Companies often utilize contractors to help complete jobs and fill gaps in their workforce. While this creates a mutually beneficial relationship, some individuals will abuse it. This was the case for an investment company that discovered one of its contractors was creating phony invoices totaling $4 million.
Forest Investment Associates filed a lawsuit against a couple the company alleges defrauded them by creating phony invoices. The couple worked at Kingwood Forestry Services, which was frequently retained by Forest Investments. The wife worked as an administrator and her husband worked as a contractor. The couple would submit invoices for work that was never performed, which would in turn be paid by Forest Investments and its clients. Because the wife worked in administration, she kept an eye on all of the false invoices and made sure the amounts were not too suspicious so as to raise eyebrows. The scheme, which began in 2011, totaled $4 million worth of false invoices. Forest Investments has filed a lawsuit against the company for breach of fiduciary duty.
Protecting Your Business
No business exists in a vacuum. Businesses rely on other companies and individuals to operate. These relationships need to be carefully and thoroughly defined by contracts to help prevent disputes. When a dispute or outright fraud does arise, business owners have the right to seek compensation for economic damages. While many types of fraud bring about criminal charges, the criminal prosecution will not provide any financial compensation for wrongdoing to the victims.
Businesses that are victims of fraud can seek compensation directly related to the fraud and can pursue damages for harm done to their reputation. Because these matters can be extremely complicated, it’s important that only experienced business fraud attorneys handle them.
Texas Business Fraud Attorneys
At Feldman & Feldman, our Texas business fraud attorneys fight aggressively for our clients. We understand how business fraud can impact your company, so we work to get your legal issues resolved quickly. To learn more about your legal options, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one our lawyers.