SPARTANBURG GOP CHAIR TAKES FIGHT TO UNCLE

I was always under the impression that Italian “families” handled their “business” in a more “direct” manner, but Spartanburg GOP Chairman Rick Beltram is, for the first time ever, proving me wrong about something. According to the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, Beltram is suing his former employer — who also happens to be his uncle — for reportedly being in breach of contract, committing “tortious” acts, failing to return personal property and properly compensate him and misreporting profits over a two-year period while he was serving as a consultant for the company.

That company also happens to have been started by Beltram’s grandfather Quirino in 1914. Mama Mia!

Rick Beltram was president and chief shareholder of the company from 1973 until October 2005 when he sold it to his uncle and the name was changed to Intedge Manufacturing.

The lawsuit states that after the ownership of the company changed hands, Beltram signed an employment agreement to stay on as a consultant, manage a portion of the company’s sales and represent the company in meetings with outside sales representatives.

“It was a family business, and I wanted to continue on, hoping at the end of the day they would fulfill all contractual agreements,” Beltram said. [TREVOR ANDERSON - Spartanburg Herald-Journal]

There’s more to this, but it’s about Rick Beltram so I don’t really care. Plus, I don’t want him to make me an offer I can’t refuse… that being a civil suit. I’ve already had one of those today (more on that later).

But I must say, the banner image — courtesy of the Herald-Journal — is pretty awesome. With a cheesy smile like that, you almost forget the guy is a thug.