US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums NORTHEAST LACROSSE BOTC MAIN FORUM (LI, CT, WC) fl$ Lawsuit

Apparently Bob Jahelka, former co-owner of fl$ was owed 1 million dollars for his buyout in increments of 100k over the course of one year but after 4 months, the payments stopped and the owners of fl$ never answered any phone calls and emails for months so Bob is now suing them from 5 million dollars for breach of contract and is claiming that they are going bankrupt.

Did anyone else receive a copy of the lawsuit to their homes or emails?

no

Just did a search and did not find a filing "For the Love of the Game Lacrosse lawsuit filing". if someone finds, please post the link.

The money went to pay for the Huntington storefront

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF NASSAU
--------------------------------------------------------------------X
PIONEER INITIATIVES, INC., independently, and
PIONEER INITIATIVES, INC., derivatively on behalf
of all creditors ofFLG Lacrosse, Inc.,
Plaintiffs,
- against -
fl$ LACROSSE, INC. a/k/a FOR THE LOVE OF
THE GAME and GREG MICHAEL WINK.OFF,
individually,
Defendants.
--------------------------------------------------------------------X
SUMMONS
TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:
Index No.
Plaintiff Designate Nassau
County as the place of trial.
The basis of venue is the
Residence of Plaintiff Pioneer
Initiatives, Inc.
YOU ARE SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of
your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of
Appearance, on the plaintiff's attorneys within twenty (20) days after the service of this
Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after service is complete if
this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of
your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief
demanded in the Complaint.
Dated: May 8, 2018
W antagh, New York
To: Michael Winkoff, President
fl$ Lacrosse, Inc.
345 Main Street, Unit #8
Huntington, NY 11743
Michael Winkoff, Individually
47 Crescent Beach Drive
Huntington, NY 11743

VERIFIED COMPLAINT
PIONEER INITIATIVES, INC., independently, and Pioneer Initiatives, Inc., derivatively
on behalf of all creditors of fl$ Lacrosse, Inc. (the "Plaintiff') by and through its undersigned
counsel, LaMonica Herbst & Maniscalco, LLP, as and for its verified complaint (the
"Complaint") against defendants fl$ LACROSSE, INC. a/k/a FOR THE LOVE OF THE
GAME ("fl$ Lacrosse") and GREG MICHAEL WINKOFF, individually ("Winkoff')
( collectively, fl$ Lacrosse and Winkoff shall be referred to as "Defendants"), alleges as
follows:
Preliminary Statement
I. Plaintiffs bring these claims independently and derivatively on behalf of all
creditors of defendant fl$ Lacrosse for, among other things, breach of contract, fraudulent
inducement and breach of fiduciary duty. As more fully set forth herein, there can be no doubt
that the individual defendant Greg Michael Winkoff has engaged, and continues to engage, in a
fraud on the Plaintiffs and the creditors of the defendant fl$ Lacrosse. Through his manipulation, misrepresentation and fraudulent inducement, he caused a buyout of the defendant
fl$ Lacrosse and has been using the cash flow and revenue of the company for his own
personal purposes and diverting it to third parties for his benefit. In doing so, he has purposely
defaulted on a Consulting Agreement only four (4) months after execution despite having the
financial ability to pay it, and has threatened to place the company into bankruptcy or simply
shut it down. Not only does this jeopardize the continued viability of the defendant fl$
Lacrosse, but also the hundreds of players who participate in its programs and the various
contracts for tournaments over the next several years. His actions and behavior are inconsistent
with sound logical principles and reasonable business judgment. At the very least, he should be
removed from his position and this Court should consider the immediate appointment of a
receiver who will act in the best interest of the company, the players, and all of its creditors. But
for judicial intervention, the individual defendant Greg Michael Winkoff is likely to continue
diverting corporate assets for his personal benefit and that of his family to the detriment of
defendant fl$ Lacrosse and its creditors.
THE PARTIES
2. Plaintiff Pioneer Initiatives, Inc. is a New York corporation with a principal place
of business at 1400 Old Country Road, Westbury, New York 11590.
3. Defendant fl$ Lacrosse is a New York corporation with a principal place of
business at 345 Main Street, Unit #8, Huntington, New York 11743.
4. Defendant Greg Michael Winkoff is an individual citizen of the United States
with a personal residence at 4 7 Crescent Beach Drive, Huntington, New York 117 43.

