Taylor Farms files suit against former exec
Says he stole millions to fund lavish lifestyle
By: James Powel
USA today
..... Taylor Farms has sued the former president of its Tennessee subsidiary, claiming he stole more than $32 million to fund a lavish lifestyle.
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The produce company alleges in a civil lawsuit hat Brian Thure spent company money on unauthorized purchase, including multiple homes and an endowment at the University of California, Berkley, according to court documents obtained by USA Today. Thure serve as president of Taylor Farms Tennessee from 2012 until this March, [2026] according to the lawsuit.
..... The lawsuit names Thure, his wife Julie Thure, James McPherson, and MTS Building and electrical as defendants. The suit alleges McPherson helped the couple funnel stolen money trough MTS Building and Electrical, which it describes as a "sham" contracting firm.
..... USA Today reached out to representatives for the defendants for comment.
..... The lawsuit, originally filed in a Tennessee federal court in June, [2026] is unrelated to the nationwide outbreak that health officials have linked to lettuce suppled by Taylor Farms.
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The lawsuit alleges that the defendants participated in a "multi-year fraudulent scheme" hat saw Brian Thure use fraudulent vendor charges, reimbursements and use of company credit cards for his won gain.
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It also alleges that Brain Thure put his wife and other family members on the company's payroll to collect about $3 million in "unauthorized salaries and bonuses."
..... The Thures allegedly purchased a $5.5 million home in Hawaii and a $1.5 million , 400-acre ranch in Humboldt, California, that they developed at the cost of "millions of additional dollars, as well as a $300,00 home in Covington, Kentucky. Julie Thure donated the Hawaii home to the Middle Tennessee Christian School for fundraising purposes, according to the lawsuit.
..... Brian Thure fraudulently hire personal service workers through Taylor Farms, including a personal chef, personal driver, handyman, personal trainer, aquarium and maintenance attendants, the lawsuit alleges.