Lawsuit filed against Valpo businesswoman’s accountant, partner
By James D. WOlf Jr. Post-Tribune correspondent July 12, 2012 10:04AM
Updated: August 14, 2012 6:23AM
VALPARAISO — The owner of the defunct Bella Capelli Salon and Details is suing both her former partner and the business’ accountant over money that the partner is criminally charged with stealing.
Tammy S. Ferrari, who handled business operations, filed the suit July 3 on behalf of herself and the salon, which was located at 902 Calumet Ave. in Valparaiso.
In October 2010, Monica J. Schmidt, 33, denied Ferrari access to financial records to get a loan to relocate, and in November 2011, the Internal Revenue Service gave notice that Bella Capelli owed back taxes, the suit states.
The suit states that Ferrari asked Valparaiso accountant Charles S. Moore for records on March 23 for an April 26 IRS hearing, but he didn’t produce them.
Moore declined to comment.
Ferrari paid $465,260 in back taxes in June, the suit states, and Schmidt is accused of taking at least $394,000 and charging $16,000 on credit cards in Ferrari’s name.
The suit states that Indiana code allows loss recovery of three times “the actual damages of the pecuniary loss, plus the cost of the action and reasonable attorney fees.”
Schmidt was charged in 2011 with Class C felony forgery, three counts of Class C felony theft and six counts of Class D felony theft .She’s scheduled to appear in court Sept. 18 and have a trial Oct. 22.
Class C felonies carry sentences of two to eight years each, and Class D felonies carry sentences of six months to three years.
Porter County Judge Mary Harper set Schmidt’s bail bond at $15,000 cash on Dec. 21, and as a condition of bond, Schmidt cannot leave the state nor renew her passport
