Escorts galore, parties worthy of the film The Wolf of Wall StreetMassive use of hard drugs, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and private jet, the owner of one of the largest Gyproc companies in the Montreal area struggles with financial problems due to a princely lifestyle and is self-destructive, a lawsuit says.
Two former business partners and their companies filed a lawsuit this summer in the Saint-Jérôme court against Hugo Bernard, head of Gestion Groupe Bernard, and his companies, demanding more than $1.3 million from them.
Hugo Bernard’s lifestyle, which until recently cost $50,000 a month, would be responsible for his inability to repay his debts.
Hugo Bernard poses in front of a Rolls-Royce. Photo from Instagram, Hugo Bernard
The latter would have, over time, multiplied the excuses for non-compliance with its obligations. One of the creditors said he received a threatening phone call while trying to collect his debt.
“Bernard is struggling with a real problem of hard drug use of all kinds, which has gone from occasional to systemic and daily use,” Francis Duchesne, one of the creditors, claims in the lawsuit.
Hugo Bernard in Costa Rica in 2022. Screenshot Instagram, Hugo Bernard
“This consumption is in turn supported daily by escort services throughout the day, sometimes for sexual relations, sometimes to accompany Bernard in his activities, including card games,” he continues.
One of Hugo Bernard’s companies is one of the largest in Gyproc installation in the Montreal region. In particular, she is involved in several key real estate projects in the Montreal region, including solar in Brossard on the South Shore.
Public funds
According to the lawsuit, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) also holds a mortgage on Groupe Bernard’s headquarters, which must be seized before judgment in the case.
According to the company’s website, Bernard’s company is a partner with the Fonds de solidarité FTQ on a major project in downtown Montreal, the Maestria.
Luxurious cars that Hugo Bernard shows on his Instagram account. Photo from Instagram, Hugo Bernard
For his part, another creditor, Jean-Sébastien Servant, says that since he has known Bernard, he has had to carry out work on Bernard’s private home more than once after parties took place there.
“The aftermath of these “parties” left traces that were not very harmless, such as smashing a sword into a wall, breaking down doors with punches, etc.,” he points out.
In September, a judge approved a temporary seizure of Bernard’s assets, but did not rule on the merits of the case. The two creditors and companies were able To the seizure, in particular, of a residence belonging to Hugo Bernard in Boisbriand, worth $2.6 million.
This Boisbriand house by Hugo Bernard can be seized before the judgment of the creditors. Photo The Diary
Francis Duchesne also points out that Bernard has another property listed for sale in Rosemère for $3.3 million.
This house in Rosemère, which belonged to Hugo Bernard, is for sale. Photo credit: Jean-François Cloutier, Le Journal de Montréal Photo Jean-François Cloutier
Impressed
“Bernard’s wealth and ultra-rich or luxurious lifestyle indicate success and success,” says Servant.
He said he lent him money while Bernard led him to believe in investments in two North Shore property projects that didn’t materialize.
These loans would have cost him $15,000 a month in interest and caused significant stress to his family.
These allegations have not yet been proven in court.
He denies having financial problems
The head of Gestion Groupe Bernard, Hugo Bernard, denies that his partners’ debts are in danger and assures that he has taken control of it.
“I never intended to default on my debts, nor did I ever plan on defaulting on the companies I am a director of […]“He had no intention of doing this,” he said in an affidavit.
It also calls into question the validity of certain claims made by the prosecution.
Photo from Instagram, Hugo Bernard
An application to lift the temporary seizure was filed in September.
According to the entrepreneur, there is a lot of equity in the real estate that belongs to him personally and to his companies.
consumption
The latter adds that “several elements were included [dans la poursuite] are incorrect or were never brought to his attention,” especially in connection with accompanying persons. He doesn’t deny certain consumer problems, but says they have been resolved.
“I stopped all consumption a few months ago and took control of myself,” he says.
Hugo Bernard further claims that his partners themselves benefited from his generosity and attended his parties and “that they both consumed equally excessively.”
He also denies ever acting in bad faith or making threats.
“The allegations made by Servant and Duchesne regarding my personal and private life in no way prove that their debts are in jeopardy, apart from the fact that they are owed by one or another company of which I am a shareholder.”
In his opinion, it seems obvious that such allegations were made with the aim of damaging his reputation and distorting the judicial process.
Excerpts from the lawsuit
“Bemard’s consumption is simply disproportionate and mind-boggling, reminiscent of a Hollywood script.”
“Consumption takes place at all times in front of everyone, in front of his friends and acquaintances as well as in front of his employees and in front of the heads of his companies.”
“Bernard’s rental or ownership of luxury cars, including Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and others, for an average monthly budget of $50,000 before he recently sold them, or even his private jet trips.”
“The escorts who accompany him around the clock and assist him with his card games represent a daily expense that can reach the crazy sum of $5,000.”
Photo from Instagram, Hugo Bernard
“Bernard, between his excessive use of hard drugs, constant use of escorts, driving several luxury cars at the same time, namely: a Ferrari 2021 812 GTS, a Porsche 911 Turbo S Coupe, a 2022 Rolls-Royce Cullinan, a 2022 Rolls-Royce Ghost During the time he was supposed to compensate me, he liked to compare himself to the main character in the film “The Wolf of Wall Street” by Martin Scorsese, which says a lot about his reference model.
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