A Whatcom County Superior Court judge has entered a $333,333.33 judgment against business owner Robert Pinkley after finding Leader Block Wine Co. & Eatery operated as a legal partnership rather than an employer-employee relationship, according to court documents. A separate breach of contract lawsuit brought against Pinkley by a former manager remains scheduled for trial in December 2026.
Pinkley currently serves as an elected Ferndale City Council member.
In a case filed in Whatcom County Superior Court on July 3, 2025, former general manager, Amberleigh Brownson, filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Pinkley and Leader Bloc LLC seeking damages exceeding $240,000. Brownson stated that Pinkley announced on March 1, 2018, that she was joining the enterprise as an investor, partner and general manager, but later reclassified her as an employee and terminated her on July 6, 2022, without formalizing equity or sharing profits.
Pinkley denied the claims in an August 4, 2025 response, stating Brownson was one of 5 general managers he employed since 2017, none of which held equity or legal partnership. Pinkley stated he terminated Brownson for conduct including unauthorized use of funds, romantic involvement with a subordinate and disruptive communications and asserted Leader Block LLC is a property management entity he has owned since 2004.
Following a 2-day bench trial on September 1 and September 2, 2026, Judge Robert E. Olson issued findings of fact and conclusions of law on September 25, 2026. The court found that Pinkley, Brownson and Brett Wiltse formed an implied partnership under Washington law starting in September 2018 to operate the Ferndale restaurant. According to the court’s findings, Pinkley provided capital and floorspace, Brownson provided sommelier knowledge, operations management and marketing and Wiltse served as a contractor building out the retail spaces. All 3 individuals had signature authority on the business bank account and publicly held each other out as partners.
The court determined Pinkley lacked the legal authority to terminate Brownson and was required under state law to wind up the partnership. Based on Pinkley’s July 6, 2022 written offer to sell the business for $1 million, Olson determined Brownson was entitled to a 1-third share of $333,333.33. Olson entered judgment in that amount on September 25, 2026, with interest to accrue at the statutory rate starting November 1, 2026. Brownson filed a formal judgment summary on October 2, 2026.
The option to appeal the court’s ruling is available to Pinkley for 30 days following the judgement.
A companion lawsuit is pending against Pinkley and Leader Bloc LLC. Brett Wiltse filed the action alleging breach of contract for unpaid labor, operational contributions and unfulfilled promises of ownership interest.
In a response filed September 4, 2025, Pinkley stated Wiltse was employed solely as a general handyman, was fully compensated for all labor and held no managerial or ownership stake in the restaurant or the building at 2028 Main Street. In an amended reply filed September 11, 2025, Wiltse denied being a handyman, asserting he performed operational, managerial and strategic duties under representations of shared interest. Wiltse also produced a Washington Secretary of State initial report for Leader Block Wine Company LLC, effective January 1, 2021, listing Pinkley, Brownson and Wiltse as individual governors.
Judge Lee Grochmal assigned Wiltse’s case for trial on December 29, 2026. On July 24, 2026, the court granted Wiltse’s motion to vacate an earlier discovery order after Pinkley failed to appear.
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