MIAMI – A former vice president has filed a lawsuit against The Pickleball Club claiming the company’s chief financial officer sent a defamatory email to more than 160 shareholders in an attempt to silence his concerns about the company’s alleged misrepresentations to investors.

Earl Takefman, a citizen of Canada residing in the U.S. as a permanent resident, filed a lawsuit in federal court against The Pickleball Club LLC and its co-founder and senior executive, Matthew Gordon, citing allegations of defamation.

According to court documents, Takefman, a former Vice President of Business Development at TPC, worked for the company from January 23, 2023, until his termination on July 10, 2023.