Ant Anstead ordered to pay over $100,000 in lawsuit he claims he never knew about
Ant Anstead has been directed to disburse a substantial six-figure amount to an individual asserting that the television personality reneged on an agreement, as Us Weekly has learned through an exclusive report.
A ruling by an Orange County Superior Court judge on September 23 mandated Anstead and his associate, Jenson Button, to cover $101,000 in damages, $17,000 in accrued interest, along with additional charges, accumulating to a total of $119,357.
This verdict was delivered because Anstead, aged 46, and his collaborator did not submit a defense to the legal complaint.
The legal dispute commenced in July 2024 when a man named Timothy Tasker initiated legal action against Anstead’s firm, Radford Motors (subsequently adding Anstead and his business partner as individual defendants).
According to the lawsuit, Tasker alleged a meeting with Anstead on April 1, 2022, during which Anstead supposedly informed him about the production and sale of a new vehicle, limited to just 62 units.
Tasker stated he provided a $101,000 down payment to reserve one of these bespoke automobiles.
Court documents indicate Tasker’s assertion that he attended various functions with Anstead and his associates, including an opportunity for “track time in the inaugural” custom vehicle. He claimed they informed him that the initial vehicles would be delivered by late 2022, with the “remaining units to follow throughout 2023.”
By October 2022, Tasker reportedly informed Radford of his decision to withdraw from the car purchase. He recounted that an executive acknowledged his request and guaranteed a complete reimbursement of $101,000, to be processed by year-end 2022.
Over the subsequent months, [Tasker’s] attempts via phone and email concerning the repayment of his $101,000.00 deposit went unacknowledged. Then, in September 2023, [Tasker] learned from [a former Radford employee] that she had departed Radford / FCG and that his details and inquiries had been relayed to the company’s new Chief Financial Officer.
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Tasker reported no success in establishing contact with the newly appointed CFO.
The legal filing charged Anstead and his associates with failing to deliver any of the custom-built vehicles to buyers.
“[Tasker] has been advised and presumes that, as of now, the Defendants have not supplied any [custom cars], and numerous individuals who made deposits comparable to or greater than [Tasker’s] have also sought the return of their funds without success,” the lawsuit stated.
Tasker initiated legal proceedings against Radford, Anstead, and his business partner, alleging fraud, breach of contract, and conversion. The complaint sought the full repayment of $101,000. Tasker subsequently withdrew the fraud and conversion accusations against Anstead, though the breach of contract claims remained.
Radford Motors refuted all accusations of improper conduct. The company was subsequently removed from the legal action.
A representative for Anstead informed Us, “Mr. Anstead and Mr. Button were entirely uninformed about the supposed judgment. Neither individual received the summons for the lawsuit, nor any notification regarding a proposed request for default or default judgment. Therefore, if a judgment was indeed issued … it occurred without due process or adherence to required procedure. Mr. Anstead and Mr. Button are currently engaging with legal counsel and will expeditiously work to annul the judgment on these grounds. The judgment does not reflect the merits of the case but stems from its secretive acquisition and lack of legally mandated notice. In fact, as of this moment, Mr. Anstead and Mr. Button have yet to receive any alleged judgment.”
As Us has previously disclosed, Anstead’s luxury car manufacturer, Radford Motors, initiated Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in October 2024.
Radford, an established British automotive firm, was re-launched in 2020 by Anstead, Formula One racer Button, and several other joint proprietors.
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The declaration of bankruptcy followed allegations of fraudulent activities against Radford.
In a separate legal action initiated by businessman named Pastor (Pat) Velasco, Anstead and one of his associates faced claims of a $2 million debt. This particular lawsuit accused the pair of diverting corporate funds for personal use. A different lawsuit contended that Anstead and another partner had inadequately managed the company’s financial affairs.
On October 24, 2024, Anstead issued a public statement asserting his “unwavering commitment” to Radford, notwithstanding the prevailing financial “difficulties.”
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He declared, “Radford is enacting strategic improvements to its organization while ensuring uninterrupted operations. My commitment to furthering Radford’s objectives and expansion remains steadfast. My involvement and devotion to Radford’s prosperity persist without alteration.” He further stated that he and Button, aged 45, would “uphold our fundamental pledge to the high standards that have characterized Radford since its inception.”
Days later, a spokesperson for Radford commented on the ongoing lawsuits, stating, “All claims, without exception, will be handled within the scope of the bankruptcy proceedings.”
By May, the bankruptcy process transitioned from a Chapter 11 reorganization to a Chapter 7 liquidation.
