AriZona Iced Tea Co-Founder John Ferolito Sued Over Alleged Promise of $820,000 Home

AriZona Iced Tea co-founder John Ferolito is embroiled in a legal dispute with his longtime masseuse, Fayssanya “Fay” Pratt, who claims he promised her an $820,000 home in Coral Springs, Florida. A key piece of evidence in the case is a secretly recorded conversation on a Ring doorbell.

Over their approximately 23-year professional relationship, Ferolito provided Pratt and her family with numerous costly benefits. Court filings and interviews indicate these perks included purchasing a car for Pratt's mother, paying off a mortgage on another of Pratt's properties, and covering educational expenses for her children. A sworn affidavit from one of Ferolito's aides states that he also paid for the family's ongoing dental bills, funded vacations, and covered expenses for trips to casinos and resorts.

Ferolito himself stated in an affidavit that he provided Pratt with $180,000 for an investment account, which he claims grew to over $600,000. Pratt also recounted instances where Ferolito bought her a Chevrolet Tahoe and paid for her son's orthodontic treatment.

However, Ferolito, 76, denies promising Pratt the Coral Springs house, asserting that the property was intended as an investment and that Pratt and her family were permitted to reside there only during her employment. His legal team has presented an unsigned lease agreement from April 2018, listing Ferolito as the landlord and Pratt as the tenant, with a nominal rent of $1 per month, requiring Pratt to cover property taxes and maintenance.

Pratt disputes this arrangement, claiming it was never the agreement. Ferolito's side points to a text message from April 2022 in which Pratt allegedly asked Ron Cohen, Ferolito's chief financial officer, to confirm with Ferolito that she had signed the lease agreement before they moved in. Additionally, cashier's checks allegedly used by Pratt for property tax reimbursements were marked with terms like "2019 RENT" and "PARTIAL RENT YEAR 2021." Pratt claims she labeled the checks as instructed by Ferolito, without fully understanding why.

Regarding home improvements, Pratt claims she invested nearly $100,000 in taxes, repairs, appliances, and renovations. An accountant for Ferolito's trust, however, stated that the trust itself spent $184,613.46 on maintenance, repairs, and improvements, excluding the purchase price.

The relationship reportedly soured in 2022 following a dispute over landscaping work estimated at $33,000. Pratt also claims that Cohen made sexually explicit comments and inappropriate physical contact during her employment, though the judge dismissed these sexual harassment claims from the current case.

Pratt was terminated on September 7, 2022, by Ferolito's executive assistant, Kelly Aldrich. According to a transcript of a phone call cited by Atlanta Black Star, Aldrich informed Pratt that Ferolito was letting her go but would still sign the house over to her and continue financial support through the end of 2022. Aldrich has since stated she has no independent recollection of making this promise. Cohen denies hearing Ferolito promise the house to Pratt, and a former attorney for Ferolito, David Buss, also stated he was unaware of such an agreement.

Buss claims Pratt later inquired about purchasing the property in September 2023 and offered to return the investment account Ferolito had provided in exchange for the title. Pratt contests this, alleging Buss suggested she use the investment account and financing to buy a house she believed was already promised to her.

Ferolito is seeking to have Pratt removed from the property and her counterclaims dismissed. Pratt is asking the court to compel Ferolito to transfer the house to her or to compensate her for her claimed expenditures and contributions made in reliance on his alleged promise.

Despite the ongoing legal battle, Pratt reported an unusual interaction during a July deposition, where Ferolito allegedly slid her a chocolate and winked, saying, "We shouldn’t be here." Pratt replied, "I know."

A hearing on Ferolito’s motion for summary judgment is scheduled for November 23.