Always give credit where credit is deserved;

MY---FIREHOUSE SUBS "OUR STORY"

Welcome to  my / Billy Rogers www.firehousesubs.me Blog.   Thanks for stopping by.   

I am Billy Rogers and I want to share my FIREHOUSE SUBS story with you. 

Most importantly,  I / Billy Rogers want to share my "Expert Polygraph Test Results" with you, the public and media regarding the actual inception and creation of  the "FIREHOUSE SUBS" Franchise Brand Venture.      

I am a Former-Professional Florida Firefighter;

I graduated Florida State Fire College in Ocala, Florida. [under "Chief James" tenure]; 

I worked as a Professional Firefighter for RFD in Rockledge, Florida, Brevard. County;     

I am "FIREHOUSE SUBS"---3rd "Co-Founder", first creative Author, original store Décor Designer and venture partner, among other things;

I / Billy Rogers---was strung along for many years and did not receive proper compensation for my original work and my sole creative contributions to the "FIREHOUSE SUBS" venture (I actually coined the DBA company name).    I was betrayed and defrauded by the Sorensen brothers (Co-founders) who were close personal friends for decades---that span over 33 years (up until 2012).

I / Billy Rogers,  solely created the  crude "1993 Firehouse Subs Business Booklet"  in 1993 which embodied Textual Script and crude Design Elements that remain to be ingrained and laced throughout the "FIREHOUSE SUBS" FRANCHISE Brand in public displays.  My original work for the venture created in the key formation stages of the "FIREHOUSE SUBS" Franchise BRAND in 1993 was NOT a "work-for-hire" for the Sorensen brothers---it was a venture partner contribution. 

In short,  I was grossly taken advantage of  by Chris and Robin Sorensen of "FIREHOUSE SUBS".  Along the way in growing and expanding the "FIREHOUSE SUBS" Franchise System there was a serious breach of trust by the known Firehouse Subs Co-Founders; Chris and Robin Sorensen regarding the proper compensation of me / Billy Rogers for my original intellectual property contributions to the/our FIREHOUSE SUBS business venture.    

Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.    I pray that any further sunlight of truth shine on the real facts and provide some more healing; like, the sweet truth in vindication my wife and I got in November 2016 from my / Billy Rogers Expert Polygraph Test Results regarding the key formation stages of  "FIREHOUSE SUB,

This writing, my assertions and the supporting exhibits presented herein are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.    For the public record I / Billy Rogers put forth the following;

OVERVIEW OF THE ACTUAL FOUNDING AND CREATION OF FIREHOUSE SUBS:

The publicly known FIREHOUSE SUBS "Co- Founders", Robin and Chris Sorensen, have repeatedly given false narratives to media and falsified back-stories to press outlets through-out the years  regarding the key formation stages of "FIREHOUSE SUBS" (the FRANCHISE SYSTEM) and the Grand Opening on 10/10/1994.    I / Billy Rogers, Former-Professional Florida Firefighter, exclusively authored intellectual properties (creative works) in the "genesis" of  "FIREHOUSE SUBS" that are still predominately used today in the Franchise Store Units.   

The actual truth is there was  a third "FIREHOUSE SUBS" "Co-Founder" and partner at the inception of the "FIREHOUSE SUBS" venture who was another Florida Professional Firefighter.   The last name was not---"Sorensen".    The actual and undisclosed third, Firehouse Subs "Co-Founder" and implied venture partner in 1993, was/is Former-Professional, Florida Firefighter, Billy Rogers.    

I / Billy Rogers  authored, created and published  the "1993 Firehouse Subs Business Booklet". The "1993 Firehouse Subs Business Booklet"  expressed in textual script and in crude graphics; "Design Elements"---and those "Design Elements" remain to be intertwined in the look and feel of a Firehouse Subs Franchise Store Décor to this day.     

DESIGN ELEMENTS NOTE; 

Design Elements are in general; Line, Colors, Shapes, Space, Textures, Typography, Attributes.

See the original, crude "1993 Firehouse Subs Business Booklet" authored and created by myself / Billy Rogers.    I / Billy Rogers created this original work (8 pages) on a home computer in 1993 (a rare home device) and the 8 Page "Booklet" (6 "Booklets" total published) were physically constructed  days after our 1993 meeting (brain-storming) wherein we had discussions and mutual agreement  about this "FIREHOUSE SUBS" venture---between us ---THREE, "firemen".  Accordingly, a reader will see "We" is  clearly expressed all throughout the text of the  "1993 Firehouse Subs Business Booklet".     The FIREHOUSE SUBS Franchise Brand---Décor---"Unique Fire-fighting Atmosphere" was derived from my / Billy Rogers original work the "1993 Firehouse Subs Business Booklet".  

Consequentially, the 8 page, Text Manuscript and crude Design Elements in the "1993 Firehouse Subs Business Booklet" I / Billy Rogers created memorialized the inception of the FIREHOUSE SUBS venture---between us---THREE, "firemen" in 1993.     Thereafter, the Text, Typography, first Graphic Logos and Design Elements expressed in the "1993 Firehouse Subs Business Booklet" were adapted, transformed and/or recast into public displays; Signs, Printed materials, Store Decor Elements and Brand aesthetics---and are, for the most part, are still being utilized in the "FIREHOUSE SUBS" Franchise BRAND today.        

