McKINNEY, Texas - Nov. 20, 2024 - A Texas entrepreneur who invested his life savings into a family business only to discover his uncle was funneling company money into casino gambling has won a declaratory judgment affirming his 100% ownership of the business along with a $2.122 million verdict in Collin County District Court.
The three-day trial revealed a story of broken family trust and financial deception centered around the ownership of Prime United LLC, which operated a KwikKar oil change franchise and the Legacy Car Wash and Detail Center. Ahmad Zidan, who funded the venture in 2014 for his uncle Alex Zidan, uncovered a web of unauthorized withdrawals and credit card charges in 2017 that threatened to destroy the business he had built.
"What makes the facts in this case particularly devastating is the betrayal of family trust," said Julie Pettit of The Pettit Law Firm in Dallas. "My client mortgaged his future on the belief that family ties would make for stronger business bonds. Instead, he discovered his uncle was using company funds as a personal piggy bank for gambling, hypnosis treatments, a monster truck, speculative investments, and supporting other family members."
The jury found Alex Zidan liable for breach of fiduciary duties, awarding nearly $1.1 million in compensatory damages and adding another $1 million in exemplary damages – a clear signal that family ties don't excuse financial misconduct.
"This verdict sends a strong message about accountability in family businesses," Pettit added. "Even after facing retaliatory actions and multiple counterclaims, my client stood firm in his pursuit of justice. This outcome validates his courage in standing up to a family member who abused his trust."
The case is Ahmad Zidan v. Mohammed Zidan, No. 429-02708 in the 429th Judicial District Court in Collin County.
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