Ty Warner Sued By Stylist For $1 Million

The Beanie Babies billionaire is being accused of muscling out a salon owner from the Biltmore Hotel in Montecito and is now being sued for more than $1 million.

Kevin Boyle claims he was unlawfully forced out of his salon at the luxury hotel. He wants his salon back and money for damages.

The civil lawsuit was filed Monday.

Boyle, of Kevin Charles Salon, said he was forced out of his business by the hotel owner Ty Warner, represented by two men who walked into his salon.

“Kevin had no idea what was going on and he said, ‘What gives you the right to do this?’ And the guy tells him, ‘We work for Ty Warner. Ty Warner does what he wants,'” said Peter Bertling, Boyle’s attorney.

Bertling said his client was wrongfully evicted in February when those two men handed Boyle a letter telling him he had to leave immediately.

“That letter said that the reason had to do with a bankruptcy that Mr. Boyle had filed in July of 2011,” said Bertling. “It also indicated that he was behind on some rent at the salon.”

But the stylist said three months of rent checks were never cashed. As for the additional two months after that, the hotel told him not to worry about it since it owed him money.

The lawsuit has seven claims — forcible entry, wrongful eviction, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of quiet enjoyment, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence.

Warner attorney Scott Rodgers told NewsChannel 3 he did not have a comment at this time because he just received the complaint. Rodgers did say he will respond to the lawsuit by December.

“We’re trying to get the full scope of damages that will be able to be awarded under the law,” said Bertling.

The price tag for all seven damages outlined in the lawsuit adds up to more than $1 million, said Bertling.

Boyle and his attorney believe the reason for his eviction is Warner wanted someone more well known to take over the salon. Jose Eber was recently announced as the new stylist at the Biltmore Hotel.

This is the most recent headline-making news Warner has been a part of. In October, he pleaded guilty to tax evasion for hiding millions of dollars in secret Swiss bank accounts.

“And yet he’s here in our community displacing somebody who had been at that salon for almost 20 years. That’s just wrong. It’s just wrong,” said Bertling.