A lawsuit has been filed by Cuckoo’s Nest, a private, invitation-only club in Menlo Park that mingles tech entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, against its former chief sales and marketing officer, Tony Perkins.
The suit, filed last week, accuses Perkins of embezzling from the club more than $550,000 in member fees and sponsor and investor funds, according to the complaint filed in San Mateo County Superior Court on July 7.
Attorney David Nemecek could not be reached for comment. A defense attorney has not yet been named.
The exclusive club made the news in April after Palo Alto and Menlo Park residents living near the club, located at 68 Willow Road, raised concerns about a plan to build a bar at the club. Residents were worried about traffic, noise and parking — and the precedent that would be set by granting the use permit to sell wine, beer and spirits and to allow recreational and social events.
Marco ten Vaanholt, co-founder and managing partner of BootUp and Cuckoo, has said that excessive alcohol consumption is uncommon in private clubs, where decorum is valued, particularly among the CEOs and entrepreneurs who have reputations to protect, and that the club has already hosted more than 100 events, using temporary alcohol-service permits, with no complaints.
Related content:
• Liquor license application for Cuckoo’s Nest on hold
• Neighborhood feathers are ruffling over Cuckoo’s Nest club
By Kate Bradshaw
By Kate Bradshaw
By Kate Bradshaw
Well run, are we? How can this organization respond appropriately to and coexist peacefully with residential neighbors when it cannot police itself from within?
The organization may have procured temporary liquor licenses but they somehow managed to ignore the step of obtaining use permits from the city (note to businesses: you can’t use your office space to host a circus, sell medical marijuana…or open a private club). They did their best to ignore neighbor concerns as their “well-behaved” guests created traffic and noise problems in residential neighborhoods on both sides of the creek. Any surprise that one of the founders is a criminal? Hope this puts a permanent kibosh on their plans.
Well-behaved indeed! I nearly got run over by a black Mercedes weaving down the street after leaving the Cuckoo’s Nest parking lot! Children and other pedestrians beware!
My email to Forbes tonight (September 27, 2016) regarding Tony Perkins and his new ‘Sunrise Silicon Valley Group’.
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2016 11:12 PM
To: ‘akonrad@forbes.com’
Subject: Tony Perkins – Misappropriating of Funds (article)
Hi Alex,
I wanted to forward the following emails (below) that I sent to Tony, as well as the (new) ‘Sunrise Silicon Valley Group’ that he just formed. He’s asking $2500/member (well, if you’re ‘worthy enough’ to have his contact information, etc), so I wanted to forward a copy after reading about your story this evening. It just confirmed what I now know about his ‘character’.
Uh, do you think that I was a bit ‘harsh’ and ‘unprofessional’ with my ‘choice of words’? LOL! I could care less Bro’.
Regards,
James
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2016 10:58 PM
To: ‘Concierge Sunrise’; ‘tony@sunrisesiliconvalley.com’; ‘tonyperkins@mac.com’
Subject: RE: FUCK OFF! RE: Thursday Rooftop Party in Palo Alto is sold out..
Go Fuck yourself too Tony!
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2016 9:17 PM
To: ‘Concierge Sunrise’; ‘tony@sunrisesiliconvalley.com’; ‘tonyperkins@mac.com’
Subject: FUCK OFF! RE: Thursday Rooftop Party in Palo Alto is sold out..
That’s a pretty FUCKIN’ WORTHLESS EXCUSE! You guys have no integrity whatsoever. I receive an email confirmation that I can attend and then you do this? Then, when you’re talking (on the other side of your mouth) you’re ‘inviting me to consider’ joining your BULLSHIT ‘Sunrise Silicon Valley Club’?
FUCK OFF!
Y’all think that your ‘ass doesn’t stink’ but the ‘smell of your FARTS’ give you away. You should be ashamed.
From: Concierge Sunrise [mailto:concierge@sunrisesiliconvalley.io]
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2016 11:28 AM
To: Concierge Sunrise
Subject: Thursday Rooftop Party in Palo Alto is sold out..
We are deeply sorry to say that due to the high demand of our paid membership to attend the Rooftop Party at Highland Capital this Thursday, we have had to close registration to non-members. The Palo Alto Fire Department has very strict rules regarding the capacity of the roof top.
This is embarrassing for us to not be able to host you on Thursday, and we apologize. We do promise to keep you name on record for future events open to non-members.
If you are interested in applying for membership to Sunrise, please let me know, and I will happily help you navigate the nomination process.
With Warm Regards,
Kristin M. Paugh
Concierge & Membership
Sunrise [Silicon Valley]
Pioneers in Global Innovation and Creativity.
Sunrisesiliconvalley.io
Palo Alto’s Premier Social Club
Email: concierge@sunrisesiliconvalley.io
Mobile: +1-408-402-1977
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinpaugh