re: Take former business partners idea or bring him in... again?

A lot of successful partnerships start out this way. Some people are inventors and idea types, but they can’t or don’t follow through.

They need someone like you with business sense to handle the nuts and bolts of the operation to get it off the ground and make it successful.

In an ideal world, the other guy would remain involved to some degree. He might only step in occasionally to offer his insight or opinion, but it’s enough for him to remain a valuable resource for the company.

It sounds like this other guy doesn’t want to be involved, and is no longer an asset. You don’t have any moral or ethical obligations to him at this point, but legally you might be wading into some murky waters.

Speak with an attorney. It shouldn’t require much time or money for one to at least point you in the right direction.