YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (CN) - A default judgment against D.J. Harriett Inc. and its president, D.J. Harriett, awarded investors $503,000 in damages. Investors have filed 14 lawsuits against Harriet in the past 6 months, seeking more than $1.8 million.
Mahoning County Court Judge Dominic Delaurentis entered the default judgment in the case filed on Jan. 21.
The first of the 14 complaints was filed in November 2009, seeking more than $354,000. The latest two were filed on April 12, seeking more than $140,000.
D.J. Harriett, a real estate company, states on its Web site that it was formed in 1988 to develop franchises for prospective owners and that it "strives to develop new areas for [its] loyal investors."
One of the most detailed complaints, filed on Jan. 4, claims that Harriett fraudulently misrepresented its investments as flourishing, and said it sought money to acquire additional McDonald's franchises.
All of the recently filed complaints accuse the corporation of selling securities without a license, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud.
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