New Lawsuit Disputes Ownership of Denver Music Venue

Within the last six months, music venue Your Mom’s House has experienced a lot of ups and downs, and the upheaval isn’t over yet as a new lawsuit questions the bar's ownership.

Filed on April 15 in Colorado District Court, the complaint by James Bedwell — who used to own Your Mom’s House — alleges new owner Jill Johnson only gained that ownership by using “a deliberate bait-and-switch scheme designed to fraudulently obtain control of the venue and its assets.”

According to the lawsuit, Bedwell brought Johnson in as a partner believing he would retain at least 51 percent of the business at 608 East Thirteenth Avenue. Instead, the complaint alleges, Johnson removed his access to the premises and made the business hers entirely.

The lawsuit accuses Johnson of fraudulent inducement for the “bait-and-switch scheme,” as well as breach of contract, civil theft, unjust enrichment and defamation. Bedwell asks for damages, attorney fees and a judgment that he is the rightful owner of Your Mom’s House in the complaint.

"We filed this action to protect our clients’ rights and business interests following what we allege were serious breaches of trust, contractual obligations, and misuse of company assets. The complaint outlines the claims in detail, and we trust that the legal process will address those issues appropriately," Bedwell's lawyer, Wadi Muhaisen, says in a statement.

Johnson officially inaugurated her ownership of Your Mom’s House with a party on January 4. She told Westword earlier this month that many aspects of the business were not running properly when she took over, including the partnership with tiki-themed lesbian speakeasy Pearl Divers. Since then, Pearl Divers has left Your Mom’s House to breathe new life into the Mercury Cafe, transforming it into The Pearl, and Johnson has continued to book musicians and host events at Your Mom’s House.

According to the lawsuit, however, Johnson never should have been in charge of the space. Bedwell had owned and operated Your Mom’s House for eight years before engaging with Johnson last year, when she said she could help resolve some of the business’s debts and improve operations.

The complaint says Johnson told Bedwell she would assume business debts of between $60,000 and $80,000, pay liability taxes, and operate jointly with Bedwell under a written partnership agreement. That agreement would include a guarantee that Bedwell would retain a 51 percent ownership stake, the lawsuit adds.

The Pearl Stop LLC has held the liquor license at Your Mom's House for years; part of the lawsuit contends Johnson illegally gained control over that LLC and, therefore, the liquor license. Another part of the agreement between Bedwell and Johnson would have transferred the liquor license from the Pearl Stop LLC to an LLC Bedwell had formed called Boogie Force Productions (BFP).

The pair signed a purchase agreement on December 15 with “many” of those terms, the lawsuit says.

“Contrary to the agreement, Johnson failed to pay the full purchase price, failed to assume or pay off tax debts, and failed to transfer the liquor license as promised,” the complaint reads. “On January 3, 2025, Johnson signed a new lease with the landlord, Tom, under Pearl Stop LLC, after the prior lease under BFP was canceled without proper notice.”

Two days later, Johnson allegedly changed the locks and denied Bedwell access even to retrieve equipment he or his LLC owned. The civil theft allegations stem from Johnson retaining the equipment and other items owned by Bedwell.

“Johnson claimed Bedwell would receive a key only after adding her to the BFP bank account, despite there being no finalized partnership agreement,” the lawsuit claims. “Bedwell was locked out of the business he built and operated for over eight years, and his property remains wrongfully withheld.”

By January 7, Johnson told Bedwell she was no longer interested in partnering with him, according to the lawsuit. The complaint also takes issue with Johnson attempting to “take over the business's online identity and branding” by blocking Bedwell from the Your Mom’s House Facebook page. She has also allegedly contacted Meta to gain administrative access to the venue’s Instagram, which Bedwell still retains.

Along with wrongfully taking over the business, the lawsuit contends that Johnson has defamed Bedwell in the process. According to the complaint, Johnson has falsely stated Bedwell has abused women, is a drug dealer running a drug-dealing ring, stole money from Your Mom’s House, is mentally unwell and dangerous, is being pursued by law enforcement, and is dishonest and unethical.

“These statements have been published to third parties, including but not limited to former employees, artists, patrons of YMH, and the broader Denver arts and nightlife community,” the lawsuit claims. "The statements are false, malicious, and have caused significant harm to Bedwell’s personal and professional reputation, business relationships, and emotional well-being.”

One of those third parties was Meta; Johnson told the company that Bedwell was unfit to manage the Your Mom’s House social media due to “abuse,” “theft” and “criminal behavior” according to the lawsuit.

“This has been one of the hardest chapters of my life. I built Your Mom’s House from scratch with everything I had — literal blood, sweat and tears. It’s more than a business; it’s been a home for local artists, musicians, the grassroots/underground scene and an incredibly diverse creative community. YMH was known for being that indie-music venue that gave opportunities to this state's local artists (of all genres) and showcased national/international up-n-coming artists for their first-time plays in Colorado. YMH was my baby. I never thought or wanted things to end up in court, but I owe it to everyone who helped make it special to stand up for what’s right," Bedwell writes in an emailed statement.

Johnson declined to speak with Westword about the suit, saying that the claim holds so little weight that she hasn’t even involved her lawyer.

This article was updated to include a statement from James Bedwell and his attorney, Wadi Muhaisen.