Ex-Verve boss Bill Weinstein sues agency in effort to reverse his ‘surprise ouster’

Bill Weinstein attends the Walt Disney Co. Emmy Awards party at Otium on Jan. 15 in Los Angeles. Bill Weinstein, who founded Verve alongside Adam Levine and Bryan Besser in 2010, filed the complaint Thursday in Los Angeles. The 14-page complaint alleges that Levine and Besser “conspired with one another to oust Weinstein from the Los Angeles-based company. without any notice, reason, cause, or an opportunity to cure,” referring to Weinstein’s exit as a “surprise ouster.” “With Weinstein now conveniently out of their way, Levine and Besser are looking to sell Verve without Weinstein’s participation or cutting him in on the sales proceeds, giving further clarity to the nefarious motives behind the timing and abruptness of Levine and Besser’s ouster of Weinstein,” the lawsuit reads. “This misguided coup attempt by Levine and Besser violated multiple provisions of the Operating Agreement, including the required dispute resolution procedures, which Mr. Weinstein seeks to enforce through this action for injunctive relief.” Levine and Besser’s attorney, Julie Gerchik, has denied the allegations and insisted there is “no plan to sell Verve.” “This is clearly an attempt by Mr. Weinstein to cover up the conduct that led to his termination for cause,” Gerchik said Thursday in a statement.