MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

The owner of Travel Connection has filed suit against a former employee and a bank, alleging the employee stole money from the company and placed it into an account at the bank.

Nanette K. Campbell, the owner of Travel Connection, alleges that while Carrie A. Wiegard worked for her from May 2006 through April, Wiegard received checks and cash intended for Travel Connection.

Once she had the cash and checks in her possession, Wiegard would deposit them into a checking account she opened at First State Bank of Red Bud entitled Carrie A. Wiegard d/b/a Travel Connections, according to the complaint filed Jan. 7 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

She would then take out the money for her own use, the suit states.

"Defendant Wiegard wrongfully assumed control and/or dominion and/or ownership over the money she received from Plaintiff's customers for her own use," the suit states. "Defendant Wiegard has admitted to conversion of some of the checks and her lack of authority to endorse, present or negotiate same."

Although Campbell has demanded the money back from Wiegard and First State Bank of Red Bud, she has not received any of it back, she claims.

First State Bank of Red Bud was negligent by failing to exercise ordinary care in requiring a person opening a checking account in a name of a business to prove they had the authority to open an account in the name of the business, according to the complaint.

The bank also negligently failed to ensure Wiegard was authorized to open a checking account under the name she did and allowed Wiegard to endorse and negotiate checks in the name of Travel Connections and deposit them into her account, the suit states.

"That as a direct and proximate result of the negligent acts of the Defendant, the Plaintiff has suffered the loss of large sums of money in excess of $50,000 in an amount to be proven at trial which has caused her to suffer severe financial damage; severe damage to her good name and reputation and to suffer severe damage to: the good name, good reputation and good will of Plaintiff's business," the suit states.

In the four-count suit, Campbell is seeking a judgment in excess of $200,000, plus interest, attorney's fees and costs.

John J. Hopkins and Turner A. Rouse of John J. Hopkins and Associates in Edwardsville will be representing her.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-0005.