Baker Hostetler attorneys Joseph Esmont and Kelly Burgan were quoted in the August 5, 2010, article, “Trustee pressing Daniels, others to return Durham’s donations,” published in the Indiana Business Journal.
According to the story, the trustee, Baker Hostetler attorney Brian Bash, is pressing Gov. Mitch Daniels and other prominent Indiana politicians to return money donated to their campaigns by Fair Finance owner Tim Durham. The trustee sent letters to politicians who he says collectively received at least $900,000 in donations borrowed from Fair Finance of Akron, Ohio.
Political donations were part of the $54 million Durham borrowed from Fair Finance. According to attorneys working for Bash, only three politicians have responded to the letters—including Daniels—but none has yet committed to return Durham's donations. "We are disappointed that we've not had more responses," said Burgan. "It's not uncommon for politicians to return tainted funds. The letters are the first step in the trustee's efforts to recover the money from politicians,” Burgan said. She noted the trustee has additional legal options, such as moving to have a judge declare Durham's donations fraudulent transfers.
Fair Finance had 5,000 investors of modest means, who are now owed more than $200 million.