Eric Wortham filed the suit April 5 in Madison County Circuit Court against John McGill, Susan McGill and SJ McGill Inc.
According to the complaint, Wortham alleges he entered into a contract with the defendants for the right to operate a Pizza World in Wood River and for the purchase of the contents of the restaurant, including furniture and fixtures.
The suit alleges the defendants negotiated a lease agreement with Wortham, who owned the property.
The defendants ultimately closed the restaurant, leaving a conflict that was resolved by an arbitrator's decision, according to the suit.
However, the defendants have failed to return the content of the restaurant to the plaintiff and the costs of a build-out, which were allegedly incurred when the business was transferred to the defendants.
The plaintiff seeks a judgment of $280,000, the value of the build-out and contents, plus court costs. He is represented by G. Edward Moorman in Alton.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 16-L-445