And his daughter's wedding!!

"wow ok thanks "

For the Love or For the Money?

Messy...

Great I just signed up for try outs, there goes 81 dollars out the window.

FLM, For the Love of the Money!

FL$ has done a lot of messed up things over the years. Doubt many on LI are sheddding too many tears over this. Mike (a/k/a Greg):
Maybe those Manhasst daddies you used to be so buddy buddy with can help out......

New to the game what messed up things have they done in the past?

who would be dumb enough to pay $1 million for fl$? and who would be dumb enough to think they were going to get it?

who would be dumb enough to pay $1million for fl$? and who would be dumb enough to think they would get paid?

like what, having kids honor their commitment to the team for the 6 week period they ask of that and not leave their other club teammates in the lurch? F Chaminade and their pompous attitude. Is that what you were referring to by messed up? IT seems to me the current issue is a disagreement between two former partners. Both seemed like decent people from my experience, hope they work it out.

Never understood why they had a storefront. That has to be high rent being on the main strip in Huntington village. Were (or are) they ever a significant player in the lax world? Honest question... I never heard much about them... always the bigger players like 91, Express, Igloo, etc. I see a helmet here and there. Do they have solid teams in the older age groups?.

a few years back they had a team that won the "national championship" in FL...since then, not much. the 20's are good. they have a lot of very average teams at younger ages, but solid program just not all in in term of year round dedication from the players and equal playing time across the board. works for some, we wanted more lax.

Was at a tourney in PA this summer. Their 2025 team played my son's team. Very Solid B team and could be A if they added one or two players on Attack. Goalie was a monster.

Better think twice about signing on with them. They will take the money from the team to pay for their legal defense. Be careful.

What are the things they have done? Having 5 teams per age group, using players from AS team play with lesser teams (and take playing time away from that teams players) so they can get a desired tournament result? Ok

That's ridiculous, who has 5 teams per age group! and they only have one team per age group. Maybe they had more in the past, i'm not sure. Also, if you didn't notice everyone brings kids from the A team down, from time to time, not nice but common.

It was a million pesos not a million dollars

Oops, guess I need to work my sarcasm. You are correct they only have one team per age group I was referring to one of the other programs out there that really has screwed people in the past. Although they were on the more expensive side they usually did try to do the right thing. I wonder if J thinks that now the issue has gone public and scared many away from the program that he will have an easier time getting what he feels he is owed.

Ah! I see. Sarcasm gets lost on this site. We have been with fl$ for 3 years and have be been very happy with them!

Sorry was being sarcastic they only had 1 team per group unlike some other programs

Been with them for two years, they run a great program. Training all year round with great coaches.

They have had multiple teams at certain ages - they had 2 tams for 2021 for at least 1 or 2 seasons, and that was a horror show!

Didn't you guys know. Winkoff is one of the most influential people in the Lacrosse world as to US Magazine. Ever since that article he portrays himself as the almighty GOD of Long Island Lacrosse. He's says that he has started Lacrosse in urban communites on LI. Truth be told, he's never there or around them. Just when there is a camera.

His latest and greatest is he used the Long Island Lacrosse Showcase to line his own pocket. Then has the nerve to have his FL$ coaches coach teams and use that as an opportunity to poach players for FL$. You cannot trust that man or anyone associated with that program.

Wow you bring the tar and I'll bring the feathers and we can meet up in Huntington. Face it all Directors/Coaches do shady things to either line their pockets or bring kids into their program. Currently there is no regulatory body in place to monitor their activities. As parents we need to pick the one with the least warts.

Why has the organization not put out a statement to it’s players

You can't poach a player if they don't want to go to the organization

The two founders of the Corporation are having a disagreement on a buy out of ownership. Why do you think the customers deserve an explanation? What don't you know that a statement is going to tell you?

You sound like you have an axe to grind. Pretty much every team poaches and they aren’t bad compared to the other big programs on the island.

Who’s coaching 24 east 2026 and where are they located out of ?

go on website.all coaches listed. one of the Reh's. based on north shore Mt.Sinia-Rocky Point.They have a lot to offer with great coaches.

