Crain Automotive Appeals $5M Judgment

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You might recall learning last month that a federal judge awarded almost $5 million to the former chief operating officer of Crain Automotive Holdings LLC of Sherwood for money owed under a deferred compensation plan.

Well, as expected, Crain Automotive Holdings has appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit in St. Louis. The company is appealing U.S. District Judge Brian S. Miller’s ruling that Crain Automotive owes Barton Hankins of Little Rock the money under the contract he signed in 2019, when he joined the company. He resigned from Crain Automotive in January 2023.

In addition to the $4.98 million judgment, Miller also recently awarded $19,177 in attorneys’ fees to Hankins’ attorneys, Michael Thompson and P. Collins Hickman Jr. of Wright Lindsey Jennings of Little Rock. Miller also added $79.60 in expenses and $402 in costs to the judgment.