September 4, 2026 
Former CEO Murray Kessler and Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC (ESP) are facing new allegations regarding the Feb. 7 battery incident at Florida’s Wellington International.
A civil suit, filed by Lenore Brown, ESP’s Director of Sponsorships and Vendor Sales, accuses Kessler of battery, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress after he allegedly grabbed her by the hair and pulled her head toward his crotch during a high-profile equestrian event. The civil suit follows a criminal charge against Kessler filed in April.
Brown detailed the alleged incident in an offense report filed with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 17 and again in the civil filing.
According to the complaint, Brown was crouched beside a table in the VIP Club at Wellington International speaking with a potential sponsor when Kessler approached from behind and, without warning or consent, allegedly “seized Plaintiff’s shoulder-length hair with both hands, gathered it into his fists, and forcefully pulled her head and upper body backward.” The force, states the complaint, pulled Brown’s head against or immediately adjacent to Kessler’s pelvic and crotch area, where he held her for approximately 30 seconds while giving her workplace instructions.
The incident was witnessed by several adults and two minor children seated at the VIP table. Two of the witnesses gave sworn statements cited in the complaint and police report.
Horse Network reported on the battery allegation on Mar. 23. On Mar. 27, Wellington International terminated Kessler from his roles as CEO of Equestrian Sports Production, LLC and its affiliated entities, as well as from the management committee of Wellington Lifestyle Partners.
A subsequent criminal investigation by Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office resulted in a battery charge, a first-degree misdemeanor, on Apr. 20, 2026. Kessler was arrested on Apr. 29 and entered a not guilty plea on May 7, according to court records.
Now Kessler and his former employer are facing an additional civil suit stemming from the same incident—with new allegations brought forward against both Kessler and ESP.
In addition to the alleged battery, the lawsuit, filed in Palm Beach County on Sept. 3, 2026, details a prior incident from approximately September 2025, in which two young female employees reported that Kessler displayed a nude photograph of himself, including his exposed genitalia, on his cellular phone while they were assisting him. According to the complaint, the employees reported the incident to ESP President Michael Stone, who allegedly indicated that reporting the Chief Executive Officer to a human resources department that answers to him “might not end well.” The complaint alleges that “ESP did not conduct an adequate independent investigation, impose meaningful discipline, require appropriate remedial action, or establish safeguards to protect female employees from further misconduct.”
Brown further alleges that she personally observed Kessler making inappropriate comments about younger female employees’ appearances and witnessed him present a large red phallic necklace to a pregnant female executive.
Additional allegations were made about ESP’s internal handling of the incident.
The complaint references a virtual staff meeting, held by Stone on Mar. 24, 2026, where he addressed the public controversy concerning Kessler in Brown’s presence and before her colleagues, allegedly causing her additional humiliation and distress.
It further alleges that Mark Bellissimo, a principal of the ownership group that acquired Wellington International and ESP, directed or authorized members of ESP’s senior leadership to be offered as witnesses on Kessler’s behalf in the criminal proceeding arising from the Feb. 7 incident, although those executives were not present for the incident itself. Both Stone and Wellington International’s Executive Vice President of Operations Vaneli Martinov are listed on Kessler’s Witness List in that case.
Brown seeks compensatory damages for physical discomfort, emotional distress, humiliation, loss of dignity, reputational injury, lost compensation, security expenses, and other economic and non-economic losses.
She released the following statement via her lawyer, Russell Prince of Prince Sports Law:
“For the last seven months, following an assault in my workplace, I have worked diligently to rebuild my life and sense of normalcy. As I have throughout my entire career, I continued to dedicate myself to my work and represented Wellington International professionally and with pride, even in the wake of what happened to me. However, no professional pride or personal loyalty justifies tolerating an organization that fails to protect its employees and disregards their dignity. I filed a civil lawsuit against Wellington International and Murray Kessler because I refuse to be diminished by those in positions of power who believe they are above accountability. Every person deserves to work in an environment where they are valued and safe, and I intend to keep advocating for that.”
Kessler’s lawyer, Tama Beth Kudman, responded to a request for comment from Horse Network on the civil case and new allegations with the following:
“We will address these claims where they belong – in court, not through the media. We are confident that the evidence will reveal a very different picture from the one presented in the complaint. Ultimately, the legal process will allow people to judge for themselves not only the merits of these claims, but the motivation that was behind them in the first place.”
Requests for comment were not returned by Wellington International nor Michael Stone.
In their Mar. 27 press release announcing Kessler’s termination, Wellington International said it “acted immediately to support the employee who brought it forward” and “initiated an independent investigation within 24 hours” of learning of the incident. It also stated that “any reports or suggestions to the contrary are inaccurate.”
This is a developing story.
If you need help, call or text 9-1-1.
If you have a reasonable suspicion of misconduct, make a report electronically to the U.S. Center for SafeSport or call (720) 531-0340.
