Afghanistan veteran survives war...only to be brought down by Subway Sandwiches

aolnews.com ^ | 6/23/09 | Bruce Watson

[Bulldawg Fan]

In 2003, The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act was instituted to ensure that American soldiers who were sent to combat positions overseas wouldn't be financially penalized upon their return. For Leon Batie, however, it looks like a year spent in a mud hut in Afghanistan may have cost him his businesses and credit rating.

The South Dallas/Fair Park Trust Fund, which helped Batie start his business, is the kind of community-based improvement group that conservatives and liberals can both get behind. From the liberal side, the program is designed to help revitalize a low-income minority community. Conservatives, on the other hand, can take heart in the fact that its support takes the form of low-interest loans that are offered to new business owners.

In many ways, Leon Batie is the perfect bipartisan poster boy for the program. An African American man who lived in the community, Batie took out a $50,000 loan to open a Subway sandwich shop in the heart of South Dallas. Fueled by that success, he opened two more franchises, receiving another $25,000 in loan money along the way. His stores did quite well, and the fund lauded his success in promotional materials and newspaper articles.

Batie was also a US Army reservist and, in 2005, was called up for service in Afghanistan. He placed his brother, Chris, and another friend in charge of his stores; unfortunately, when he returned a year later, his accounts were in arrears and Subway had begun proceedings to strip him of his franchises. He claims that his offer to pay the portion of his rent that was in arrears was rebuffed by Subway. Not surprisingly, one of the people poised to benefit from the sale of Batie's stores was a Subway executive, who apparently pocketed $100,000 from the sale.

[Bulldawg Fan]

It seems to be that there is more to blame than Subway. The brother and his partner apparently spent the restaurants into bankruptcy and Subway did what they would normally do in such a case. If there was an offer to pay back the rent not paid previously and Subway refused, if one of their executives pocketed $100,000 from the sale, then it seems Batie should have taken them to court.

[Right Wing Assault]

I hope somewhere along the line he kicked his brother’s butt (and that of the friend) for likely stealing him blind.

I’d have the SOB investigated and prosecuted if needed.