Darrell Turner of Turner Tree & Landscape files lawsuit against former Rep. Ronald Reagan

Sept. 22--MANATEE -- Darrell Turner of Manatee County's Turner Tree and Landscape has sued former state Rep. Ronald Reagan, claiming Reagan failed to repay him for a business loan.

Reagan, who lives in Bradenton, solicited funds from Turner to start a new insurance company. On June 21, 2012, Turner entered a contract with Tidewater Insurance Co. II for $25,000, promised to be repaid after one year at Turner's written request, court documents show.

The original maturity date in the contract was June 12, 2013. Tidewater had an option to extend the original date by 180 days until Dec. 13, 2013. After the original date, interest on Turner's loan increased from 12 percent to 15 percent per year.

According to Manatee County court records, in a letter dated Aug. 3 and sent by Turner's attorney Matthew Taylor of Lewis, Longman and Walker, Tidewater owes Turner nearly $36,000 including interest through July 31.

"I told Ron I've been waiting and waiting and I'm about out of patience," Turner said. "I was going through a divorce, times were tough, you promised me no problems getting it back and here we

are two years later. There's no money and no insurance company."

Taylor filed the complaint on Sept. 1 and said he is waiting on response from Reagan's attorney, David Wilcox of the Law Offices of David W. Wilcox. Wilcox and Reagan did not return calls to the Bradenton Herald seeking comment by end of the business day Monday.

Reagan served as a state representative from 2002 until he termed out in 2010. Reagan is a commercial insurance broker at Dawson Companies, formerly Gallagher MGA, an insurance company in Lakewood Ranch.

Turner submitted his written notice requesting the funds on March 3. In email correspondence between Turner and Reagan dated July 14, Reagan provides Turner "an update" on Tidewater:

"I was hoping to have a signed agreement with the group from Tampa that I had been dealing with for the past two months. They stated they want to help fund us, but due to their current circumstances they will have to wait until the end of September." Reagan explained he was trying to get the group from Tampa to place their investment commitment in writing.

Reagan's email continues:

"Another potential opportunity came up recently regarding an existing Florida company and taking over an ongoing book of business... I am making arrangements for a meeting soon to discuss this possibility."

Turner replied to Reagan's email with a deadline of July 15 to return the funds. "It is imperative that you do not ignore this request," Turner wrote.

"I am not ignoring your request," Reagan replied. "As I advised I am attempting to bring additional funds into the company to help us complete our journey of getting our COA (Certificate of Authority). If I had the funds I would have already repurchased your note."

In separate actions, Turner faces three foreclosure suits filed by 1st Manatee Bank for property near Interstate 75 he uses for Turner Tree & Landscaping and his corporate office property. Turner has told the Herald the foreclosures are a necessary part of modification of the company's U.S. Department of Agriculture and Small Business Association loans, and the two pieces of land near I-75 are under negotiation for sale. The sale of those properties, Turner said, should give him the ability to pay off the mortgages.

Reagan was involved in a separate foreclosure lawsuit for a property he owned for about 13 years on 26th Street West. Reagan and his wife, Lynn, were granted a motion to dismiss on June 4, 2014. An amended complaint was filed by the plaintiff, First America Bank, on June 11, 2014. Reagan sold the property about a month later for $260,000, the same amount he bought it for, to Macula and Diabetic Eye Center LLC.

According to Manatee County records, the Reagans satisfied the $400,000 mortgage with First America Bank on Aug. 8, 2014.

Janelle O'Dea, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095. Follow her on Twitter @jayohday.

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