James Fortune, a Grammy-nominated Gospel artist, along with his wife Rhaquele, has initiated legal action against the well-known Houston eatery, Turkey Leg Hut. Their company, J4 Productions, LLC, filed the lawsuit in Harris County court on Monday.
The couple alleges that the restaurant’s owner, Nakia Holmes, took over $300,000 from them as investment capital without reimbursing them. According to the lawsuit, the Fortunes hold a 15% stake in the restaurant.
As reported by Celebrity Net Worth, the 45-year-old Texas-born musician boasts a fortune of $2 million. James Fortune is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished Gospel artists of modern times. Before launching his music career, he served as a choir director at Higher Dimension Church in Houston.
He entered the music scene in 2004 with his debut album You Survived, featuring his choir group FIYA. This inaugural single earned him an ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) Award for Gospel Song of the Year in 2004.
In 2008, James Fortune and FIYA released the hit single I Trust You from their album The Transformation, which held the #1 position for 29 weeks and maintained a spot on various Gospel music charts for more than a year.
His 2012 album Identity and one of its standout tracks, Hold On, garnered him two Grammy nominations for Best Gospel Album and Best Gospel Song, respectively.
James and FIYA embarked on a tour for their projects, performing alongside notable artists such as the gospel group Rizen. The talented songwriter and recording artist also hosted a program on New York-based gospel radio station 1190 AM WLIB in 2013.
James Fortune Takes Legal Action Against Turkey Leg Hut Amid Health Code Violations
The Houston Health Department recently found that Turkey Leg Hut violated 35 health codes, resulting in the restaurant’s temporary closure on September 19. Health officials stated that Turkey Leg Hut would remain shut until the issues affecting its compliance are resolved and conditions improve.
Most violations were related to unsanitary food storage practices, including circumstances posing an imminent threat to public health, according to the health department’s findings. The restaurant announced on Facebook its closure from September 20 to September 22, citing “exciting renovations” but did not address the health code issues.
Shortly thereafter, Turkey Leg Hut and owner Nakia Holmes were faced with new legal complications as J4 Productions filed a lawsuit against her for “breach of fiduciary duty.”
According to KHOU-TV, James Fortune and Rhaquele became acquainted with Nakia Holmes and her then-husband Lyndell Price in 2018 and developed a close friendship, often socializing together with their children.
After Nakia and Lyndell’s divorce was announced in December 2023, the Fortunes reportedly loaned her $100,000. Rhaquele recounted during a recent KHOU-TV interview, which was shared on James’s social media on September 26, that Nakia was in distress two months after they extended the loan:
“She was hysterical. Because the comptroller was physically there to see these assets, and she needed financial assistance immediately.”
Following Nakia’s request, the Fortunes sent an additional $180,000 for 15% ownership in the restaurant. However, the next month, Nakia could not handle the bills and requested Rhaquele to cover the restaurant’s food supply using her personal credit card. The Fortunes claimed they paid thousands of dollars for food supplies and services, totalling over $300,000.
In March 2024, Turkey Leg Hut filed for bankruptcy, listing less than $50,000 in assets. Consequently, James Fortune and his wife found themselves obligated to pay some of the restaurant’s employees to keep the business operational, as Nakia Holmes was unable to do so.
Sharing snippets of their interview on social media, James Fortune remarked:
“When someone takes advantage of my kindness, I just feel bad for that person. I feel bad that they need to step on someone who helped them stand up.”
The Fortunes are now pursuing legal action against Nakia Holmes in an effort to recover their invested funds.
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