LOL. the guy listing all these "bad things" fl$ does/has done is comical and its clear he has an axe to grind and is grabbing at straws. He sounds desperate. Yawn. Been with other programs boys and girls-they run a nice program. Not perfect mind you, but none of the others are either.

So Outlaws are better? Legacy, True Blue? You guys make me laugh.

How did tryouts go, turnout, are kids staying with them

no one is leaving

They put their deposit down before they even knew about the lawsuit, of course no one is leaving!!!

The lawsuit should have no impact on the program. These sorts of business disputes happen all the time. They will settle.
We returned to the program, aware of the lawsuit, as we were very happy with the training, coaches and overall player development. They cost less (a bit) than the Igloos/91s/Expresses and are conveniently located for western Suffolk folks.
Tryouts were well attended with a bunch of players from other programs there.. Looking forward to a solid team this year.

law suit is irrelevant to the players...

Give me a break. With all lawsuits there is definitely risk to the consumer. If they cant settle or agree business' go out of business all the time as a result and that is a risk to the players. Now I completely agree its business as ussual for now with good coaches and good training but there was also a good manager at my local toys r us and guess what he got screwed when corporate decided to go out of business.

Parents have no clue. Believe me it happens every day, corporation goes bankrupt, then dissolves. Everyone who is owed money is "SOL."

What appears on this website is a copy of the summons. Has it been served? No index #, maybe it wasn't served as of this time. Could be a tactic to speed up a settlement, and remain out of court, who knows. Anyway, don't pay the full boat up front, string the payments along just in case it turns bad.

So how does that usually work out for the creditors trying to get all of their money. You think this ex partner want's an insolvent business that will make his deal to collect almost impossible. Come on people think sometimes. He did this to make sure a court enforces the agreement so each party has a vested interest in making sure things continue.

Many of the parents on our team knew nothing about the lawsuit

How can they not inform the parents what is going on

because they don't care

It is really none of their business, and will have little to no impact on the teams. This is a business, and businesses get sued all of the time. I have nothing to do with this organization, but know kids who play there, and they are staying because of the coaches that they play for, and the friends that they have been playing with.

Exactly why was he involved in the Long Island Showcase?? What does he have to do with the Nassau Coaches Association? And with those points, why is he allowed the access to players to poach them? Anyone who doesn't think he is preying upon kids for HIS/FL$ benefit is lying to themselves. Hook the naive, impressionable kid with BS promises of grandeur, and then convincing the parent is that much easier!

how could it be none of there business, if the team folds then what, Winkoff did threaten to bankrupt the organization

The suit alleges that fl$ is financially unstable due to the owner's actions. If true (and that's a big if) then there is a real risk of insolvency.

According to the plaintiff contained within his summons to appear. Like I said, as of now it doesn't appear as if the summons was even filed with the court.

Then why is BOTC reporting this

Index Number: 0606192/2018

https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/FCASCaseInfo?parm=CaseInfo&index=9N8Po9FEoonXdbi9p64xKA%3D%3D&county=224B5REwS8zyBUpAECb5yw%3D%3D&motion=M&docs=&adate=06/29/2018&civilCaseId=dxBi6sqOF8IYqwTynylsdw%3D%3D

Mike, I mean mic drop.

I guess it was filed

Motion withdrawn.. nothing to see here.
My son is going back because the training and player development there is great.
One more round of tryouts for the 2027/2026/2024 teams on Thursday.

It was filed. I don't think I would get involved with them, since there are many other clubs to choose from. Unless you are ready to accept a similar statement from Mr. GW "I'm so sorry, the judge didn't understand, I was forced to do what I had to do."

I don't think you understand how to read a court docket.

Pioneer was using the same firm that drafted the consulting agreement that is now in question. fl$ sought to disqualify Pioneer's counsel. Pioneer voluntarily switched counsel so fl$'s motion was withdrawn.

Next docket action should be around September 7th when we get to see fl$'s next response in this case.

No they don't understand. Further, the income generated by fl$ will be used to defend themselves and those who are not aware of the cost of litigation, shame on you. Maybe fl$ will be brought out by DLT and DLT will settle the matter pinnies on the dollar.

Exactly.
The case is still on track and proceeding.
Just a motion to disqualify counsel was withdrawn because it was moot, since the party changed counsel voluntarily.

