Multiple lawsuits that alleged a Tampa startup founder misspent company funds have been dismissed, according to court documents.
Three lawsuits against ECover Global founder Raymond "Ben" Sever, two of which were filed by Brandon Bowen, former chief operating officer of the company, were ordered for dismissal with prejudice. The order means subsequent claims related to the lawsuits cannot be filed.
"These past months have been arduous and difficult for me, my family, and my company," Sever said in a statement to Tampa Bay Inno. "After retaining outside counsel to remedy the legal issues I faced, I am thankful that my name has been restored and the lawsuits have been dismissed with prejudice."
Bowen could not be reached for comment. Bowen's legal defense did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
ECover Global is a Tampa-based company that was in the Tampa Bay Wave's 2019 fall cohort. The company provides an instant messaging system from clinics to patients that ease questions and concerns during both pre- and post-operation. In January 2020, Sever presented during the Tampa Bay Wave "Pitch Night" stating it had raised $700,000 on a $35 million valuation. No investments have been documented with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The original lawsuit against Sever was filed in June 2020 by Bowen, followed by a second lawsuit in September and a third in November by Bowen's parents, seeking an injunction to prevent contact with Sever. The lawsuits filed by Bowen alleged Sever misused more than $400,000 of company funds.
"Despite recent events, ECover Global continues to thrive," Sever said in the statement. "We have since strengthened our corporate governance, finance, operational structure, human resources, and leadership to position Ecover Global’s resurgence in the marketplace with the addition of data analytics and telehealth — especially at this pivotal time in our history where telemedicine plays a crucial role in a post-Covid world."
