Richard Domingo, an Alexandria, Va., business consultant, has accused Venable and former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh (D-Ind.) of leaving him exposed to a fraud lawsuit after the firm bungled the opening of a Victoria’s Secret franchise in Puerto Rico.
Domingo said in a complaint filed on Nov. 4 that Victor Omar Portugues-Santa, a San Juan, Puerto Rico-based businessman, hired Venable and Bayh to help him open a franchise of the lingerie retailer in exchange for $400,000. Domingo, who put Portugues-Santa in touch with Venable, where Bayh is a partner, received a separate payment of $100,000 for serving as the intermediary.
