The former president and secretary of a Winamac business are in some hot water, as the Pulaski County Commissioners filed a lawsuit against them after they defaulted on a loan from 2004.
The lawsuit, filed on Nov. 29, names Jerry R. Howe, Jr. and Scott Roudebush as defendants and seeks to have $151,425.50 reimbursed to the county, along with the appropriate interest, attorney fees, and court costs. The county has hired the Merrillville-based law firm Genetos, Retson, Yoon and Molina, LLP, after it was learned that County Attorney Kevin Tankerslee had represented one of the defendants in a previous matter.
The defendants each agreed in September 2004 on behalf of Chesapeake Electronic Recycling, LLC to each repay the loan of $175,000 in monthly installments of $970.55. However, Roudebush left the company in 2008 and claims the loan was responsibly paid during his time with the company. When he left, Roudebush claims, Dave Rosenau – his business partner – agreed to take over the financial obligations of the company, including the loan.
Roudebush claims the commissioners should have attached the loan to the property, rather than to
individuals, and he said they are now trying to cover up their mistake.
