Raiford mayor seeks to block land transfer

[Dan Hildebran]

Raiford Mayor J.D. Griffis, along with business
partner John L. Shadd, filed a lawsuit late last month
to prevent a Bradford County man from transferring
land to his sister and brother-in-law.

Mr. Griffis filed the action against Harold E. and
Alice Faye Waters, claiming the couple took title to
real estate from A.S. Corporation without giving the
company anything of value in return. Mr. Griffis and
Mr. Shadd obtained a judgment against A.S. Corporation
in 2002 for $229,878. Under Florida's fraudulent
transfer statute, debtors cannot transfer property to
"insiders" unless the debtor receives property or cash
for the transfer. The lawsuit alleges that Mr. And
Ms. Waters are insiders because the President of A.S.
Corporation, Ronald E. Newman, is the brother of Ms.
Waters.

The Union County men's judgment against the
corporation arose from the construction of post office
buildings in Pinetta and Sanderson, Florida .
According to a 2002 final ruling issued by Judge
Theron A. Yawn, Jr., A.S. Corporation agreed to
construct both buildings for $769,500. However,
problems on the project, including defective
electrical work performed by a subcontractor, pushed
the owner's cost to $974,087. The plaintiffs were
awarded the difference in the original contract price
and their actual cost.

Deh