Hoppus Hops To on Botched Burger Deal

Former Blink-182 bassist files negligence suit, alleging $1.5 million franchise investment was pocketed

Where's the beef? On its way to the courthouse, as it happens.

Former Blink-182 singer-bassist Mark Hoppus has filed suit against a father-and-son business team, claiming the duo diverted roughly $1.5 million in investments, the bulk of which came from the rocker and his friends, and used it to bulk up their personal bank accounts.

According to the suit, filed Monday in San Diego Superior Court, Hoppus claims he, as well as fellow former bandmates Tom Delonge and Travis Barker, gave Ed and Jeff Mitchell the seven-figure sum in order to go in on a business venture that would see automated checkout machines installed at McDonald's restaurants.

Unfortunately, if he wanted to have it his way, he's barking up the wrong franchise.

As it is, Hoppus claims that he and his wife, Skye, invested $600,000 in Missicom LLC, the father-son business front, back in October 2003 and that the Mitchells went on to raise roughly $3.4 million from not only the Blink boys but golfer Phil Mickelson, among other famous faces (and suddenly not so full bank accounts).

The suit goes on to claim that the duo diverted the Hoppus' and other investments for personal gain.

The rock couple is seeking in excess of $2 million in damages.

For his part, Hoppus first launched legal action concerning the botched dealings back in 2006, when he sued his former business manager Louis Tommasino, who the Plus-44 rocker claims defrauded him by failing to mention that, in addition to his gig as Hoppus' main money man, he also happened to be a principal member of Missicom.

His new amended complaint, however, alleges gross negligence and breach of fiduciary duty against both the Mitchells and Missicom.

A trial is scheduled to kick off in San Diego on Sept. 8.