A Long Island man says ex-Giant linebacker Jessie Armstead sacked him — in the wallet!
The retired Pro Bowler and his business partner — who run a wildly successful New Jersey Honda dealership — were hit with a multimillion-dollar federal lawsuit filed by a former associate.
Businessman Don Lia says he fronted Armstead and co-owner Michael Saporito $5 million to start Hamilton Honda in 2009 — then got cut out of its $150 million in profits.
Now, Lia is going for paydirt, saying in the suit that he is owed $10 million and a 75 percent stake in the Hamilton, NJ, business.
“What Hamilton Honda’s Web site does not say is that Saporito and Armstead only achieved this celebrated success with the financial backing of — and on the back of — Don Lia,” says the suit, filed in Central Islip.
Saporito eventually froze Lia out of the business “with the active assistance and participation of Armstead,” the suit claims.
Lawyers for both sides did not return calls for comment.