Wuebbels
The former owner of a pool business and tavern has filed suit against his children, alleging they have invented multiple schemes to take thousands of dollars and property away from him.
Edward L. Perigen Sr. claim his children have forced him to convey property to them and have revoked his rights to a pool company he formed years ago.
Edward Perigen Sr. claims the problems began in October 2009 when he decided to retire as owner of Perigen Pools and Supply Center, a company located in Granite City. Upon Edward Perigen Sr.'s retirement, his children, defendants Edward L. Perigen Jr. and Yvette Cotter, agreed to take over the company and to pay their father monthly payments of $6,000, according to the complaint filed Feb. 15 in Madison County Circuit Court.
Initially, the defendants made the agreed-upon payments. However, recently they have ceased the monthly payments, the suit states. In addition, they began doing business as Family Pool Center and have continued to run the pool company with Edward Perigen Sr.'s equipment -- a 1998 dump truck, a mini truck hoe, a skid loader and a trailer, the complaint says.
Edward Perigen Sr. claims his children have also cut him off from accessing his business telephone and have redirected calls to their newly named company.
Just before his retirement, Edward Perigen Sr. signed documents that he did not understand, which transferred ownership of the company to his children, according to the complaint. Now, because of the transfer, Edward Perigen Sr. is suffering harm to his goodwill, the suit states.
Edward Perigen Sr. has not only lost a business to his children, but two pieces of property as well, the complaint says.
In March, he claims he felt forced to transfer interest in his tavern, Perigen's Tavern, to his son, Edward Perigen Jr.
"Plaintiff transferred his interest after Defendant, Edward Perigen Jr., made threats that he would cause Plaintiff's tavern to lose its liquor license," the suit states.
At the time he transferred the property, Edward Perigen Sr. was not aware of the exact nature of the conveyance and has since requested its return to no avail, the complaint says.
In May, Edward Perigen Sr. claim he again felt pressured to convey six acres of property at State Route 162 in Granite City to his three children. Since then, Edward Perigen Sr. has requested his property be returned to him, but his children refuse to turn it over.
In his four-count complaint, Edward Perigen Sr. is seeking an order vacating the conveyance of property, a judgment of more than $50,000 and an order enjoining the defendants from further use of Edward Perigen Sr.'s telephone number. He also is seeking an accounting of illegally derived proftis, plus damages, attorney's fees and other relief the court deems just.
Misty L. Wuebbels of Blake and Allen in Belleville will be representing him.
Madison County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-150.