Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Former Owner Of Fair Finance Calls Tim Durham A Thief


WISH-TV's Brad Edwards scores big with an exclusive interview with Donald Fair, the man whose father founder Fair Finance Company and who sold the company to Tim Durham and his business partner, James Cochran, in 2001. Edwards contrasts the modest lifestyle of the 85-year-old Fair to the extravagant playboy lifestyle of Durham. Fair tells Edwards he grew concerned when he saw from disclosure statements Durham was loaning a considerable amount of Fair Finance's money to himself. He said his lawyer cautioned him to remain silent. He was less restrained during his interview with Edwards, calling Durham a thief at one point. The crushing impact of Fair Finance's downfall on Fair did not compare to the impact it had on the family of investor Don Russell, whose entire family lost their life savings. Russell's mother became overwrought after learning of the FBI raid on the company that had been in business since 1934. She checked herself into a hospital the same day she learned of the company's fate and died two days before Christmas last year. Nearly a year later, no criminal charges have been brought against Durham or Cochran. As the investors of Fair Finance pick up the pieces, WISH-TV's continuing series this week will show how Durham continues to live it up out in Los Angeles in a swanky home fit for a movie star.

5 comments:

M Theory said...

Evidently WISH is spending money to promote the scathing series on Durham and bought space on Drudge. That's how I found out about it.

KUDOS to Channel 8!

Gary R. Welsh said...

I'm surprised the national news media hasn't picked up more on the Durham scandal. Where's 60 Minutes? Where's Dateline? Where's Oprah?

M Theory said...

I loved Mr. Fair, the man whose family founded Fair Finance. It was interesting how they showed the contrast between the lifestyle of the conservative and honest Mr. Fair compared to the playboy hollywood lifestyle of Brizzi's good pal Tim Durham.

Carlos F. Lam said...

Question: Why was the Russell family 100% invested with Fair/Durham? One shouldn't put all of one's eggs in a single basket.

Paul K. Ogden said...

Carlos, that's definitely true. HOw many times do people have to be warned about putting all their money in one basket.