Mario Tama/Getty ImagesMichael Avenatti, whose profile has skyrocketed in recent months as Stormy Daniels' attorney, is under fire in relation to Tully's - a coffee chain he purchased in 2013 - even though Avenatti says he sold his interest.Dozens of lawsuits (many of which are still unresolved) allege that Tully's parent company, Global Baristas, failed to pay rent and suppliers. Business Insider spoke with six former Tully's workers who said they witnessed signs of financial woes, such as inadequate upkeep and issues with suppliers. Some former employees told Business Insider that Avenatti was seemingly involved in financial matters at the chain - one says until all locations abruptly closed in March. Avenatti refutes these claims.Avenatti's explosive rise coming soon after the closure of all Tully's locations puts both the lawyer and some former employees of the coffee chain in an uncomfortable position. The Seattle-based coffee chain Tully's, acquired by Michael Avenatti in 2013, abruptly shut down all of its locations earlier this year.While the closures were shockingly sudden and put hundreds out of work, the news - which came just as Avenatti's profile exploded as Stormy Daniels' attorney - may have long been written on the wall.See the rest of the story at Business InsiderNOW WATCH: We had millennials try Chick-fil-A for the first timeSee Also:Walmart is going high end with an invite-only personal shopping service - and it costs 6 times as much as Amazon PrimePapa John's is giving away free pizza in a bizarre marketing ploy slamming the wildly-popular mattress startup Casper32 beloved snacks you'll never be able to eat againSEE ALSO: Stormy Daniels' lawyer once bought a coffee chain for $9 million with a famous Hollywood actor - and all the shops mysteriously closed earlier this year amid dozens of lawsuits
