# RICHARD EUGENE THOMAS
> **Judicial** · FY1997 · — · Final Order With Specified Cost Recovery
## Case
- **Activity ID:** `30141`
- **Case Number:** 05-1997-0158
- **Type:** Judicial
- **Lead:** EPA
- **Outcome:** Final Order With Specified Cost Recovery
- **Penalty assessed:** —
- **Cost recovery:** $160K
- **Compliance action $:** —
- **Multimedia (multi-env):** N
## Defendants
- RICHARD E. THOMAS, DEBTOR (complaint) (settlement)
## Summary

CERCLA BANKRUPTCY CASE: RICHARD E. THOMAS WAS THE CEO OF     THE THOMAS SOLVENT COMPANY OF BATTLE CREEK, MI.  IN 1986     EPA SUED, AMONG OTHERS, THOMAS PERSONALLY AND THE            SOLVENT COMPANY AS PRPS UNDER CERCLA FOR THE CONTAMINA-      TION OF THE VERONA WELL FIELD SF SITE.  IN ABOUT 1987        THOMAS AND HIS FAMILY MOVED TO DALLAS , TX, AND PURCHASED    AN EXPENSIVE CONDOMINIUM (FOR $1.75 MILLION), USING          MONEY FRAUDULENTLY RECEIVED FROM THE SOLVENT COMPANY.        IN 12/96 THOMAS FILED A PETITION IN BANKRUPTCY COURT         IN TEXAS, CLAIMING THAT THE CONDO WAS COVERED BY TEXAS       HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION PROVISION.  THE US OBJECTED TO THE       CLAIM THAT THE CONDOMINIUM WAS SUBJECT TO THE EXEMP-         TION, AND ARGUED THAT IT SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE            LIABILITY FOR THE JUDGMENTS THAT EPA HAD RECEIVED IN THE     MICHIGAN COURTS.

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*Source: [EPA ECHO](https://echo.epa.gov/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*