Ex-Frisch's exec proclaims innocence

Accused embezzler Michael Hudson denies he was involved in any theft from his former employer Frisch's Restaurants, where he last served as one of its top executives.

In court filings, Hudson, 52, refutes all allegations of theft and fraud made by Frisch's in a civil suit filed against him in January. Frisch's disclosed the lawsuit in a regulatory filing that it suspects Hudson stole $3.3 million over seven years in a systematic fraud.

Hudson requested the civil suit be dismissed in a Feb. 17 court filing. The filing offers few specifics, but requests to amend his answer to charges as more information becomes available.

The nation's largest Big Boy franchisee said its internal investigation into the alleged theft continues after it filed a civil lawsuit against Hudson and referred initial findings to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Cincinnati.

Last month, the New York Stock Exchange threatened Frisch's with delisting for not yet filing a financial report for its second quarter ending Dec. 16.

The Walnut Hills-based company warned the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in January it would be unable to file a timely report after it revealed accusations of embezzlement by Hudson, its former assistant treasurer.