Her next stop? Court.
Renee Blinkerhoff, a well-known Colorado socialite with a penchant for Porsche racing, is facing legal battles stemming from a contentious divorce and financial disputes. Following her split from her husband, who previously owned a restaurant chain, she’s caught up in a $4.5 million lawsuit involving contractors.
Having received half of the La Roma restaurant chain assets in her December divorce, Blinkerhoff is now embroiled in legal action from contractors Gene and Clark Atkinson, as reported.
These longtime family friends claim that after their restaurant projects in Denver went south, Blinkerhoff’s company refused to pay them. Meanwhile, she has filed a countersuit alleging that their work was flawed and that the invoices they provided were misleading.
Blinkerhoff, who once raced Porsches on all seven continents, insists that the Atkinsons’ claims lack merit. She argues that the work they performed was not up to standard, leading to delays and issues.
In his lawsuit, Clark Atkinson asserts that his company provided services to Blinkerhoff’s business, Water Street Holdings, while she was navigating her divorce. He contends that she assumed responsibility for the company’s debts after taking over the restaurant from her ex-husband, William.
Clark told a publication that it’s troubling for someone who has recently received a hefty settlement to overlook such debts. “It seems unfair,” he said. “She leads a lavish lifestyle.”
According to Gene Atkinson, PAFC is owed $3.5 million for construction work at specific La Loma locations. He mentioned that he funded the projects personally while Blinkerhoff’s marriage deteriorated.
Gene expressed his frustration, stating, “We’ve invested a lot into creating some of the best restaurants in Denver.” He believes Blinkerhoff’s assertion of financial struggles does not align with reality.
Blinkerhoff, however, argues that the Atkinsons are exaggerating their claims, insisting that she has already paid out $2.9 million and that her outstanding balance is around $732,000.
Having finalized her divorce ten months ago, Blinkerhoff secured a settlement of nearly $29.5 million. She maintains that the debts attributed to her stemmed from issues involving her ex-husband, claiming the restaurant carried significant financial burdens.
She stated, “The accusations against me are completely unfounded and seem to be deliberate mischaracterizations.” Furthermore, Blinkerhoff accused PAFC of neglecting contract obligations and requests for accounting records.
Gene has countered that he wasn’t made aware of any significant issues and denies any wrongdoing regarding the invoices. Both the Atkinsons and Blinkerhoff could not be reached for further comment.
