Loveall’s wife, Leanna Loveall, a former employee of Creative Modular Construction (CMC) with access to its financial systems, is also named as a defendant.
On Feb. 9, a circuit judge in Greene County, Missouri, issued an injunction barring the Lovealls from altering or destroying company records and ordered them to provide the plaintiff access to those records.
As of Wednesday, no response had been filed by the Lovealls to the lawsuit, which alleges fraud, conversion, unjust enrichment, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of operating agreement. The suit seeks compensatory damages, disgorgement, restitution and punitive damages.
Crume, of Benton County, is a co-founder of 7 Brew Drive-Thru Coffee. He and his wife, Lisa, launched the brand in Rogers in 2017.
The Crumes own Club 37 LLC, which holds a 50% interest in CMC. Lee Loveall owns the remaining 50%.
The Springfield, Missouri-based construction firm was organized to serve as the exclusive modular building manufacturer for 7 Brew. Its prefabricated structures are delivered by crane onto prepared foundations, allowing the coffee chain to open new locations quickly and at lower cost.
7 Brew recently surpassed 600 stores and announced two development deals aimed at accelerating growth. In 2024, CMC broke ground on a new $30 million facility in Springfield to support expansion.
The lawsuit alleges the Lovealls diverted company funds through unauthorized company checks and cash withdrawals and commingled the funds with personal accounts and other companies under their control.
According to the complaint, Lee Loveall also received a distribution approved on the condition it be reinvested as a capital contribution into a building project but instead retained the funds for personal use.
Club 37 has moved to assume operational control of CMC and sever ties with the Lovealls. The company terminated Lee Loveall’s employment and issued a notice of dissociation to end financial connections, though the lawsuit states he has refused to recognize those actions. Leanna Loveall was removed as a signatory on company bank accounts.
In a request for a temporary restraining order, the plaintiff asked the court to declare that Lee Loveall no longer holds management or voting rights and to order the buyout of his membership interest. Judge Derek A. Ankrom denied the request and scheduled a preliminary hearing for March 3.
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