Kevin Assemi has launched yet another lawsuit against other family members, this time seeking to block the possible sale of ag properties in the Assemi’s $2 billion farming operation.

He withdrew a previous lawsuit in April. That lawsuit, filed in December, alleged 31 civil claims against his family.

Kevin is the son of Farid Assemi, who built a development and farming empire well known for its philanthropic efforts with his brothers, Farshid and Darius.

“It’s unfortunate that it has come to this in our family,” said Darius Assemi, who is Kevin’s uncle. “I am hopeful all of the issues can be resolved amicably.”

Many of the claims made in the withdrawn lawsuit centered on Kevin Assemi’s salary cut and eventual termination as president of the Assemi Group. He also alleged that one of the Assemi farming operations failed to invest as promised in Elevated Ag LLC, a company started by Kevin Assemi in 2020.

The family members’ countersuit against Kevin still remains despite his withdrawal of the previous suit.

In his latest lawsuit, Assemi alleged that he was shocked to learn that some of the family’s farming assets were being marketed for sale. As a beneficiary of certain trusts established by Farid Assemi, Kevin Assemi says he should have been kept in the loop about the potential sale of farming properties.

“Petitioner had to learn about such a sale through local news stories and not from the Trustee who has a duty to keep Petitioner reasonably informed. Petitioner has requested and has yet to receive information that he is unequivocally entitled as a matter of law. …” the lawsuit states.

In May, Kevin Assemi petitioned a court to delay any efforts by other family members to sell pieces of the 52,000 acres the Assemis own in a region spanning from Fresno County to Kern County. Much of that acreage is planted with pistachios and almonds.

Kevin Assemi Wants to Oust Relatives as Trustees

In addition, the petition asks the court to replace Neema Assemi, who is Kevin’s cousin, as trustee of The Farid Assemi 2010 Grantor Trust with a neutral trustee.  Kevin concurrently filed a separate petition involving another trust, The Farid Assemi 1997 Ranch Trust, for which Neema and Farshid Assemi serve as trustees.  Both petitions request similar relief.

On July 26, the Court denied Kevin’s request for an interim court order to, among other things, suspend the trustees. The petitions are scheduled to be heard in Fresno County Superior Court on Nov. 14.

Disclosure: Darius Assemi is publisher of GV Wire.