From reading the documents, this consulting agreement is basically a 10 year payout to Pioneer which I suspect was an attempt to avoid some taxes from the sale. The only way out of these monthly payments is to go belly up. There seems to be a fair amount of bad blood between the two parties and I wouldn't put it past them to go nuclear.

Everyone is just making things up. Has anyone had an actual issue.? Then stop the BS. This is a very successful business, that has been around for years. No one is going away. These people will work out their personal business issues between partners, and it will be business as usual on the field.

Status quo.

There is a difference between Joe "everyday" and Joe "business man." Joe everyday will allow his emotions to get in the way when making business decisions, whereas Joe business man in most cases allow his intellect be the driving force when making a business decisions. I bet if FL$ opened up their books, the organization will show it's self in the red, especially considering what going on at the present time. It's only business!

In the red, their tuition is $4000 per player.

No sense in explaining, some just/will not get it...

This suit should be pretty eyeopening. When they did the deal, fl$ was valued at around $3.5MM. As part of this legal action, I expect there will be various exhibits that provide insight into fl$'s current financials.

Ignoring the action itself, it will be interesting to examine a program's cash flow.

Income tax filing. I bet their expenses are higher than their intake. Many ways to funnel expenses back to themselves through the family. Don't forget their teams mostly attend their in house tournaments. Believe me, the majority of the people giving privates lessons are making out very well, avoid paying taxes on the money (cash) they earn. Therefore, it's a crime if you knowingly avoid paying Uncle Sam.

Your dealing with accountants so they certainly know how to make the numbers work in their favor. I wouldn't pay your tuition in full.

It is amazing people keep making things up. There is no cash in this business. Bankrupt does not mean put of business. Neither would ever happen. Tour dealing in rumors and speculation.

What are you talking about.

As of the end of last weeks court results, G.M.W/FL$ has 30 days to catch up to missed payments or the company will have to file for Chapter 11 as of October 2018.

Fold, then start up a new company

thats what Rebels did, and they're still the same family.

Yup, clean slate.

That's not what the Rebels did, what happens to the teams if they file chapter 11.

Dissolve "fl$" corp. and start a new one, example FLM

How much are they behind in missed payments.

------------------


hahaahhaaa

It doesn't say that anywhere in the filed documents for this case. Just supposition in the initial claim that fl$ is threatening to go bankrupt to avoid the payments.

I also heard that they had 30 days to pay a balance of approx. 150k in back payments so will be interesting to see what fl$ does in the next 26 days or so

Any new news about this lawsuit?

Per latest filing....

fl$ was to pay Pioneer $8,333.33 every month for a period of 10 years ($1MM total)

They started paying June 1, 2017 and made subsequent payments in July, august and September. They defaulted in October 2017 and have not made a payment since September 2017. You can do the math.

Per the latest letter from Pioneer's attorneys:
...Mr. Jahelka and Pioneer seek to file a motion for summary judgement dismissing the counterclaims and third-party claims and also for affirmative summary judgement based upon the straightforward payment defaults under the Consulting agreement. In addition, Mr. Jahelka has serious concerns that Mr. Winkoff is using the revenues of fl$ (namely monies that are due to Mr. Jahelka and Pioneer under the Consulting Agreement) for personal and family uses and likely for the funding of this litigation. In addition, based upon the 2017 fl$ tax returns provided to Mr. Jahelka, fl$ as of December 31, 2017 has an outstanding SBA loan of $333,000, along with an open line of credit in the outstanding amount of $91,000. As of the same date, Mr. Winkoff is reported on the returns to owe fl$ approximately $350,000 from "shareholder loans". As a result, Mr. Jahelka and Pioneer see to file with the summary judgement motion an application for an accounting and/or to retain a receiver or monitor to review the books and records of fl$.

In short, @#$^@#$(^ about to get real.

Let me also add...

The purchase deal was as follows:

Total price: $1,750,000
Paid at closing: $550,000
Due 10/15/2017: $100,000
Due 3/15/2018: $100,000

Consulting Agreement (basically a no interest loan): $1,000,000 to be paid in monthly increments over 10 years
$100,000/year divided into monthly payments of $8,333.33 that were due on the 1st of the month.

will the boys be able to keep their helmets

Yes and no.

They have to return 1/120th of it to Jahelka each month.

I'm kind of glad my son didn't make the team this year.