A New Jersey businessman claims Bo Dietl is demanding a slice of his company — because of a handwritten, two-sentence note the businessman signed 17 years ago.
Mark Arzoomanian, who heads a NJ-based employment agency, claims in a lawsuit Dietl promised to “open his Rolodex” and steer clients and revenues Arzoomanian’s way, but never did.
He wants a Manhattan Federal Court judge to declare the handwritten note unenforceable.
Arzoomanian, 56, admits he signed the 2004 paper giving the 70-year-old Dietl a five percent stake in his Resource Search Company if there was ever a sale to a third party.
“For a period of more than 16 years, [Dietl] never once made a claim under the note and for good reason. [Dietl] never steered any business to RSC, and he knew it,” Arzoomanian said in court papers.
Since May, Dietl “suddenly reversed field,” sending “harassing” texts, the court papers allege. A July 22 letter from a Dietl attorney demanded Arzoomanian “provide adequate assurance” he would honor the terms of the note.
Arzoomanian and Dietl were “close friends” for years, and Dietl’s son “would even humorously call Plaintiff his godfather,” Arzoomanian claims in court papers.
Dietl, a private investigator, actor and failed 2017 mayoral candidate, has a net worth of $10 million, according to celebritynetworth.com.
Dietl’s longshot mayoral bid eventually resulted in campaign finance violations, which he blamed on his campaign treasurer.
Arzoomanian’s lawyer didn’t comment. Dietl’s attorney, Howard Kleinhendler, said his client “is simply asking Mr. Arzoomanian to live up to his written promise and be a man of his word.”