The Gary Law Firm Files $500 Million Lawsuit Against Ethan Allen Global, Inc. for Forcing Treasure Coast Interiors, Inc. to Close its Ethan Allen Business

STUART, Fla., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Willie Gary announced that he has filed a $500 million lawsuit on behalf of his client, Nicholas Mariano, Jr. President and CEO of Treasure Coast Interiors, Inc., of Florida. The suit alleges that Ethan Allen breached its contractual relationship with Treasure Coast Interiors, Inc. when it abruptly and wrongfully terminated its business relationship with Treasure Coast Interiors, Inc. after 13 years.

Treasure Coast Interior, Inc.'s President and CEO, Nicholas Mariano, Jr. has been in the furniture business for most of his adult life. Based on his stellar reputation in the industry and hard work, Ethan Allen recruited Mariano to open up 3 stores located in Stuart, Vero Beach and Melbourne, and then terminated him for no good reason. Other Ethan Allen retailers nationally appear to have experienced the same fate. The number of independent retailers has been significantly reduced in the last year alone. Mariano and Treasure Coast Interiors, Inc. worked for over 13 years to build a strong name for Ethan Allen and its products in these markets. In July of 2007, the relationship was abruptly terminated by Ethan Allen, even though Treasure Coast Interiors, Inc. had been a solid, loyal and reliable business partner. Due to these actions, Treasure Coast Interiors, Inc. has, and will continue to suffer, tremendous financial losses as well as damage to its reputation. Final sales of remaining Ethan Allen furniture have begun at each of the locations.

"Our client, Nicholas Mariano, Jr. and his family have been dedicated to the building of the Ethan Allen brand name in Florida for over 13 years," said Gary. "Ethan Allen's actions were flat out wrong and they know it. In fact, Nicholas Mariano, Jr. developed the Stuart, Vero Beach and Melbourne markets for Ethan Allen, serving as Ethan Allen's exclusive retailer in these markets. For Ethan Allen, a multibillion dollar company, to trample on a local businessman who has worked his fingers to the bone to build a strong reputation, is a grave injustice. Ethan Allen may have a monopoly on the furniture business, but it doesn't have a monopoly on justice. Now, Mariano is forced to sell the remainder of his furniture for pennies on a dollar and at a significant loss. It's not right," said Gary.

Gary is no stranger to justice. He is noted for winning a $240 million jury verdict in Orange County Florida against the Walt Disney Corporation for their clients who alleged Disney stole their idea for a sports theme park. Also, Gary was awarded $18 million, Florida's largest jury verdict of its kind, against the media conglomerate Gannett Company for the false portrayal of their client in a series of newspaper articles. In 2001, a jury awarded Gary a $139.6 million verdict for the Maris Distributing Company against Anheuser Busch. In addition, Gary was given a half-billion dollar verdict in Jackson, Mississippi against the Loewen Group, a large Canadian funeral home chain. Gary also represents over 500 victims against big tobacco companies in Florida.