BELLEVILLE — The operator of an IGA grocery store is claiming a manager for Dairy Queen restaurants falsely accused him of sexually harassing and mistreating his employees in order to hurt his reputation and gain a business edge over him and his company.
Michael Elbe filed a complaint Aug. 7 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Baron Rana and APHPJP Inc., alleging defamation.
According to the complaint, Elbe operates an IGA grocery store in Lebanon and Rana serves as the general manager of a Dairy Queen in Lebanon. Elbe alleges that starting in July, Rana told her employees that Elbe "demeaned, sexually harassed and mistreated his employees." He also alleges that Rana sent "a written message" on a "manager's portal" of his company stating the same false claims.
Elbe claims Rana also "encouraged" her employees to tell everyone about the alleged sexual harassment and mistreatment of his employees in order to damage his reputation and gain "a competitive advantage" over his business.
Elbe alleges Rana's claims are false and a "reckless disregard of the truth" and that Rana published the defamatory claims knowing they are not true with the purpose of hurting his reputation. He also claims Rana was acting in the "interest of APHPJP."
Elbe seeks monetary and all other just relief. He is represented by James DeFranco and Nicholas Martin of DeFranco & Bradley PC in Fairview Heights.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 20-L-0598