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STEELE GRANTE,

Plaintiff, CASE NO.:

U.S.BANK CENTER,LLC;UnknownBankBranchM anager

Defendants.

/

COM PLAG T

TilEPLAINTIFF,STEELEGRANTE,(hereinafterPlaintift),prose,suesDefendantUS

Bank,withanofticeaddtessinM inneapolis,M innesotaandincorporatedinDelaware.

1. Thisisanactionfordamageswhichexceedtheamountofonehundredmilliondollars

($100,000,000.00),inclusiveofinterest,costsandattorney'sfees.

2. Atalltimesmaterialhereto,thePlaintiffwasandisaresidentofPalm BeachCounty,

Florida.

3. Defendantu.s.BankisacitizenofDelaware,anddoesbusinessinthestateofFlorida.

JURISDICTION

4. Plaintiffre-allegesandincorporateshereinbyreferencetheprecedingparagraphs,as

thoughseparatelysetforthherein.

5. Pursuantto28UISC.f1331.Section1331providesthattheDistrictCourtsshalhave

tçoriginaljurisdictionofalcivilactionsarisingundertheconstimtion,laws,ortreatiesofthe

UnitedStates.''28US.C.f1331.

1

22-CIV-81456-DMM/WM

Case 9:22-cv-81456-DMM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/20/2022 Page 1 of 8
ThePlaintiff'scomplaintseekslecoveryinexcessoftheFederalStattltoryamount.

This Courthas originaljurisdiction over the CongressionalExpedited Funds

AvailabilityC1EFA'')(JJUS.C.f4001-4010).

8. UnderSection4010(a)liabilityprovisionsdçanydepositoryinstitutionwhichfailsto

comply with any requirementimposedunderthis(Actoritsimplementing regulationslwith

respecttoany person otherthananotherdepository institution...liable(indamages)tosuch

Person''

9.

years.

Plaintiffownsmultiplepersonaland businessaccountswith UsBank foroversix

FACTUAL BACK GROUND

10. Onapproximately April25,2022PlaintiffwasinformedbyUSBaV represenutive,

M aryam Ebadifrom theirBusinessBanking Departmentthatallofhispersonaland business

accountshadbeen lockedand thathenolongerhad accesstohisaccountsorfundsonlineorin

person atabranch. Shetold him thathisaccountswereunderreview andthatittakesnomore

than seven (7)daysto complete. Atthattimethefundson depositintheaccountstotaled

approximately$68,000.

11. PlaintiffreachedouttoUsBankBranchM anagerJason Beasely,who ism anagerof

the UsBank branch located at30000 Town CenterDr.,LagunaNiguel,CA,92677, wherethe

accountshadbeenopenedandarelocated.JasonBeaselyassuredPlaintiffthatthesituationwould

beresolvedwithinafew days. Plaintiffwastoldthatno inform ationwasavailableto anyone

aboutwhytheaccountshadbeenlockedorwhom tospeakwithaboutgettingthematterresolved

orwhatneededtobedoneorveritiedandthathewouldjusthavetowaitwhileUSBAA completed

it'sreview ofallofhispersonalandbusinessaccounts.

Case 9:22-cv-81456-DMM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/20/2022 Page 2 of 8
1

p.

JasonBeaselyalsoreferedPiaintiffftohisdirectsupervisor,ToddRockefeler,

!

UsBank District M anager and Shannon'Gallardo,UsBank Regional Assistant for further

assistancewiththem atter.ToddRockefeller,hasneverresponded to Plaintiffsm any inquiries

andmessages,despitehisdirectsupervisionoftheaccountsatthatbranchandthePlaintiffhaving

been referedtohim by hissubordinateBranchM anager,JasonBeasely. Shannon Gallardodid

respondto Plaintiffon afew occasions,prom isinghim quick resolutiontotheseized fundsand

lockedaccounts,butstoppedrespondingaherjustthetlrstfew days,onceagaindespitehaving

hadthematterreferredtoherforresolutionby hersubordinate,Jason Beasely. Afteraweek's

time,JasonBeaselyinformedthePlaintiffthattherewasnothinghecoulddoandthathehadbeen

instnlctedtoKhangup''onPlaintiffifhecalledtoinquireabouthisaccountsandseizedftmds.