"DESIGN ELEMENTS" SUBSTANTIAL SIMILARITY:

For your review; see the "Design Elements Exhibit" linked below wherein FIREHOUSE SUBS Franchise Units are compared; side by side, with my "1993 Firehouse Subs Business Booklet"; the Script and the crude Design Elements (Lines, Colors, Shapes, Space, Textures, Attributes).  Please see this Design Elements Exhibit Here.   The aforementioned "Design Elements Exhibit" compares the FIREHOUSE SUBS Franchise Units "Design Elements" currently and  my / Billy Rogers original work; the "1993 Firehouse Subs Business Booklet" Design Elements created in 1993.   As noted in the last page of the "1993 Firehouse Subs Business Booklet" "FIREHOUSE SUBS FRANCHISING" was the ultimate, long term ambition (Uniform Design Elements for growing Franchise Stores) --and the ROI that comes with that Franchise Phase.

Subsequently, I/ Billy Rogers the FIREHOUSE SUBS third Firefighter, Co-Founder and venture partner; was robbed of any deserved public acknowledgement or creative credit and/or any royalties / money under the Federal Copyright Act.    Which, to this point in time, a sum totaling into the multi-millions of dollars have been profited regarding the "Firehouse Subs" Franchise System and Franchise Brand Royalties "Unique Fire-fighting Atmosphere" within the Franchise Store Units (Design Elements) ---wherein tasty Specialty Sub Sandwiches are sold.  

There is great similarity to the unconscionable, intellectual property theft [Patent Rights] by Ford Motor that occurred to Mr. Bob Kearns "Flash of Genius".  Mr. Bob Kearns was the design inventor of the "automated wind-shield wiper".    The pain and suffering for me / Billy Rogers (and my family) I dare say is the same in many ways as Inventor / Designer Bob Kearns  had to endure most part of his adult life.

A similar, intellectual property theft [Trademark] was set in motion in 2008 and attempted by Co-founders, Chris and Robin Sorensen of FIREHOUSE SUBS in their trademark bullying legal action with Firefighting Captain, Heath Scurfield (FD Horry County, SC.).   Billy Rogers was honored to be of help to a fellow-Firefighter, Captain Heath Scurfield while he was in a fierce and unjust Trademark Lawsuit (Appeals process) in Federal Court with FIREHOUSE SUBS, Robin and Chris Sorensen . 

Robin and Chris Sorensen of FIREHOUSE SUBS have had serious issues with being forthright and above-board when it comes to the ownership of Intellectual Property Rights---or regarding Trademarks (a South Carolina Federal Court in 2012 found that Robin and Chris Sorensen [DBA Firehouse Subs], committed Trademark Fraud on the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).  

Over the years, Co-founders, Chris and Robin Sorensen of FIREHOUSE SUBS apparently have developed an attitude toward others   "Intellectual Property"   like  the old adage relates: "What is ours, is ours and what is yours, is ours".   

In my case,  the other two (2) publicly known Firehouse Subs, Co-Founders, Robin and Chris Sorensen,  defraud me / Billy Rogers out of my  "Intellectual Property"  and used such design elements I / Billy Rogers created in 1993  without any proper compensation.   By such exploitation of  my / Billy Rogers  original  "FIREHOUSE SUBS" work Robin and Chris Sorensen then were/are well-able to lavish upon their own "Sorensen" family a most secure and luxurious lifestyle.   Whereas, "Blood is thicker than water".

All the while, in some ways  I /  Billy Rogers have been placed in a false or negative light for making true creative claim to design elements in the key formation stages of the "FIREHOUSE SUBS" Franchise Brand in 1993---and for publicly declaring that  I / Billy Rogers created intellectual properties in 1993 that make-up Franchise Unit design elements still being used today.

This online publishing offers proof regarding the founding of "FIREHOUSE SUBS"---by THREE Professional Florida Firefighters in 1993.    My / Billy Rogers herein offered Expert Polygraph Test Result debunks the false statements made by  Co-Founders; Chris and Robin Sorensen in their July 27th 2012 Letter sent by their FIREHOUSE SUBS Intellectual Property Attorney  .

In this July 27th 2012  Letter the reader will see that Chris and Robin Sorensen DENIED any and all creative involvement or creative partnership with Billy Rogers (William H. Rogers).  

My / Billy Rogers Expert Polygraph Test Result offered for review below substantiates the actual, creative involvement of  me / Billy Rogers and the Sorensen brothers in the very inception of "FIREHOUSE SUBS" (Before the first Store Grand Opening on 10/10/1994).   The real truth is my / Billy Rogers Expert Polygraph Test Result supports and evidences I / Billy Rogers in 1993 created (and entrusted  to the Sorensen brothers) Intellectual Properties (design elements, like; color, shapes, textures, attributes and graphic logos)  for use in the FIREHOUSE SUBS venture .   My/ Billy Rogers tangible Intellectual Property contributions were authored and were/are comprised in the "1993 Firehouse Subs Business Booklet".

