Sale ends Burger King, La-Van Hawkins dispute

Source: Detroit News
DETROIT - The final chapter in the heated and very public battle between La-Van Hawkins and Burger King Corp. has ended quietly with the sale of Hawkins’ seven Detroit restaurants to fast-food franchisee Valerie Daniels-Carter.

Daniels-Carter’s Milwaukee-based company, V&J; Holding Companies Inc., owns 41 Burger Kings and 104 Pizza Huts across the U.S. Daniels-Carter already owns 21 Burger Kings in Metro Detroit.

“I felt it was important that the Burger Kings located in Detroit, and previously owned by Mr. Hawkins, remained minority-owned and community-based,” said Daniels-Carter, president and chief executive of V&J; Holdings. Daniels-Carter is an African-American. “I look forward to working with the Detroit community, employees and customers, in order to make this transition an easy one for everyone.”

As part of the a settlement reached late last year, Hawkins agreed to relinquish his interest in 23 Burger Kings he owned in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit and Washington, D.C. Hawkins’ remaining 14 Burger King properties will be sold to existing franchisees, Burger King said.

Hawkins sued Burger King for $1.9 billion in April for fraud, racism and for regeging on an agreement to award him 225 stores. Burger King counter-sued for $6.5 million for unpaid debts and royalties it said Hawkins owned the company.
Source: Detroit News