(vii) false light; (viii) intentional infliction of emotional distress; (ix) negligence; (x) unjust enrichment; and (xi) RICO § 1962. Weissmann seeks costs and damages in an amount to be proven at trial but no less than the amount in the Note (approximately $2.5 million); in connection with his RICO claim, Weissmann asserts he is entitled to damages in the amount of three times the Note. On February 18, 2022, NBCUniversal, CNBC, and Machete filed a motion to compel arbitration (the “NBC Arbitration Motion”). On May 5, 2022, an agreed order was filed staying the litigation in favor of arbitration. On May 31, 2022, FR Holdco filed an arbitration demand against Weissmann for collection on the Note. Weissmann filed his response and counterclaims, and third-party claims against FR Holdco, CW, Marcus A. Lemonis, NBCUniversal, and Machete on July 7, 2022. On or about July 21, 2022, FR Holdco and the other respondents filed their responses and affirmative defenses. On March 11, 2024, FR Holdco’s arbitration demand and the Weissmann arbitration demand were tried before a single arbitrator pursuant to the JAMS streamlined arbitration rules in a confidential arbitration hearing. On May 23, 2024, the arbitrator issued an interim award in favor of FR Holdco in the amount of $4,318,892, plus interest, costs, and attorneys’ fees as set forth in the Tumbleweed bankruptcy plan and to be determined by the arbitrator in subsequent proceedings. On July 31, 2024, the arbitrator heard the parties’ arguments on the amount of attorneys’ fees and costs owed to FR Holdco, after Weissmann conceded in a written briefing the obligation to pay attorneys’ fees and costs to FR Holdco as the prevailing party. On September 12, 2024, the arbitrator issued a final award in favor of FR Holdco in the amount of $4,990,006, in the manner described in the Tumbleweed bankruptcy plan. Weissmann is jointly and severally liable for $4,106,884 of that amount. On September 24, 2024, Weissmann and Tumbleweed filed a Petition to Vacate Arbitration Award in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of Los Angeles. On September 27, 2024, FR Holdco, CW, Marcus A. Lemonis, NBCUniversal, and Machete filed a Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of Los Angeles. On January 16, 2025, Superior Court for the State of California, County of Los Angeles granted the Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award and denied the Petition to Vacate Arbitration Award, concluding the litigation. On July 8, 2025, Superior Court for the State of California, County of Los Angeles entered the Judgment in favor of FR Holdco, CW, Marcus A. Lemonis, NBCUniversal, and Machete. On August 21, 2025, Weissmann and Tumbleweed filed a notice of appeal. There can be no assurances that we will be able to collect amounts owed pursuant to the Arbitration Award.
Tumbleweed Complaint
On November 10, 2021, Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, Inc. (“Tumbleweed”) filed a complaint against FR Holdco, CW, Marcus A. Lemonis, NBCUniversal Media, LLC, and Machete Productions in which Tumbleweed alleges claims in connection with the Note and its appearance on the reality television show The Profit (the “Tumbleweed Complaint”), seeking primarily monetary damages. Tumbleweed alleges the following claims against the defendants, including FR Holdco and CW: (i) fraud; (ii) false promise; (iii) breach of fiduciary duty (and aiding and abetting the same); (iv) breach of contract; (v) breach of oral contract; (vi) tortious interference with prospective economic advantage; (vii) fraud in the inducement; (viii) negligent misrepresentation; (ix) fraudulent concealment; (x) conspiracy; (xi) unlawful business practices; (xii) defamation; and (xiii) declaratory judgment. On April 21, 2022, the Court granted a motion to compel arbitration filed by NBCUniversal and joined by all defendants, including FR Holdco, CW, and Marcus A. Lemonis, compelling Tumbleweed’s claims to arbitration. Tumbleweed served its arbitration demand on FR Holdco, CW, and Marcus A. Lemonis on May 17, 2022. FR Holdco, CW, and Marcus A. Lemonis filed responses and affirmative defenses on May 31, 2022. On July 20, 2022, pursuant to the JAMS streamlined arbitration rules, the Tumbleweed Complaint was consolidated together with the Weissmann Complaint. The parties have exchanged discovery. On March 11, 2024, FR Holdco’s arbitration demand and the Weissman arbitration demand were tried before a single arbitrator pursuant to the JAMS streamlined arbitration rules in a confidential arbitration hearing. On May 23, 2024, the arbitrator issued an interim award in favor of all respondents, including FR Holdco, CW, and Lemonis. On July 31, 2024, the arbitrator heard the parties arguments on the amount of attorneys’ fees and costs owed to FR Holdco, CW, Lemonis, and the other defendants, after Tumbleweed conceded the obligation to pay attorneys’ fees and costs to the prevailing parties. On September 12, 2024, the arbitrator issued a final award in favor of FR Holdco, CW, Lemonis in the amount of $3,793,455 in attorneys’ fees and $626,611 in costs. The arbitrator also awarded $4,990,006 in favor of FR Holdco. On September 24, 2024, Weissmann and Tumbleweed filed a Petition to Vacate Arbitration Award in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of Los Angeles. On September 27, 2024, FR Holdco, CW, Marcus A. Lemonis, NBCUniversal, and Machete filed a Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of Los Angeles. On January 16, 2025, Superior Court for the State of California, County of Los Angeles granted the Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award and denied the Petition to Vacate Arbitration