Defendants dismissed from U.S. Money Reserve suit

In July, the Southeast Texas Record reported that a settlement has been tentatively reached in a suit alleging a customer purchased and received gold coins and fraudulently tried to a secure a chargeback on his credit card.

Three months later, the defendants have been dismissed from the case.

U.S. Money Reserve, doing business as U.S. Rare Coin & Bullion Reserve, filed suit against defendants USPI, George Menier and Joseph Rainer on Aug. 13, 2010, in Jefferson County District Court.

Court records show that on June 22 the parties filed a notice with the court announcing that a settlement had been reached and that the parties are preparing documentation once the settlement becomes official.

On Sept. 19 U.S. Money Reserve filed a motion to dismiss. Three days later, Judge Bob Wortham, 58th District Court, granted the motion, dismissing the defendants with prejudice, court papers say.

The suit states that Menier purchased coins from U.S. Money Reserve. After acquiring them, he "fraudulently denied he received the coins and attempted to secure a chargeback on his credit card."

"When Menier's ... schemes did not work, he enlisted the help of defendants USPI and Rainer," the suit states. "Defendants ... all attempted to fraudulently secure a charge back even though the coins were never returned."

Beaumont attorney Glen Morgan, a partner at the Reaud, represented U.S. Money Reserve, Morgan & Quinn law firm.

The defendants were represented in part by Houston attorney Kathleen Boll of the Henke Law Firm.

Case No. A187-564