A Frederick investor says $1.6 million she poured into a cannabis and real estate venture instead wound up propping up a family pickleball brand, and she is taking the fight to a Denver courtroom. Amanda Buonamici, who describes herself as a silent partner in the deal, claims money earmarked for marijuana edibles and property was quietly redirected into a retail paddle business. The dispute is now in Denver District Court, where it could take months for lawyers and a judge to untangle what happened.
Buonamici filed her complaint on Feb. 24, alleging she invested roughly $1.6 million in J&P Investments: $1.5 million when the partnership was formed in 2014 and about $100,000 more in 2017-18. She says she has repeatedly demanded both a refund and J&P’s financial records, according to BusinessDen. The suit states that Buonamici owns about 29 percent of J&P but never received any distributions, while other partners allegedly did. She names Jamie, Patrick, and Margaret Stephenson as defendants and accuses them of theft, fraud, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty.
Pickleball Brand At Center Of Suit
The complaint contends the Stephensons funneled J&P money into Pretty Neat Pickleball, described as an online seller of paddles and apparel. The company promotes a storefront and product pages on its website, according to Pretty Neat Pickleball. State business filings list a Colorado limited liability company with Meghan Stephenson as registered agent, showing a Colorado address and public records that tie the retail brand to the Denver metro area.
Claims And Possible Remedies
Buonamici is suing Pretty Neat Pickleball for unjust enrichment and the Stephensons for civil theft and related claims. The complaint bluntly asserts, “Defendants have stolen over $1.6 million,” according to reporting on the filing. She is seeking treble damages, or three times the alleged loss, which would bring the total claim to roughly $4.8 million, as summarized by BusinessDen. Colorado’s civil theft statute allows a successful plaintiff to request treble damages and attorney fees, according to legal discussions of the law.
Legal Team And Next Steps
The case is in its early stages and will move through Denver District Court, where pleadings, motions and scheduling orders typically appear on the public docket over time. Buonamici is represented by Michelle McCarthy of Denver-based Murray & McCarthy, whose firm website identifies her as a partner and business attorney.
Why This Case Matters
The clash underscores how cash from one booming sector, such as cannabis investment and commercial real estate, can be redirected into another fast-growing niche, in this instance, retail pickleball gear. National coverage has chronicled a surge of paddle brands and related startups in recent years, including reporting by Business Insider. That kind of gold-rush atmosphere can raise the stakes when investors say founders took their money off the original court and into an entirely different game.
