Man sues after personal checks allegedly stolen

GALVESTON - Local resident George Wood is pursuing legal action in response to alleged theft from his checking account, recent court documents say.

Wood filed a lawsuit against Harris County resident Juan Figueroa, JNS Grocery LLC, Compass Bank and Comerica Bank in Galveston County Court at Law No. 2 on July 10, stating they had a hand in the subject financial discrepancy.

The suit shows the plaintiff banks with Compass, doing business as BBVA Compass Bank, and since July 2011, Figueroa has stolen "approximately" 27 checks from him.

"Figueroa thereafter fraudulently completed the checks in a form payable to himself, forged or duplicated without authority the purported signature of George Wood, and cashed or negotiated the checks at the place of business of JNS Grocery, doing business as Dillon Grocery doing business as JNS Check Cashing," it says.

JNS is reported to have failed "initially and over a period of time to verify the authenticity of the check and signature of" Wood while Compass supposedly neglected to "refund or credit the entire amount demanded."

"The defendant Compass Bank is liable to the plaintiff for wrongful payment, and specifically because the checks were forged and the signature was not the plaintiff's signature but was made by another without authority," the suit says.

The complainant ultimately faults Comerica for accepting and negotiating the aforementioned checks.

He consequently seeks unspecified monetary damages.

Attorney Mark W. Stevens of Galveston is representing the plaintiff, and Galveston County Court-at-Law No. 2 Judge Barbara Roberts is presiding over the case.

Cause No. 70,286