Smile When You Say That

RALEIGH, N.C. (CN) – A man hired to be president of Martin Innovations claims the company owner cheated him and fired him in violation of contract, saying, “If you were foolish enough to believe my word, you don’t deserve anything.” Michael Zapata III claims Willis Elwood Martin also told him, “Son, you just need to learn that contracts aren’t worth the paper they are printed on.”     Zapata demands punitive damages for fraud, breach of contract and deceptive trade. He says he was hired at $240,000 a year plus benefits, including part ownership of the company, and a severance package, none of which he got. He is represented in Wake County Court by Donald Harris.