founded Chapel Dome Distillery, LLC with aspirations to break into the burgeoning craft spirits market. According to the lawsuit, Francis purchased barrels of whiskey and loaned them to the company under a formal Loan Agreement which stipulated that these barrels could not be moved or sold without his express written consent. However, as alleged by Francis, Burns violated this agreement by selling the barrels without authorization and pocketing the proceeds for personal use.
Francis claims that he discovered the unauthorized sales only in August 2023 when he sought an update from Burns regarding the status of the barrels as the Loan Period was concluding. In response, Burns admitted to having sold them long ago without Francis's knowledge or consent. This revelation prompted Francis to accuse Burns of fraud, asserting that Burns had deliberately concealed these sales through partial disclosures intended to maintain trust while secretly benefiting himself financially.
The plaintiff is seeking substantial relief from the court. He demands compensatory damages exceeding $250,000 for his financial losses due to what he terms as "Defendant’s misconduct." Additionally, he seeks exemplary damages citing fraud and tortious interference with an existing contract. Furthermore, Francis requests reimbursement for attorney fees and court costs along with pre-judgment and post-judgment interest.
Representing Eric Francis in this legal matter are attorneys David M. Minces and Marie McLaughlin from Minces Rankin PLLC. The case is being presided over by Judge Joshua Hall in Harris County's judicial district court under Case ID 2025-25848.