Former Okaloosa County Tax Collector Chris Hughes and his wife, Robie, have been ordered to pay $266,556.14 to settle a lawsuit filed by Synovus Bank following the 2012 foreclosure of their Fort Walton Beach-area home.
Retired Circuit Judge Keith Brace issued a foreclosure judgment in the bank’s favor Aug. 1.
The agreement calls for the Hugheses to share “joint and several liability” for the settlement amount with a group called Wilshire Holding Group, according to their attorney, Greg Crosslin.
Hughes and his wife paid Wilshire Holding Group $4,000 in September 2010 to assume ownership of their Mooney Road home.
Holding Group president Stuart Vener said then his company was working with the Hugheses on an alternative to either foreclosure or holding onto a home they could not afford.
“When people get underwater on their loan, they have three choices: They can make payments, they can walk away or we can help them walk away,” Vener said.
Wilshire Holding Group did not participate in the settlement agreement and is presently in default, Crosslin said.
“It does not appear to be a very reputable company,” he said.
Vener did not return phone calls Monday seeking comment.
If the bank chooses not to continue pursuing Wilshire, the Hugheses could be stuck paying the full settlement, Crosslin said.
When the suit was filed, six other Okaloosa County property owners had sold to Wilshire Holding Group, according to Okaloosa County property appraiser records. That number has since increased to 13.
Court records list Wilshire as a defendant in 14 Okaloosa County lawsuits.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.