Consequently, proper compensation and/or FIREHOUSE SUBS Franchise Royalties Fees (6% Gross) that are collected each quarter from Franchisee's were not provided in any manner to Billy Rogers for my/his key creative contributions (Intellectual Properties) regarding "FIREHOUSE SUBS" Franchising Units.

Co-Founders, of  FIREHOUSE SUBS, Robin and Chris Sorensen, on the other hand, subsequently collect millions of dollars a year in Franchise Royalties each Business Quarter.  This 2015 FIREHOUSE SUBS  own Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) on Page 77  confirms the Multi-Million Dollar" "Royalty Fees" income figures by Accounting Statement.  (See Page#: 77 "Royalty Fees" in FDD).   This company revenue is apart from the food sales.   

The FDD "Royalties Fees" Accounting Statement on page 77 shows the Franchiser's Accounting Statement of "Royalty Fees" collections from the "Franchisees"---for use of the "total concepts and feel" of FIREHOUSE SUBS and the "Unique Firefighting Atmosphere".  (e.g. "Design Elements", like; line, color, shapes, space, textures, attributes).   "Design Elements" for public display---very much like the "Design Elements" Comparison Exhibit Here. 

Earlier on, when I / Billy Rogers brought up revenues produced and compensation to my friend and my Co-Founding Partner; Chris Sorensen, the so-called FIREHOUSE SUBS "creative engine",  in our discussions about my original intellectual  property contributions to the FIREHOUSE SUBS venture,  I / Billy Rogers was told that "I would be taken care of" and there was an ongoing re-investing in the company for growth and regarding the eventual "Franchising Phase" and---to "be patient".    So, I / Billy Rogers, Third FIREHOUSE SUBS Co-Founder and implied Partner was patient, way too patient.  Way too trusting also---that "I would be taken care of" .  

In the early Spring of 2012; after years of being strung along (after being patient as told),  I / Billy Rogers was left with no option but to formally write a letter and send it (email and USPS) demanding proper compensation for my original intellectual property contributions (Literary images and Design Elements) to the FIREHOUSE SUBS business venture in 1993--- These Design Elements I speak of are still laced throughout the "FIREHOUSE SUBS" Franchise Store Brand still in 2020.    "Design Elements" Comparison Exhibit Here.  

Thereafter, the Co-founders, Chris and Robin Sorensen of Firehouse Subs had their Jacksonville based Intellectual Property Attorney, Richard Vermut contacted me / Billy Rogers by phone on 03/19/2012.     Here linked is the phone message for review from "FIREHOUSE SUBS" IP Attorney, Richard Vermut.

After my writings and phone conversations with "FIREHOUSE SUBS" Intellectual Property Attorney, Richard Vermut I / Billy Rogers was subsequently contacted by email and postal service with a formal letter from  the Co-founders, Chris and Robin Sorensen lawyer.

The Sorensen brothers, by and through their Intellectual Property Attorney,  answered by written reply letter to me / Billy Rogers on July 27th 2012.    The Co-Founders, Chris and Robin Sorensen vehemently DENIED any and all of my / Billy Rogers claims that I / Billy Rogers had a key creative involvement in the "Genesis" of the "FIREHOUSE SUBS" Franchise System .   Please review the brothers, Chris and Robin  Sorensen, July 27th 2012 written reply letter to me / Billy Rogers ) 

This pertinent part of the July 27th 2012 Letter by FIREHOUSE SUBS Attorney--- sent from Robin and Chris Sorensen's Intellectual Property, Attorney, Richard S. Vermut---DENIED---any and all creative involvement with Billy Rogers (William H. Rogers)   

This July 27th 2012 letter from Co-Founders, Chris & Robin Sorensen by and through their Attorney ----was untruthful.

Thereafter,  My wife (Dawn Rogers) and I / Billy Rogers sought to have an Expert Polygraph Test administered by the late, great Jack Trimarco---a Former FBI Special Agent / Profiler who is/was deemed to be the best Polygraph Expert / Examiner on the planet. 

I/Billy Rogers wanted to take an Expert Polygraph Test to prove, once and for all, I did create and contribute "Intellectual Property"  in the "genesis" of  the "FIREHOUSE SUBS" System, 

I/Billy Rogers wanted to take an Expert Polygraph Test to prove and substantiate my Co-Founding of the "FIREHOUSE SUBS" Franchise Business venture alongside the Sorensen brothers.  (as "we" mutually agreed in 1993).     Accordingly, a reader will see "We" is  clearly expressed all through the text of the  "1993 Firehouse Subs Business Booklet".   

I / Billy Rogers subjected myself to an Expert Polygraph Test by renowned, Former FBI Examiner; Jack Trimarco on November 6th 2016.     The Expert Polygraph Test Results unearthed on November 6th 2016 have been secured away pending civil litigation until now.

Billy Rogers, Expert Polygraph Test was performed on November 6th 2012 in Beverly Hills, California, at Jack Trimarco's Office on Wilshire Boulevard.  

Who is Former FBI Agent, Expert Polygraph Examiner; Jack Trimarco?