Junior vs. Senior: Paul Teutal Jr. Weds and Dad a No-Show

It’s always sad when doing business with family ends up badly, but not going to your son’s wedding? That’s just cold.

Paul Teutul, Jr., or “Paulie,” co-founder and former employee of Orange County Choppers, tied the knot with his bride, Rachel, in August.

Paul Teutul, Sr. was invited to the Bonnet Island, New Jersey wedding, but did not attend. He missed $28,000 worth of flower arrangements, a six-tier pink velvet wedding cake (with matching handmade frosting flowers), and a post-ceremony release of butterflies while string musicians played “Here Comes the Sun.”

Paul Sr.’s refusal to attend is likely related to the ongoing legal battle between him and Paul Jr.

In 2008, Junior was fired from the family business and left American Chopper, the popular TLC show that documented it. He returned for the show on-and-off over the next year because of contractual obligations, making his final appearance in early 2009. Shortly after, Paul Sr. decided to exercise his contractual stock options and purchase Paul Jr.’s 20 percent interest in their company.

Here, their business partnership went from bad to worse.

Since 2009, it’s been Paul Sr. vs. Paul Jr. in the courts. After Junior wouldn’t give up the stocks, Paul Sr. filed a lawsuit to force the buyout. He’s added damages to the tune of over $1 million to his demands as well.

This isn’t the only battle for the father and son. Paul Teutul, Jr. has started a new company, Paul Jr. Designs. After waiting out a yearlong non-compete agreement with Orange County Choppers, Junior has begun making new custom bikes, putting his company in direct competition with Paul Sr.’s (a fact highlighted by their new TLC show, American Choppers: Senior vs. Junior).

Read about more celebrity business troubles like tax evasion, white collar crime, and more at CelebLegalIssues.com!