Lawyers file new suit against Gray, Steel related to Morrilton dispensary

The plaintiffs in the case are Jennier Paige Fisher, Phillip Bryan Fisher, Richard Scott Pace, Rick Don Angel and Ronald Craig Smith. Those five plaintiffs owned the Morrilton dispensary before the state Medical Marijuana Commission unanimously approved a transfer of ownership to Tamika Edwards and Dustin Shroyer last week. 

Holland and Poynter filed a similar lawsuit last week against Gray, Steel and their law firms in regards to allegations related to the ownership of Enlightened Cannabis for People of Heber Springs. The plaintiffs in that suit are former state legislator Marshall Wright, who served in the legislature alongside Steel, and Josh Landers. 

The lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges that Gray and Steel solicited the defendants in 2017 to serve as owners and members of certain business entities to apply for medical marijuana dispensary licenses. The suit claims that Gray and Steel did not have their clients’ best interests in mind and did not meet their professional standards or duty of loyalty to their clients. 

The plaintiffs also allege that the defendants did not properly advise them on the dispensary, its operating agreements or its management agreements. The suit alleges legal malpractice, fraud and constructive fraud and says that the plaintiffs have suffered and continue to suffer damages. 

The allegations are similar to the ones made against Gray and Steel in the suit filed last week. 

“These are the same vague accusations as the last one, filed by the same lawyer,” Gray said Wednesday. “The facts are incorrect and the claims have no merit.” 

Holland and Poynter did not respond to an email seeking comment. 

Plaintiffs are seeking “compensatory, special, punitive and all other measure of damages for which they are entitled” and a jury trial, the suit says.