Former GM Sues Vina Robles Amphitheatre

Reed, former GM of Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, Calif., and a veteran of Live Nation, worked with Vina Robles Inc. and other associated managing companies from 2009 to 2014 to develop the Vina Robles Amphitheatre, according to his lawsuit. He claims it was his dream come true to build a venue in the San Luis Obispo area and did so at a low wage, and was then fired without explanation.

He is alleging fraud, breach of written and oral contract, involuntary dissolution, unfair business practices and breach of fiduciary duty, according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune. In 2009 Reed claims he identified the Vina Robles vineyard as a suitable location for an amphitheatre and began consultations with Hans Michel, president of Vina Robles Inc., which runs the vineyard near the shed.

Reed claims he was promised partnership in the company in exchange for receiving an annual salary that was below industry standards, between $40,000 and $66,000. After Reed’s termination in 2014, because he had violated the employment handbook, his shares of the companies were deemed “forfeited and canceled,” according to the lawsuit.

Michel, whose background is in agriculture and business, helped establish the vineyard in the 1990s, and is yet to issue a comment on the suit, but Pollstar was provided the following statement from Simone Michel, the facility’s customer relations and marketing director:

“The Vina Robles team is disappointed that Mr. Reed chose to file a lawsuit and denies Mr. Reed’s claims. A detailed response and further comment will be made in the lawsuit through counsel for the Vina Robles entities and the individuals Mr. Reed has sued.”

Reed could not be reached for further comment at press time.