John Cox, GOP candidate for California governor, was sued for alleged financial misconduct

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox often cites his role in the financial turnaround of a Chicago potato chip company as evidence of the sharp business mind he'd use to run California.

But there is another aspect of his relationship with the family that owned the snack company, Jays Foods, that has gotten less attention. Founder Leonard Japp Sr. and members of his family sued Cox 20 years ago alleging financial misconduct, a case that led to Cox paying a $1.7 million settlement in 1999, according to court documents obtained