A German air charter partnership is embroiled in a legal battle after being allegedly defrauded by an individual operating under a false identity. The plaintiffs, Christian Buege, Norbert Peitzmeier, and Flugsharter Gesellschaft Burgerlichen Rechts (GBR), filed a complaint on December 20, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against John Flint, also known as John Doe, and CAP LLC, a fictitious entity.
The case unfolds with GBR—a partnership between Buege and Peitzmeier based in Hildesheim, Germany—seeking to repair their Cessna 414 aircraft engine following its failure in November 2022. They were introduced to John Flint through a trusted technician from their service department. Flint claimed to have the expertise needed for the repairs and was contracted for $83,000 upfront with the promise of restoring the engine's value to approximately $160,000 upon completion. However, Flint allegedly deceived them by taking both the money and engine without any intention of fulfilling his promises.
In January 2023, GBR transferred $83,000 to Flint and shipped the engine to an address he provided in Georgia. Subsequently, Flint falsely assured them that repairs were underway at another location in Kansas. Upon investigation by GBR, this address turned out to be an empty field next to an abandoned house. When pressed for updates or permission to inspect the engine's progress from September to November 2023, Flint demanded exorbitant fees for site visits and further payments for additional repair phases.
By June 2024, communication ceased entirely as Plaintiffs realized they had been defrauded. Their investigation revealed that "John Flint" was merely an alias used by an unknown individual engaged in fraudulent activities through CAP LLC—a non-existent company created as a front. As per court documents: “Due to John Flint and CAP LLC’s fraudulent conduct,” GBR has suffered damages exceeding $250,000.
The plaintiffs are pursuing multiple claims including fraud—citing misrepresentations made by Flint about his ability and intent—and unjust enrichment since no services were rendered despite payment. They seek actual damages of at least $250,000 along with lost profits and other consequential damages resulting from this ordeal. Additionally requested are punitive damages aimed at deterring such fraudulent conduct alongside attorney fees incurred during litigation.
Representing GBR are attorneys Reinhold F. Krammer and Patrick M. Kelly from Masuda Funai Eifert & Mitchell Ltd., located in Chicago Illinois; while presiding over this matter is yet unnamed judge under Case ID: 1:24-cv-13120.