The estranged husband of the founder of the online shop-and-sell fashion marketplace Tradesy is suing his spouse, claiming she reneged on verbal promises the two would share in the company’s revenues despite his decision to put his music career on hold to devote time to their partnership.
Burak Ozcan’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, filed April 30, names Tracy DiNunzio as the lone defendant. He is seeking unspecified damages on allegations of fraud and breach of contract, as well as an accounting of assets.
A representative for DiNunzio could not be immediately reached.
DiNunzio has said she established Tradesy by working 18-hour days and sleeping on her couch so she could lease her bedroom in order to pay her bills. Her original company, Recycled Bride, was launched in 2009 through Recycled Media Inc. and she started Tradesy in October 2012.
Ozcan and DiNunzio began a romantic relationship in September 2010 and wed in January 2012, according to his lawsuit, which alleges that the “parties entered into oral agreements to share all income and assets.”
Ozcan contributed $12,000 he received from his father to Recycled Media Inc. and he assisted with Tradesy’s development, according to his court papers.
“In addition, (Ozcan) largely deferred his music career in order to devote his efforts to the parties’ agreement,” his suit says.
Ozcan says he signed a premarital agreement that DiNunzio presented to him in January 2012, which she said would not change their income-sharing agreement. Relying on DiNunzio’s promise, Ozcan signed the document without reading the entire terms or having it reviewed by an attorney, the complaint states.
DiNunzio filed a petition for a legal separation in Los Angeles Superior Court in May 2017 and Ozcan responded by seeking a divorce, according to his lawsuit.
“In breach of their numerous oral agreements,” (DiNunzio) now asserts in relevant part that (Ozcan) has no ownership interest in the company, or in any benefits or assets related thereto,” the suit alleges.