Fair Finance trustee sues former owner for $150M
The lawsuit charges Donald Fair knew Tim Durham was looting the business but kept quiet to collect millions of dollars in payments scheduled to be made from 2002 to 2007.
The lawsuit charges Donald Fair knew Tim Durham was looting the business but kept quiet to collect millions of dollars in payments scheduled to be made from 2002 to 2007.
Transcripts of phone conversations capture Fair Finance CEO Tim Durham discussing ways to recast company financials to mitigate Ohio securities regulators’ concerns about massive insider loans.
Those named in the latest lawsuits include Tim Durham’s ex-wife, Joan SerVaas; B.J. Durham, SerVaas’ biological son who was adopted by Durham; and the financier’s sister, Courtney Durham.
Fair Finance Co.’s bankruptcy trustee finally has found some deep pockets to go after in his quest to recover money for the small-time Ohio investors who lost more than $200 million when the Tim Durham-led company failed two years ago.
A former Playboy playmate, a well-known rapper and local businessmen are among the defendants in a barrage of lawsuits filed by a bankruptcy trustee trying to collect funds for investors of Fair Finance Co., the defunct Ohio firm led by Tim Durham.
Court papers show the Mitch for Governor Campaign Committee isn't paying more in a settlement with Fair Finance Co.’s bankruptcy trustee because it has just $3,500 left.
The lawsuit alleges Mitza Durham of Seymour received 58 checks or wire transfers from the indicted financier from February 2006 through November 2009.
The Indiana Republican State Committee has agreed to pay back $87,875 in political contributions it received from indicted financier Tim Durham. In addition, a political group supporting Gov. Mitch Daniels agreed to a $10,000 settlement.
Defendants include companies affiliated with Indianapolis restaurateur Henri Najem, the rapper Ludracis and former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Blair Kiel.
Indianapolis financier Tim Durham was indicted on wire and securities fraud charges in March—the culmination of a federal probe that began in 2009.
Indicted financier Tim Durham's attorney alleges "the government has engaged in a course of conduct that … constitutes gross misconduct so severe that dismissal is warranted."
The order from a Hamilton County magistrate says an investor can collect $71,423.66, including interest, from Durham’s National Lampoon Inc. salary.
The investors argue that a bankruptcy trustee’s settlement reached last month with former Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi could extricate Brizzi from lawsuits they’ve filed against him.
The Fair Finance trustee alleged that, in addition to being huge campaign contributors to former Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi, Tim Durham and his companies helped cover Brizzi’s personal expenses.
Even if everyone who owed Durham money paid him—which seems unlikely—his assets still would be a fraction of his debts.
The amount paid to lawyers so far nearly accounts for the entire $1.8 million that a Fair Finance trustee has recovered so far for investors of the Akron, Ohio-based company led by indicted financier Tim Durham.
The settlements involve donations made by Tim Durham totaling $60,000 to the Marion County Republican Central Committee, Greater Indianapolis Republican Finance Committee and the Committee to Elect Lawrence Mayor Paul Ricketts.
Indicted financier Tim Durham is living in an undisclosed residence in the downtown area after a federal magistrate rejected his request to move back into his 20,000-square-foot mansion.
Magistrate Judge Kennard Foster said Durham should not continue living at his sister’s house or move back to his mansion because both are in foreclosure.
Indicted financier Tim Durham has asked a federal judge to allow him to move from his sister’s home in Geist back to his 20,000-square-foot mansion. Durham has been living with his sister on home detention since his April arrest.