Couple accused of hiding assets to avoid repaying $6M respond to discovery requests

Defendants accused of hiding assets in order to avoid repaying millions of dollars in promissory notes recently responded to discovery requests made by Wells Fargo. 

As previously reported, Wells Fargo Bank filed suit against Thomas W. and Denise Harrison on April 13 in Jefferson County District Court, claiming the Beaumont man transferred a substantial number of assets to his wife in an effort to evade payment of debt to the bank.

Court records show that on Dec. 14 the Harrisons filed a certificate of discovery, showing that they served the plaintiff with their first supplemental response to request for production and responses to request for disclosure.

According the suit, Wells Fargo alleges it lent Thomas Harrison more than $9 million in promissory notes and guaranty agreements. According to financial statements provided to the bank, Thomas Harrison had sufficient wealth to repay the loans. However, Thomas Harrison later defaulted on the loans, according to the complaint.

In turn, Wells Fargo filed a complaint against Thomas Harrison in Jefferson County District Court. The bank received a judgment for more than $6 million, the current suit states.

Thomas Harrison, however, continued to refuse to pay the money to the bank, the complaint says. In fact, in an effort to avoid payment, Thomas Harrison transferred assets to his wife, Wells Fargo claims.

Since then, Wells Fargo has attempted to serve Thomas Harrison with post-judgment interrogatories, but he has failed to return the documents, according to the complaint.

Wells Fargo alleges fraudulent transfer against Thomas Harrison.

It seeks a judicial determination that any transfers from Thomas Harrison to Denise Harrison be declared void. It also seeks an attachment of all assets Thomas Harrison transferred, attorneys’ fees, costs and other relief the court deems just.

J. Michael Dorman and Jennifer Collard Wolf of Locke Lord in Houston represent Wells Fargo.

Beaumont attorney Keith Kebodeaux represent the couple.

Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court, is assigned to the case.

Case No. B192-299