EDWARDSVILLE -- An Edwardsville man is suing his former living partner in Madison County Circuit Court, alleging a variety of financial complaints that total more than $50,000.
Although they once lived together, plaintiff Ronald Brown, 65, and defendant Susan Eaker, 70, currently live separately in Edwardsville.
“Mr. Brown seeks recovery of the amounts wrongfully taken from him as indicated in his complaint, including treble damages and attorney fees, pursuant to statute,” wrote attorney Paul Marks of Sivia Business and Legal Services in Edwardsville.
The lawsuit questions a number of financial transactions by Eaker from March 2017 to June 2018.
Purchases include personal items Eaker charged on Brown’s Chase Freedom credit card totaling $6,836.47, the suit states.
From April 2017 to June 2018, $11,903.19 was charged on the Chase Southwest and Chase Freedom credit cards, including $7,602.38 for beauty and shopping expenses and $4,300.81 for grocery store purchases, the suit alleges. Monthly cash withdrawals were made by Eaker from April 2017 to June 2018, totaling $10,500 - an above-market fee for allegedly taking care of Brown, the suit states.
From April 2017 to June 2018, Eaker allegedly made several cash withdrawals and transfers from Brown’s accounts by ATM or debit cards, depleting Brown’s assets and leaving a $10,672.73 outstanding balance on his credit cards.
On top of these accusations, Brown alleges Eaker owes his $10,700 for three different agreed-upon loans.
One loan was allegedly for a jointly purchased condominium in Florida, where each party was to pay half. The purchase was in both their names, however, because Eaker could not pay her half Brown was forced to cancel the contract and lost $5,000, the lawsuit says.
After Brown’s requests for partial payment of the loan through Sivia Law on Jan. 10, Eaker refused to reimburse Brown, the suit claims. To date, Eaker allegedly has not returned any of the missing funds she received from Brown’s checking account.
"Susan disputes the claims that Ron’s daughter has made against her,” said Eaker’s attorney, Christopher Threlkeld of Lucco, Brown, Threlkeld, and Dawson in a response letter to Sivia Law. “The $5,000 figure … was not a loan, it was a gift. Susan is willing to pay that back if that will resolve this matter. The $10,000 figure was really two different things. $10,000 was for furnishing the senior villa that Ron still lives in, with the furnishings. The other $2,000 was a gift. Further, Ron gave Susan an engagement ring that was worth about $15,000 which she returned to him, despite having no duty to do so.”
Brown seeks relief of more than $50,000, plus interest, court costs and all other just remedies.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 19-L-935