From GoFundMe to Go Sue Me Print
Thursday, August 30 2018

A homeless man in Philadelphia who acted as a good samaritan and came to the aid of a stranded woman now is suing the woman and her husband.

According to news reports, Johnny Bobbitt came across Katie McClure on an Interstate 95 exit ramp late one night. McClure's car had run out of gas. Bobbitt walked a few blocks to a local gas station and used his last $20 to purchase gas for McClure. Days later, McClure found Bobbitt again to repay him; she also visited him several more times to bring him food and water.

After the good samaritan story made national news, McClure and Mark D'Amico set up a GoFundMe for Bobbitt, which raised more than $400,000 in funds donated by more than 14,000 people. Bobbitt is now suing the couple for an undisclosed amount, alleging mismanagement of funds and fraud by taking his money.

McClure and D'Amico deny the claims, countering that they are wary of giving Bobbitt large sums of money because they fear he would use it to buy drugs. D'Amico has said Bobbitt spent $25,000 in less than two weeks in December on drugs, in addition to paying overdue legal bills and sending money to his family. The couple also bought Bobbitt a camper with some of the funds and parked it on land McClure's family owns in Florence. But Bobbitt became homeless again after D'Amico told him in June that he had to leave the property.

Christopher C. Fallon, one of Bobbitt's lawyers, told news sources the legal action was taken after D'Amico ignored multiple requests for a full accounting of the money raised by the GoFundMe campaign. A hearing has been set by the court.

Source: chron.com