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Wachovia Bank Sues Rep. Rouson To Recoup Loan

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2008

CLEARWATER - Wachovia is suing state Rep. Darryl Rouson, claiming Rouson failed to repay a $100,000 loan he took out in 2004 while he was running a law firm in St. Petersburg.

The suit, filed by the bank Friday, also lists as a defendant Robert Klingel, a North Redington Beach man who owns TSE Industries, a Pinellas County plastics company. Klingel has been listed in published reports as the one-time owner of the subdivision in St. Petersburg where Rouson now lives in a 4,427-square-foot home valued at more than $500,000.

On March 12, 2004, Rouson's law firm delivered to Wachovia a $100,000 promissory note – which in essence is a promise to pay – after borrowing that amount, the lawsuit states. The note was renewed and extended in 2005, 2006 and 2007, but Wachovia decided to file a lawsuit after the defendants stopped making satisfactory payments as of Oct. 15.

Rouson, his former law firm of Rouson and Brumley, and Klingel owe Wachovia $98,268, the lawsuit states. Rouson merged his law firm with Morgan and Morgan in Tampa this year, according to published reports.

In November, Rouson was elected to the state House seat for District 55. It includes parts of south St. Petersburg and Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Rouson has experienced financial difficulties in the past. In 2002, he declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy, according to published reports.

Efforts to reach Rouson and Klingel were unsuccessful. John Brennan, the Wachovia attorney who filed the lawsuit, was unavailable for comment.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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