It looks like Jason Coleman won’t be grilled about his involvement in the collapse of Turner Grain Merchandising Inc. of Brinkley.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Phyllis Jones ruled April 14 that Coleman, a co-owner of the bankrupt grain dealer, won’t be compelled to talk.
Turner’s creditor, Southern Rice & Cotton LLC, filed a motion back in January hoping to force him to reveal details about Turner Grain.
“Coleman has previously asserted the privilege against self-incrimination in this matter at a prior hearing,” according to Southern’s filing.
But Southern’s attorneys just wanted to extract information about the company.
“This questioning is expected to include matters that arguably have no bearing upon any possible, hypothetical or theoretical criminal charges which could or might be brought pursuant to any state or federal charges,” the motion said.
However, Coleman’s attorney, Lisa Ballard of North Little Rock, said in her filing that Coleman does assert his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
She said that Southern “seems to allege” that Coleman was taking the Fifth to protect his property interest. Ballard denied that was the reason, but didn’t say what the reason was.
Meanwhile a motion is pending to convert Turner’s bankruptcy from reorganization to Chapter 7 liquidation. A hearing is set for May 14 at the U.S. Courthouse in Helena.
Turner Grain was forced into receivership in September, and then it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Oct. 23, listing $24.8 million in debts and $13.8 million in assets.