The horse-drawn carriages operated by H.R.H. Carriage Co. and Yellow Rose Carriage Co. are familiar sights in downtown San Antonio, offering quaint joyrides for tourists. But a bitter fight is playing out over ownership of the two companies, the San Antonio Express-News reported. It started peacefully enough, with longtime owners Richard and Ann Van Dyke striking a deal to sell the companies to Stephanie and Richard Buck, who moved from England to San Antonio four years ago. Before both deals could be completed, though, relations between the Bucks and Van Dykes soured, leading the couples to sue each other in state District Court. The fight essentially is over how much money they owe each other. For now, the Van Dykes still own Yellow Rose, and the Bucks control H.R.H. On Wednesday, a day after the Van Dykes filed a motion to have the Bucks held in contempt for allegedly saddling both companies with debt in violation of a court order, Stephanie Buck filed an emergency bankruptcy petition for H.R.H. The contempt hearing that had been set for Friday was dropped as a result. As part of their contempt motion, the Van Dykes wanted the court to order the Bucks to surrender their passports because they are not U.S. citizens and they “pose a flight risk.” H.R.H. listed up to $50,000 in assets and liabilities ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 in its chapter 11 petition.
