A former business owner has filed a lawsuit against his previous employer, alleging that he was deprived of $2 million in earned incentives. On February 24, 2026, Joseph Oriente filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey against Togetherwork Operations, LLC and Togetherwork Holdings, LLC. Oriente claims that after selling his company to Togetherwork in October 2017 and working as an employee for over eight years, he was wrongfully terminated without cause and denied compensation promised under a Long-Term Incentive Program (LTIP).
According to the complaint, Oriente founded E-Websity, Inc., later known as Capturepoint, in July 1999. Over nearly two decades, he developed it into a successful e-marketing consultancy with notable software offerings. In early 2017, Togetherwork approached Oriente with an acquisition proposal that included performance incentives tied to post-sale growth. These incentives were formalized in an October 2017 Stock Purchase Agreement. However, unbeknownst to Oriente at the time of sale, Togetherwork was planning another transaction with GI Partners that would render these incentives unattainable.
Oriente alleges that Togetherwork engaged in deceptive practices by not disclosing its imminent merger plans with GI Partners when negotiating the acquisition of Capturepoint. He contends that this omission misled him into agreeing to terms that would ultimately deprive him of the promised incentives. Despite being enrolled in a new LTIP agreement in April 2019 following complaints about the original deal’s fairness, Oriente claims that Togetherwork failed to honor its commitments.
The plaintiff is seeking damages amounting to no less than $2 million for breach of contract and violations of good faith and fair dealing principles. Additionally, he argues that his termination was retaliatory under New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act due to his raising concerns about the LTIP agreements’ validity and enforcement.
Oriente’s legal team from McLaughlin & Stern LLP includes Chester R. Ostrowski Esq., who is representing him in this case identified as Case No. 2:26-cv-1806-SDW-SDA before Judge Susan D. Wigenton.
Source: 226cv01806_Oriente_v_Togetherwork_Operations_LLC_Complaint_District_New_Jersey.pdf
