Sponsor
Nelson Brothers
NBPRE. 2007 Brian + Patrick shop. Later Brian 100%. Not Nelson Partners.
- Founded
- California LLC. CP Cincy PPM — Patrick and Brian then the sole shareholders.
- Inc. 5000 (2017)
- No. 129 overall · No. 4 in real estate. Three-year sales growth 3,111%.
- Ownership (JAMS)
- Brian Nelson 100%. Wettengel and Muro have no ownership or control. Confirmed 22 Apr 2026.
California LLC. Brian and Patrick’s 2007 student-housing shop. Not Nelson Partners (Patrick’s later company). Not Versity Investments (Brian’s line after the ~2018 split).
A CP Cincy PPM excerpt in the 10 Jul 2026 OC opposition names this company as sponsor. Patrick and Brian were then the sole shareholders.
The brothers split around 2018. Confirmed 26 Nov 2025 JAMS award (judgment 22 Apr 2026 in 30-2025-01534910): Brian 100% of this company; Wettengel and Muro have no ownership or control.
Named plaintiff with Versity I and Brian in OC 30-2025-01535878. Four sponsored DSTs are plaintiffs in OC 30-2026-01543537: CP Cincy, Element, Tuscany Place, Molly Barr. Nelson’s declaration in that opposition — those four pre-date Versity I and were managed by this company.
Timeline
- 2007–2018Nelson Brothers. Split ~2018: Patrick to development, Brian to student housing → NB Private Capital → Versity Investments. Wettengel joins ~2015 as COO/GC; CEO from 2018. Muro is Nelson Brothers IR from 2009, COO from 2018.
- 24 Jun 2021Judgment on arbitration award, Brian Nelson v. Patrick Nelson, Orange County 30-2021-01197655-CU-PA-CJC. Recited in the later Versity I complaint (ROA 2). Split of Nelson Brothers assets; Brian’s line became NB Private Capital → Versity Investments. Pleading not pulled.
- 20 Oct–7 Dec 2023Brian Nelson sues Blake in Orange County (20 Oct, 30-2023-01356667). Dismissed without prejudice 7 Dec — the settlement (term sheet 3 Dec 2023, attached as Exhibit A to the 26 Nov 2025 JAMS award). Crew was to buy Nelson’s interests in Versity Investments, NBPRE, and Book & Ladder for $30 million. Closing deadline December 2024. ~18 properties eventually return to him; five stay with Crew.
- 22–28 Jul 2025Nelson’s Orange County complaint 30-2025-01499716 (28 Jul) asks the court to enforce a 22 Jul JAMS partial final award on Axos / Chase account control. His pleading recites Phase I (Crew breached the Dec 2023 settlement) and Phase II (Nelson 100% NBPRE, 65% Versity Investments). Allegations in that complaint. The later DST complaint says Crew ceased asset-management services on or about 15 May 2025.
- 26 Nov 2025JAMS Final Award (Refs. 5200001507 / 5200001580; Kennedy). Confirmed 22 Apr 2026 in 30-2025-01534910. $15 million damages for impairment of Nelson’s share (less $450,000 credit = $14,550,000) plus $166,834 JAMS fees, jointly and severally against Crew, Wettengel, and Muro. Status quo ante as of 3 Dec 2023: Nelson 65% of Versity Investments with financial-control rights, Wettengel/Muro 35%; Nelson 100% of NBPRE; Book & Ladder 34/33/33. Unpaid $30 million purchase price and bridge-loan assumption not awarded. Molly Barr claims outside the arbitrator’s jurisdiction.
- 24 Dec 2025Versity Investments / Nelson / NBPRE v. Crew et al., OC 30-2025-01535878-CU-CO-CXC (Melzer, CX102). Sixteen causes; jury demand. Counsel Miller Miller Gerber. Versity I alleges pre- and post-December 2023 officer breaches (no release in the 2023 settlement); Nelson and NBPRE allege post-December 2023 harm only. Alleges ~$1.2 million Factory Class B investor funds withheld after an arbitrator order. Allegations.
- 28–29 Jan 2026Vintage investors get a Crew email. 29 Jan: OC 30-2026-01543537-CU-CO-CXC — seventeen DSTs (NBPRE four plus 13 Versity Investments, including Wolf Run Vintage, not Vintage Horizon West) sue Crew, Book & Ladder, Wettengel, Muro, Academy West, TripSnap, and Wettengel Productions. Fourteen causes; jury demand. Counsel Miller Miller Gerber. Allegations.