Plaintiffs Allege Automotive Giant Interfered with Business Agreement

Essex Parts Services, Inc. and Richard Martin have filed a lawsuit against Brembo NV and AP Racing Ltd., accusing them of unlawful interference in a business agreement. The complaint was lodged on January 27, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. The plaintiffs allege that Brembo’s actions disrupted a five-year commercial agreement between Essex and AP Racing by demanding payments based on a fraudulent transfer claim that had already been dismissed by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

The case revolves around Essex’s longstanding role as the exclusive distributor of AP Racing products in the United States, particularly within the NASCAR market. This relationship was jeopardized when Brembo allegedly attempted to extort money from Essex under the guise of settling debts owed by T.A.W. Performance LLC (TAW), another company previously owned by Richard Martin. Despite TAW filing for bankruptcy protection in 2024, Brembo continued to pursue claims against Essex and Martin for debts associated with TAW, even though these claims were deemed invalid by the bankruptcy court.

Essex and Martin argue that Brembo’s actions constitute interference with prospective contractual relations and violate the North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. They assert that Brembo’s demands for additional payments were not only unjustified but also part of a broader scheme to force Essex into fraudulent accounting practices with AP Racing. These alleged tactics included pressuring Essex to agree to inflated purchase requirements disguised as legitimate sales transactions.

The plaintiffs are seeking damages exceeding $75,000, citing significant financial harm due to Brembo’s interference and deceptive trade practices. They request treble damages under state law provisions for unfair trade practices, along with attorney fees and other relief deemed appropriate by the court.

Representing Essex Parts Services, Inc. and Richard Martin are attorneys Peter A. Santos and Seth Hudson from Maynard Nexsen PC. The case is presided over by Judge [Name] under Case ID 3:26-cv-00072.