The Abbott LLC gaming lawsuit commonly referenced online is Nutmeg Gaming and Bingo Products, LLC v. Abbott Products, Inc., a federal contract case filed in Connecticut in 2022 over a $1.2 million sale of a bingo supply business. Nutmeg Gaming accused the seller of refusing to hand over the assets it had paid for. The parties settled on May 1, 2024, one day before jury selection was scheduled to begin.1Law360. Conn. Gaming Co., Bingo Supplier Settle Soured Deal Suit
One clarification on the name. The defendant is Abbott Products, Inc., a corporation, not an LLC. Nutmeg Gaming is the LLC in the caption. No separate “Abbott LLC” appears in the court record.2vLex. Nutmeg Gaming and Bingo Prods. v. Abbott Prods.
What the $1.2 Million Deal Covered
In May 2020, Nutmeg Gaming, a Connecticut bingo supplier managed by Eric Leshine, signed an asset purchase and sales agreement to buy substantially all of Abbott Products’ business for $1.2 million. Abbott, based in Bristol, Connecticut and led by president John Lenzi, distributed bingo paper, sealed tickets, blowers, flashboards, and raffle equipment to retail and casino customers. The sale closed in December 2021.2vLex. Nutmeg Gaming and Bingo Prods. v. Abbott Prods.
The transfer was meant to include:
- Physical inventory and equipment, including bingo paper, sealed tickets, machinery, trucks, and office furniture.
- Three years of customer records kept in QuickBooks, plus pending purchase orders.
- The abbottbingoproducts.com website and the company’s social media accounts.
- Existing vendor contracts and purchase orders.
What Nutmeg Accused Abbott of Doing
Nutmeg alleged that the deal fell apart almost immediately after closing. According to the complaint, Abbott and Lenzi refused to turn over the QuickBooks data and inventory, shut down the website and social media accounts rather than transferring them, and kept mail and customer check payments that belonged to Nutmeg under the sale.2vLex. Nutmeg Gaming and Bingo Prods. v. Abbott Prods.
Nutmeg further alleged that Abbott steered former customers to competitors, encouraging Diamond Distributors, Inc. and Steven Stanford (doing business as New England Bingo Supply) to solicit the customer base Nutmeg had just purchased.2vLex. Nutmeg Gaming and Bingo Prods. v. Abbott Prods.
The Claims and the Court
Nutmeg filed suit in 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, case number 3:22-cv-00716, before Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer. The complaint asserted breach of contract, fraud, conversion, tortious interference with business relationships, and violations of Connecticut’s trade secrets and unfair trade practices statutes.2vLex. Nutmeg Gaming and Bingo Prods. v. Abbott Prods.
How the Case Ended
After nearly two years of litigation, Nutmeg and Abbott settled on May 1, 2024, with jury selection set for the next day. The parties filed a notice of settlement and the case resolved without a trial. The financial terms were not made public.1Law360. Conn. Gaming Co., Bingo Supplier Settle Soured Deal Suit Abbott Products is now listed as closed, and its former website redirects to Connecticut Bingo Supply.3Abbott Bingo Products. Bingo Butterfly Waiters