Attorney is pressuring Hawkins for payment
It appears the financial problems between Detroit restaurateur La-Van Hawkins and his former attorney may not be resolved despite the seizure of some of Hawkins’ property Wednesday, which included $4,500 in cash, a diamond-encrusted Rolex watch and a wide-screen TV.
Attorney Norman Yatooma, who had a court order to seize the assets on behalf of another client, said there is now a deal in place for Hawkins to pay off a $100,000 debt on a monthly basis over the next eight months.
Hawkins is best known for starring in ads for his former Pizza Hut franchises. Hawkins sold the franchises last year. He also owns upscale downtown Detroit restaurant Sweet Georgia Brown.
Yatooma represents Georgia attorney Antonio Thomas, who claims he has not been paid by Hawkins.The first payment on the debt is due today.
“If he satisfies the debt, the collateral will be returned,” Yatooma said. “If he misses a payment we may again seize his home, business and office without notice.”
Leonard Mungo, a Detroit attorney representing Hawkins, said Hawkins would not make today’s payment or honor any monthly agreement.
“My advice to Mr. Hawkins is that he should not be terrorized by Mr. Yatooma,” Mungo said. “This agreement was signed under duress.”
Mungo said he might file a restraining order today to stop Yatooma from entering Hawkins’ home and businesses.
“I trust him as much as I trust a rabid pit bull,” Mungo said.
Mungo said he and another attorney from Yatooma’s firm reached an agreement June 8 whereby Yatooma would not enter Hawkins’ home or business until the matter could be discussed at an Aug. 19 court hearing.
Mungo also accused Yatooma of unethical behavior since he once represented Hawkins.
Wednesday’s move by Yatooma is yet another chapter in Hawkins’ ongoing legal problems, which came to a head last week.
Hawkins was one of 12 charged with bribery last week in Philadelphia. Hawkins was accused with Ronald White, a Philadelphia lawyer, of giving cash, gifts and trips to Corey Kemp, then the city treasurer, to enlist his help in furthering business plans.
The indictment alleges that Hawkins gave a $5,000 check to Kemp in March 2002 on a Detroit account controlled by Hawkins. Kemp deposited the money. In September that year, Hawkins wrote another $5,000 check to Kemp – but it bounced twice, the indictment said. The indictment said Hawkins replaced the check with a wire transfer in October, using money from White.
Prosecutors said Hawkins was trying to acquire fast-food chicken restaurants from businessman Aslam Kahn and was trying to use his connections with White and Kemp to swing the deal.
Around the time of his alleged dealings with White and Kemp, Hawkins sold his interest in 89 Pizza Hut restaurants, mostly in metro Detroit, to Yum! Brands for $95 million to $135 million.
