Tate troubles
An attorney for Lightning Source LLC has decided to let a pending criminal case against Ryan Tate and his father, Richard Tate, run its course before moving forward in efforts to collect on its judgment.
An attorney representing a victorious litigant in a case against Tate Publishing & Enterprises LLC, and Tate Publishing CEO Ryan Tate said his client has postponed a hearing set for next week before a magistrate in Oklahoma City federal court.
Attorney Evan Vincent said his client, Lightning Source, LLC, has decided to let a pending criminal case against Ryan Tate and his father, Richard Tate, run its course before moving forward in efforts to collect on its judgment.
In February, a federal judge in Oklahoma City approved a default judgment against Tate Publishing that gave Lightning Source the right to collect more than $2 million it is owed by both the company and Ryan Tate for unpaid printing services and for money the firm paid to Ryan Tate to get exclusive rights to print and distribute at least 5.5 million books.
Richard Tate, 70, and Ryan Tate, 38, each face four felony embezzlement charges, a misdemeanor embezzlement charge, and three felony attempted extortion by threat charges. Each also faces a felony racketeering charge, and authorities said they also intend to try to get restitution from the men to compensate the firm’s customers.
The charges were brought against the two men last month in Canadian County District Court by the Oklahoma attorney general.