An app designer tied to the scandal that led to former Ohio State President Ted Carter's resignation is suing Carter, the podcaster tied to Carter and JobsOhio for allegedly hurting that business.
Vet Mentor AI of Ellicott City, Maryland, owns a technology platform to help veterans with benefits and jobs. Carter and podcaster Krisanthe Vlachos met with Vet Mentor about a business partnership that never happened.
The lawsuit filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court claims that Carter and Vlachos planned to mirror Vet Mentor's platforms for Ohio State.
Vlachos created a company called VetEarn USA LLC.
The suit claimed that Carter and Vlachos met with Vet Mentor's Paul Hylenski and Chad Baker to discuss the Vet Mentor AI platform and a potential business venture with VetEarn USA in 2025.
On July 10, 2025, Vlachos, and staff of the private non-profit JobsOhio staff met at JobsOhio's offices to discuss Vlachos' podcast and her planned venture with Vet Mentor using that company's platform.
In December 2025, the suit said Vlachos, under Carter's guidance and direction, demanded that she be the CEO of the venture, own 25% of the venture and underlying technology.
Later that month, Hylenski wrote to Vlachos, " I want to be very clear in writing so there is no confusion."
"I own 100% of the application and all associated IP. The Vet Mentor AI platform, the underlying software, the models, the training data approach, the prompts and the product design are mine. None of that has been transferred to any entity or person, and none of that is up for negotiation as part of any 'original agreement,'" he wrote.
The partnership never happened.
The suit claimed Carter, Vlachos and JobsOhio caused people and businesses to end or not enter business relationships with Vet Mentor.
It also claimed JobsOhio published false statements that Vet Mentor had no benefit to JobsOhio and veterans seeking employment.
A JobsOhio spokesperson said the agency could not comment on pending litigation.
Vet Mentor is seeking at least $25,000 in damages.
Carter resigned as Ohio State president in March, after serving just more than two years.
A report Ohio State released in April said Carter misused his position as president to seek resources from the university and university partners for Vlachos.
The report also said that Carter sought resources for Vlachos from outside entities, including corporate partners, state government departments and a national veterans organization for her business ventures, which included Vet Mentor.
The suit lists addresses for Carter in San Diego and Annapolis, Maryland. Carter had a long career in the Navy. He became a vice admiral and is a former superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. The U.S. Pacific Fleet is based in San Diego.
The suit lists an address for Vlachos in St. Louis.
The suit was filed in late June.