13. PlaintiffhadreachedouttotheUSBaV CustomerServicenumberseveraltimesover

thefollowingdaysandweeksseekingremedyandstayedonholdformany,m anyhourseachtime.

Plaintiffwaseventually told thattheaccountshad been frozen Etpending review''by Analyst

AmandaCalderawiththeUsBankFraudDepartment.M s.Calderahasnotrespondedtothemany

emailsandvoicem ailsthatPlaintiffsentheruntiltoday.

Any furthercommunication thereafterwith UsBank CustomerService resulted in

Plaintiffbeing told thathisfundshad been held by theBranch M anager,JasonBeasely atthe

Branch and wasinstructedto go to theBranch withhisIdentifkation documentsandthatthey

wouldbeabletoclosehisaccountsandreleasehisfundstohim .

15. W henPlaintiffwenttothebranchandattemptedtoinquirewiththeBranchM anager,

JasonBeasely,herefusedtocomeoutofhisofficetospeakwithPlaintiffeventhoughhehadbeen

advisedtogotothebranchbyUsBank Custom erServiceanddosoinperson.A1lemployeesat

thebranchstatedthattheywereinstructedbyJasonBeaselytorefuseservicetoPlaintiff.

Case 9:22-cv-81456-DMM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/20/2022 Page 3 of 8
I

Subsequentphonecallstothebyanchresulted inPlaintiffbeingtoldthatallpersormel

atthebranchwereinstructed,bytheBranchM anager,JasonBeaselytohanguponPlaintiffifhe

calledthereandrefuseserviceifheshowedupthere.

Evenm ally,afterover60 daystimehadpassed,Plaintiffreceived statem entsin the

mailshowingthattheaccountshadal1been closedandallfundshadbeenwithdrawnfrom them

to anundisclosedaccount.Furtherinquiry with variousdepartmentatUsBankrevealedthatthe

FundswereandarestillbeingheldbytheUsBankBranchinLagunaN iguel,CA intheGeneral

LedgerAccount,underJasonBeasely'sinstructions.

18. TheUsBankCustomerServiceDepartment,uponfurtherinquiriesfrom Plaintifthas

recently informedhim thatthey arestillreviewingtheaccountandwillholdhisfundsforaslong

theydeem fitandareundernoobligationtoreplytohisinquiriesanymore.W henaskedhow long

thatprocesswilltaketheyrespondedthattheyhavenotimelim ittopreform theirEreview''for

unknown,undisclosedreasonsandwithnopossibleremediestoexpeditethatprocessorclosethe

accountsandretrievethefundstheyseizedfrom Plaintiff.

19. M ultipleUsBankemployeesmentionedinthissuithaveclearlyconspiredtodefraud

Plaintiffofhisfundson depositandhavestolenthem 9om him causingextensivefnancialand

emotionaldamagestohim ,hisbusinessesandtohisfam ily,forcinghim tofilethisactionwith

thiscourtin orderto seekrelieffrom thecourtfrom theircrim inalactionsagainsthim and the

damagesthey havecaused him .Alleffbrtstoremedy the situationwere unsuccessfulwith no

remedy being provided to the Plaintiftlwho'strustand confidence in USBM k were now

completely betrayed,withnopossibleactionotherthanlegalactiontoseek remedythroughthe

appropriateCourtofLaw.

Case 9:22-cv-81456-DMM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/20/2022 Page 4 of 8
i

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COUNT I

BREACH OF CONTRACT

Plaintiffrepeatsandre-allegeseachandeveryallegationcontainedabove.

18. Theelementsofanactionforbreachofcontractare:(1)thattherewasacontract

betweenplaintiffanddefendant,(2)thatplaintiffdidwhatthecontractrequiredhimtodo,orthat

hewasexcused9om performinghiscontractobligations;(3)thatdefendantbreachedthecontract

bynotperfonninghisobligations;and(4)thatplaintiffwasdamaged.

19. InherentintheagreementbetweenPlaintiffandDefendantunder12C.A .R.Part29is

thatDefendantwouldnotunreasonablywithholdPlaintiffsfundswithoutanexpedientrem edy.

20. The Banking DepositAccountAgreementbetween Plaintiffand Defendantis on

record with the Defendantand willbeproduced forthis court9om the lnterrogatories and

Discoveryaspartofthisproceeding.

