Man says credit union took more than $100K from bank account without permission

A bank withdrew more than $100,000 from a man’s accounts without his authorization, according to recently filed court documents.

Cornelius P. and Carolyn Gaddis Mathis filed a lawsuit July 23 in Jefferson County District Court against San Antonio Federal Credit Union and Eddie Williams.

In his complaint, Cornelius Mathis claims San Antonio Federal Credit Union withdrew money from an account he shared with Lushine Isaacs before her death. The credit union then wrote two checks to Isaacs’s estate for $7,560 and $98,621.71, according to the complaint.

“Defendant SAFCU was not authorized nor legally permitted to withdraw these funds from plaintiffs’ accounts and unilaterally sent these funds to Eddie Williams, as independent executor of the estate of Lushine Isaacs, based on nothing more than a letter requesting funds,” the suit states.

Cornelius Mathis and Isaacs had opened two joint accounts in 2000 and 2008. Under the terms of the 2008 account, all the money in it would be transferred to the other account holder at the time of either account holder’s death. Thus, when Isaacs died on Sept. 25, 2011, Mathis transferred the money to his SAFCU account.

He claims he was also able to transfer all money from the 2000 account because it included a provision for the right to transfer funds without the permission of the other account holder.

Cornelius Mathis says SAFCU breached its contract with him and engaged in gross negligence because it mismanaged and misappropriated his funds.

He also alleges unjust enrichment against Williams, who received the money taken from his account.

In his complaint, Cornelius Mathis seeks actual and exemplary damages, plus pre- and post-judgment interest at the highest rate, costs, attorney’s fees and other relief the court deems just.

John Pat Parsons of Lindsay, Lindsay and Parsons in Beaumont will be representing him.

Judge Milton Shuffield, 136^th District Court, has been assigned to the case.

Case No. D194-555