Kash_Sarger_DX | Mock_Trial_2025

Please Introduce yourself to the court

My name is Kash Sarger, I am 28 years old single and looking. But you guys can just call me Kash money.

What is your occupational history?

I’ve worked at various restaurants in different roles over the years. I worked at The Grape Escape, MIA, and La Mer, and I now work at Durants, a coffee shop, steakhouse, and wine bar in downtown Texoma that I have been managing since it opened in May 2024.

And what do you mainly do at Durants?

As the general manager of Durants, I oversee staff, day-to-day operations, controlling costs, and making sure the business is profitable.

How did you first become acquainted with the Defendant, Lucky Dutton?

I first met Lucky after he bought the Grape Escape, the Wine Bistro where I used to work part-time.

What was your experience at the Grape Escape like after Lucky took over?

Lucky took the reins of the company, and our company underwent a huge transformation for the better under him. He set high expectations for employees while focusing on performance improvement across the entire restaurant.

And what did this look like on a day-to-day basis?

Lucky was super hands-on. He closely observed employees and gave us all direct feedback on how we needed to improve. Lucky wasn’t afraid to be tough on his employees and take actions that others might have been too scared to do, like firing those who couldn’t get the job done. This of course resulted in some crashouts like a waitress meltdown that went viral online.

And from these interactions, how would you describe Lucky as a businessman?

From my experience with him in the Grape Escape, I thought it was very obvious that Lucky was tough, direct, and focused on results. I believe these qualities are exactly what make him known as an ambitious and competitive businessman.

And how do you think Lucky's business style affected the restaurant?

Overall, I think it really helped us make more money for less work! Under Lucky’s ownership, I was making more money with less shifts thanks to all the firings. Kash money efficiency style! In my perspective, the restaurant became more efficient, and the focus was clearly on meeting standards and improving performance.

Did your professional relationship with Lucky continue after the Grape Escape?

Yes, Lucky and I partnered on a Wine Bistro called MIA.

Can you explain what MIA was?

MIA was a Wine bistro that Lucky and I opened on the main drag in July 2022.

And how did MIA perform?

We had a really strong opening month, unfortunately business slowed down, and we eventually had to close in December; however Lucky absorbed the losses himself, and he didn’t ask me to repay him.

So what did you do after MIA closed?

While at my new job at a Mediterranean restaurant called La Mer, I eventually came up with the idea of Durant’s! What can I say? The entrepreneurial mind never rests! Durant's eventually took off when I pitched it to Mikos, the owner of La Mer, and got his support for the idea. I now own 15% of Durants and manage it.

Did you cross paths with Lucky after getting your job at Durant’s?

Yes, Mikos, the owner of La Mer, throws a Bastille Day party with fun games for the employees every year, and funny enough, I ran into Lucky and his colleague… I think her name was Kelcey at this year’s Bastille Day party.

Could you elaborate on your interaction with Lucky at this party?

Lucky and his colleague were giving out samples of this energy drink called Lightning Strike. He asked me if I wanted to buy some of his drink, the lightning strike.

And did you consider buying Lightning Strike?

I originally wasn’t, however, I convinced Lucky that I would consider buying his drink if he held an event at Durants, which he agreed to. Lucky decided to give his employees a chance to progress by having 4 of them organize pitches for me, which the employees prepared adverts for.

Would you recognize these adverts if I showed them to you?

Yes.

Do you recognize these exhibits?

Yes, these are the adverts of the pitches that Lucky had 4 of his employees prepare for me to evaluate.

And how did you evaluate these pitches?

I focused on creativity, the execution of the pitch, and how well each pitch would fit the vibe of Durants.

Did all four employees have the same opportunity to pitch?

Yes, I believed that everyone got the same opportunity, although to me it was clear some didn’t use it as well as others.

Can you explain your perception of each of the pitches?

Of course. For starters, Exhibit 16A and 16B, were quite immemorable. Exhibit 16A had too many ideas going on and I didn’t even get to taste 16B because of a spill.

Exhibit 16C was great!Nireth presented lightning strike as a batter for onion rings, he even brought homemade onion rings that were cooked with lightning strike, and they were delicious!

Exhibit 16D, which was Kris Hanley’s pitch, was a handcrafted ginger ale with some Lightning Strike for a “jolt,” It tasted good but I couldn’t taste the Lightning strike at all.

And which pitch did you choose as the winner?

I obviously chose Nireth's pitch, which is exhibit 16C, because of how well it fit our cooking style and menu at Durants. Meanwhile, Kris’ pitch, which is exhibit 16D didn’t even taste like Lightning Strike. Although the drink was good, I still believed it was obvious that Nireth was the clear winner.

So what resulted from the pitches?

We ended up buying lightning strike AND IM GLAD WE DID and we now use it for our onion rings, and we have even been experimenting with cooking risotto and various meats.

And Lucky gave all the credit to Nireth, which is very telling of his character as a businessman. I also took some inspiration from Kris’s pitch to help make a new drink.

And having your extensive personal work experiences with Lucky, what is your perception of his character as a businessman?

Since I’ve worked with and under Lucky I’ve learned that he is a tough businessman, which is admirable since it’s what you need to survive in the business. My time at Durants showed me that he is harsh sometimes to people who don’t meet his standards, like with the waitress meltdown, but you can tell that he cares about what’s best for the business and everyone in it. He's willing to make tough decisions in order to keep his business afloat (unlike ginger fizz and MIA) , and looking at his business success with the grape escape and lightning strikes success in durants, it really shows!