The Koehler Conspiracy Continues
In Edition One, we detailed the theft of property from the Rettigs and the Brandmans by James Koehler and Dennis Lane. The story does not end with Edition One however.
The Findlay Courier has printed a huge article about James C. Koehler and his contribution to the Findlay University. The article made Koehler sound like the patron saint of Hancock County.
However, the article failed to ask about the other money that the college was promised but never received. The Brandman's Will provided for all of the estate to be donated to the Findlay University. At the time Koehler and Lane stole the Brandman's assets, their estate was worth over $4 million. Koehler has committed to donating $1 million. That is a hefty profit of $3 million, not to mention that James C. Koehler gets his name on a college building.
Is he a patron saint or a career criminal? You decide.
In addition, the property on which the Industrial Savings and Loan was built was part of the Brandman estate. Koehler and Lane stole this from the Brandman's.
The mother company of The Industrial Savings and Loan is Citizens Savings and Loan. Who was the CEO of CSL for over 20 years? James C. Koehler.
Koehler and Lane sold the property to CSL.
The Brandman's are not the last of Koehler's victims.
In 1995, Bruce and Pam Hardy purchased a lot from Country Club Acres and James C. Koehler on Fox Run Road. The lot was shown to the Hardy's by Koehler. Just above the lot was a flood line, however this would not have affected the full basement that the Hardy's intended to build.
After purchasing the lot, the Hardy's had the basement dug and poured. An anonymous call was made to the zoning department during the basement construction. The house was red tagged. Much to the surprise and dismay of the Hardys, the flood line actually ran right through their basement. Due to the fact that James Koehler had misrepresented the property, the Hardy's tried to get Koehler to take the property back. Of course, Koehler refused.
The Hardys had spent $37,500 for the lot and $26,000 for the basement. They were forced to buy another lot.
The Hardys then decided to sue Country Club Acres, James C. Koehler, Keith Lance and Noakes-Rooney. During the trial, the Hardys produced a letter from FIMA with a cc to James C. Koehler. The letter stated that the flood lines prior to 1992 needed to be moved. Koehler had ignored this letter and failed to change the flood lines on the lot plans.
During the dispute, Bruce Hardy 's supervisor at Marathon Oil - Ron Rupp, advised Bruce that if he pursued his legal matter against Koehler, his job would be in jeopardy. This conversation occurred at their church during coffee hour.
Rupp followed through with his threat when the Hardy's refused to dismiss the lawsuit. Bruce was called into Rupp's office and told that Marathon Oil had no place for him any longer. Rupp did offer Hardy a year's salary if he signed an agreement not to sue Marathon.
The entire court case cost the Hardys $65,000 in legal fees, his job, the cost of the lot and the cost of correcting the lot ($11,000).
Koehler had been found guilty of negligence. However, this was overturned in appeals due to a technicality. The Hardys appealed that discission but refused to allow Judge Joseph Niemeyer to hear the matter.
Financially and emotionally drained, the Hardys gave up. The power of Koehler's money could not be fought in the court system. They could not longer suffer a losing battle.
Does the wealth of James C. Koehler permit him to commit illegal activities without retribution? Has James C. Koehler built his wealth through illegal activities? Can the citizens of Hancock County be ensured equal protection under the law regardless of their wealth? How much does it cost to buy a verdict in Hancock County?