๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐
- Austin
- Jul 24
- 2 min read
A civil petition filed in Pettis County Circuit Court alleges a dispute between Brandy Leighter and Atu Bard involving Bard and Leighter, LLC, a Missouri company formed for the purpose of owning real estate and operating a nightclub. Leighter and Bard formed the LLC on Jan. 16, 2026. The petition states the parties were each to be 50% owners and were to contribute capital as needed to pay the debts and obligations of the LLC.
Court records state that on or about Jan. 20, 2026, the LLC and the parties individually entered into a contract for deed and promissory note to purchase the old Coachโs building located at 303 S. Lamine Avenue in Sedalia for the purpose of opening a nightclub. The petition alleges the parties were to make a down payment that was to be paid equally. Leighter alleges she remitted her portion of the payment, but Bard failed to remit his one-half of the payment.
After the purchase and during the remodeling process, Leighter alleges she paid expenses including licensing, office supplies, fixtures, taxes, equipment, remodeling costs, utility payments, and other expenses connected to preparing the business for operation. The petition lists several payments, including $3,700 for licensing, $14,000 to the LLC for a capital contribution for remodel, $1,715.45 to Pettis County for back real and personal property taxes, and $1,600.66 to Temu for various supplies and equipment.
The petition alleges Bard failed and refused to contribute capital needed to cover remodeling expenses and other costs to get the nightclub started. Leighter further alleges Bard took control of the remodeling process, made changes not agreed to by her, and refused to take steps necessary to get the nightclub operating.
According to the petition, beginning on or about April 14, 2026, Bard allegedly excluded Leighter from participating in management and operations of the LLC. The petition alleges Bard changed bank account access, restricted access to the premises, terminated or blocked emails and point-of-sale credentials, withheld keys, withheld vendor and landlord communications, canceled meetings, and refused to share books, records, and financial information.
Leighter also alleges Bard took or threatened unilateral actions without her required consent. Those alleged actions included hiring and firing personnel, committing the LLC to contracts, directing payments, transferring or dissipating assets, and making material operational and strategic decisions contrary to the operating agreement and the partiesโ 50/50 governance structure.
The petition alleges the LLC is deadlocked on issues including funding, staffing, vendor selection, licensing, budgeting, and operational strategy. Leighter alleges the dispute has stalled or impaired the build-out, opening, or continued operation of the bar and placed the business at risk of losing licenses, permits, goodwill, and customer relationships.
According to court records, Leighter is seeking relief under several counts, including breach of operating agreement, breach of fiduciary duty, accounting and access to books and records, removal or suspension of a member or appointment of a receiver, judicial dissolution and winding up of the LLC, and a motion for preliminary injunction.
The petition was filed July 23, 2026, in Pettis County Circuit Court. ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒย ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป:
