Brink's Inc. Sued for Alleged Fraud and Theft of Funds

    LOS ANGELES--April 9, 2001--Gardena, Calif.-based Consolidated Smart Systems, which owns and operates washers, dryers, and public payphones in multi-dwelling apartment units, commercial properties, and schools throughout Southern California, has filed suit against Brink's Inc., one of the country's most reputable armored car and guard services.
    Represented by the tenth largest law firm in the country, Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., Consolidated has sued Brink's for fraud and breach of contract for alleged theft of funds.
    The case against Brink's focuses on Consolidated's contract with Brink's to provide armored car services to safely deliver coins and currency from Consolidated's Gardena facility and transport it to ultimately be credited to Consolidated's bank account. According to the lawsuit, investigations conducted by both parties have revealed that Brink's employees assigned to Consolidated's route were actually stealing Consolidated's money instead of properly depositing the funds to Consolidated's bank account.
    As a result, the lawsuit alleges, Brink's was deceptively and deliberately crediting Consolidated's bank account with far less money than Consolidated was giving to Brink's for delivery to its banks. In addition, the lawsuit alleges that Brink's failed to provide a device sufficient to securely seal the shipment of money or to reveal evidence of tampering by its employees. Consolidated has advised Brink's that it owes Consolidated the amount of approximately $700,000 plus interest and costs incurred by Consolidated to conduct its audits and investigation. To date, Brink's has refused to compensate Consolidated for the total loss.
    "The thefts have had a serious impact on our company, but we're doing all we can to recoup our losses and bring the culprits to justice," said Glenn S. Corey, Consolidated's chief financial officer. Corey said that the Financial Crimes Division of the Los Angeles Police Department has been brought in to investigate the thefts. "Frankly, we suspect that these dishonest Brink's employees may have victimized other Brink's customers," Corey added.
    "Consolidated is a relatively small company in good standing with the local community. They turned to a reputable company like Brink's, who prides itself on its image as a provider of security, to protect their property. We strongly believe Brink's abused that position of trust, and Consolidated unfortunately had to proceed to litigation to be made whole," commented Consolidated's attorney, Mitchell L. Norton, Esq., of Fulbright & Jaworski's Los Angeles Office.
    Founded in 1956, Consolidated is located in Gardena, Consolidated enters into long-term contracts with the owners of commercial properties to install and operate washers, dryers and public payphones. These locations are concentrated in the Greater Southern California region.
    Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., founded in 1919, is an international full-service law firm. With approximately 729 attorneys, Fulbright & Jaworski is one of the 10 largest law firms in the United States. The firm has offices in Houston, Austin, Texas, Dallas, San Antonio, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Hong Kong and London. The firm's comprehensive practice covers the widest possible range of legal matters, from local litigation to complex international transactions.