George R Joseph

George J. Joseph, the siblings' father, founded Columbia Oldsmobile Co. in 1938 and led the Cincinnati-based company until his death in 1966. Ron Joseph has led the company in the half-century since. The single-brand dealership grew to become Joseph Auto Group, which sells vehicles under 16 nameplates at 19 dealerships in Greater Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus. Columbia also has extensive real-estate holdings including the former Chiquita Center now known as Columbia Plaza; several parking lots around Downtown Cincinnati; and the Dennison Hotel. George Joseph had gifted his ownership interest in the company to his seven children – Marie, Michael, Renee, Robert, Ron, Shirley and Teresa, according to the lawsuit. When he died, his wife Najla Joseph also inherited shares plus a trust designed to provide income to the children and her. Najla Joseph died in 2012. Ron Joseph was able to buy her shares at a discount and deprive his siblings of larger ownership stakes. Ron Joseph's ownership of Columbia shares rose from 13 percent in 2000 to more than 30 percent by 2012, the lawsuit estimates.