The current owner of $20 million in alleged fraud.
GreenStone Farm Credit Services (East Lansing, Mich.), which purchased Aacer and Wolf River through specially established LLCs at auction in June 2010, and Gary Ort both declined to provide details of the settlement agreement, which was reached in late December. An order dismissing the claims against Gary Ort was signed by Judge William Griesbach of the U.S. District Court in Green Bay, Wis., on Dec. 26.
On that same day Griesbach also dismissed claims against Gary Ort's co-defendants, including his daughter Kari Ort-Bunting, who previously served as vice president of operations at Wolf River; Tim Flaherty, who Griesbach described as Gary Ort's "longtime friend"; and CNB Financial Group LLC. On Monday Griesbach dismissed claims against Gary Ort's wife, Cynthia Ort, who was also a co-defendant.
In its original complaint filed in December 2010, GreenStone accused Gary Ort of diverting some $20 million away from Aacer and Wolf River and channeling the money to himself, family and friends. In asking Griesbach to dismiss the court matter, GreenStone retracted all claims of fraud against Gary Ort, Cynthia Ort and Kari Ort-Bunting.
Gary Ort stopped responding to calls for comment. Andrew Clarkowski, counsel for GreenStone, and Charles Koehler, counsel for Cynthia Ort, both declined to comment on the settlement.
