Billionaire Sues Best ‘Friend’ over Costa Rica teak tree farm investments
July 12th, 2010 | by admin |Gary Michelson, a spine surgeon, inventor and prominent Brentwood philanthropist, has filed a lawsuit against Neil Campbell, his former best friend and partner in a series of Costa Rica teak tree farm investments.
Michelson claims Campbell and Costa Rican partner Philip Powell looted his tree farm investments and he will be seeking $20 million in damages when the trial begins this summer unless a settlement is reached. Luke Dauchot, who is Michelson’s lawyer in the current case, also represented the Brentwood billionaire when he received a $1.35 billion settlement from Medtronic, Inc. in a dispute over spinal devices invented by Michelson.
