Case Update as of July 29 2026

Plaintiff Joseph Phelan posted this :

“As promised, I will always be upfront about what happened in the litigation arising from my public discussion of nuEra Cannabis and the ownership agreement I alleged had been breached.

On Count V, the jury found in favor of myself the plaintiff Joseph Phelan and against Robert Fitzsimmons II, NuMed Partners, NuMed Managers, and IESO, jointly and severally, for breach of our contract.

On Counterclaim Counts II–IV defamation per se, false light, and tortious interference the jury found in favor of myself and Juan Finch Jr. Those claims concerned our public discussion and F’nAround publications of witness intimidation, death threats, defrauding us, bribery attempts, wires to witnesses, racism and sexism within the company, and allegations that nuEra and members of the Fitzsimmons family financed litigation involving Finch to delay minority applicants while pursuing additional business licenses.

After seven days of trial in cook county Illinois, during which they heard testimony and reviewed the evidence, all twelve jurors unanimously signed the verdict forms in our favor on all of the above counts.

Because the verdicts will not be formally entered as a final judgment until the remaining bench-trial issue concerning Michigan ownership concludes at the end of September, we expect regulators in multiple states to wait until the judgment is finalized before acting on the trial admissions and jury findings. Juan Finch Jr.’s appeal can likewise proceed after final judgment, with the trial testimony concerning the payment of his litigation now preserved in the record.

The counter-plaintiffs

Robert Fitzsimmons, II aka Bob Fitzsimmons

Robert V. Fitzsimmons, III aka Robb Fitzsimmons

NuMed Managers, Inc.

Laura Jaramillo Bernal

IESO, LLC

NuMed East Peoria, LLC

NuMed Urbana, LLC

NuMed Chicago, LLC

NuEra DeKalb, LLC

NuEra East Dubuque, LLC

NuEra Chicago Southland, LLC”

Public Updates as of July 24, 2026

Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook CountyCase Activities:

Activity Date:07/21/ Desc:Judgment For A Specific Litigant Comments:

Activity Date:07/21/2026 Event Desc:Judgment For A Specific Litigant Comments:

Activity Date:07/21/2026 Event Desc:Judgment For A Specific Litigant Comments:Count II of Counterclaim

Activity Date:07/21/2026 Event Desc:Judgment For A Specific Litigant Comments:Count III of Counterclaim

Activity Date:07/21/2026 Event Desc:Judgment For A Specific Litigant Comments:Count IV of Counterclaim

Important Notice

It has been brought to our attention through publicly available statements made by a plaintiff on his LinkedIn at JosephPhelan.com that the defendants, in an effort to allegedly conceal information, gain leverage, and obstruct justice in the ongoing lawsuit, have engaged in various maneuvers and strategies. These actions, as publicly discussed by the plaintiff, allegedly constitute violations of state and federal law, including felony-level offenses, with apparent involvement from certain state regulatory bodies.

Additionally, wire transfers from the defendant to a listed witness have surfaced. According to the plaintiff, these wires were deposited into a joint business account controlled by the witness, who allegedly used the funds for personal expenses, including payments to himself, his spouse, and a homeowners’ association. The plaintiff has stated his intent to release this evidence publicly. The plaintiff has been releasing this and all disclosures through his media company at F’nAround and has done a full timeline of events as well.

All information provided here is based on publicly available records, filings, and statements.

We are collecting information regarding any damages or financial losses resulting from Nuera Cannabis, affiliates, and the Fitzsimmons family. There is a significant controversy on Reddit, in the media, and within the cannabis community about the Juan Finch Jr. v. Mario Treto Jr. case in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Case No. 22 CV 1508), our attention was drawn to the fact that this was all funded and orchestrated by Nuera Cannabis, specifically Robert Fitzsimmons and his family. We have contacted validating witnesses and are currently conducting a fact-finding mission to determine available options for those who have suffered financial losses due to their actions. Additionally, we are constantly exploring and updating other avenues based on our research.

The initial complaint has been closed, and remaining counts are proceeding forward. Appeals for dismissed counts are in progress, ensuring all legal avenues are pursued. It is important to note that everything hinges on the current case, as the plaintiffs’ participation and validation are required for any further actions.

Additionally, NuEra Cannabis has faced scrutiny over alleged non-compliance with discovery obligations since July and delays in providing evidence. Reports suggest omissions in tax-related disclosures, which have raised questions about their operational practices. These issues remain under close observation as the case unfolds.

Our focus remains on providing updates, supporting affected individuals, and pursuing accountability for any misconduct. We encourage anyone with relevant information to come forward as we closely follow these developments.

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