21. Plaintiffhaslostextensivepersonaland businessftmds,m any daysandweeksofhis

timeandalongwithhisimmediatefamily,hœssufferedextensiveemotionalandfinancialdamages.

WHEREFORE,Plaintiffpraysforreliefandjudgment,asfolows:

a) Awarding Plaintif actualdamages,forthefundson thatwere on depositwith

Defendant,USBaA .

b) AwardingPlaintiffreasonableattomeys'feesandcostsincurredinthisaction;

c) AwardingPlaintiffanypre-judgmentandpost-judgmentinterestasmaybealowed

underthelaw;

d) AwardingsuchotherdamagesandfurtherreliefastheCourtmaydeemjustandproper.

COUNT 11

SPECIFIC PERFORM ANCE

5

Case 9:22-cv-81456-DMM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/20/2022 Page 5 of 8
l

22. Plaintiffrepeatsandre-allegesçachandeveryallegationconhinedabove.

1

23. PlaintiffandDefendantenteredintoTheBankingDepositAccountAgreementwhich

isonrecordwiththeDefendantandwillbeproducedforthiscourtfrom theInterrogatoriesand

Discoverymspartofthisproceeding.

24. An inherentpartofthe DepositAccotmtAgreementContractwasthatDefendant

wouldnotunreasonablyholdPlaintiT sfundswithoutexpedientremedy.

Despite PlaintiT s repeated atlempts to remedy the situation, Defendant has

unreasonablywithheldPlaintiffsfundsandrefusestoperform itsobligationtoreturnthefunds.

26. Plaintiffhasfullyperformedunderthecontract.

PlaintiffhasbeensignitkantlydamagedduetoDefendant'sactions.

28. Noadequateremedyatlaw exists.

W HEREFORE,PlaintiffpraysforreliefandjudgmentthatthisCourtforceDefendantto

returnPlaintiffsfunds.

COUNT III

FRAUD CLAIM AGM NST DEFENDANT

29. Plaintiffrepeatsandre-allegeseachandeveryallegationcontainedabove.

30. PlaintiffhadpersonalandbusinessaccountswithDefendant.

31. Defendants unreasonably withheld Plaintiffs funds and refuse to perform their

obligationtoreturnthefunds.

32. DefendantfraudulentlyrepresentedtoPlaintiffthattheyhadlegalyjustifiablecause

towithholdthefundsfrom him.

Case 9:22-cv-81456-DMM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/20/2022 Page 6 of 8
1

Defendant's intent was thaf Plaine would rely on Defendant's decepive

m iKrepresentaionssothatD efendantcouldfunlawfullyrelm'ntheftmds.

I

DuetoDefendnnt'sfraut Plaintiffhmsbeenseverelyfnanciallyand emotionally

edtolzisperson andfnmily andtohisbusinesses.

W M REFORE,Plainti/praysforxeliefandjudo entmsfolows:

a) Awarding Plaine actualdamages,forthe ftmdson thatwere on depositw1t11

' Defendant,UsBnnk.

b) AwardingPlaintiffreasonableattomeys'feesandcostsincuredinthisaction;

c) AwardingPlaintil anypre-judn entandpost-judn entinterestasmaybealowed

tmderthelaw ;

d) AwardingsuchotherandfnrtherreliefastheCourtmaydeemjustandproper.

RESERVATION O F RIGHTS

PlaintiF reservesthe zightto ôlrtheramend thisComplaintyupon completion offurther

invesugation and discovery,to assertany additionalcbim sand anyadditionaldam agesagsinst

Defendantor employees of Defendnntm entioned herein and/or any otherpe es as may be

warrantedtlnderthecircum stancesandasallowedby law.

DEM AND FOR JIJRY TO

PlaintiF demandsatrialbyjuryofa1issuessoiablethisthe13thdayofSeptember,

2022.

RespectfullySubm itted,

SteeleGrante

1515N.FedetalHighway.300

BocaRatonoFL 33422

sg@omnimail.biz

7

Case 9:22-cv-81456-DMM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/20/2022 Page 7 of 8
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Case 9:22-cv-81456-DMM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/20/2022 Page 8 of 8