Judge orders $14.7M payment in Stonewall case

A Fayette, Ky., Circuit Court judge has ordered Audrey Haisfield and son Marc to pay Fifth Third Bank a total of more than $14.7 million as the guarantors of loans Audrey Haisfield’s Stonewall Farm took out.

Judge Pamela Goodwine signed the order on Aug. 25, clearing the way for Fifth Third to attempt to recover the funds from the Haisfields.

Fifth Third also has sued 14 Stonewall-related entities over the loans. That litigation continues. An agreement between Stonewall Farm and the bank put more than 100 of the farm’s broodmares and their produce into receivership earlier this summer, and the bank is in the process of selling them.

The judgment total of $14,759,670.24 is minus a $300,000 credit for proceeds from the sale of the stallion Strong Contender to Marc Haisfield. A 7-year-old Maria’s Mon horse, he currently is advertised at stud on Stonewall Farm Ocala’s website. He stood for $7,500 in 2010 while at Stonewall’s Versailles, Ky., property

Strong Contender’s first crop are juveniles this year, and he got his first winner in July when Ozzie’s Harriet won at Arapahoe Park by 3 1/2 lengths.

Fifth Third attorney Craig Robertson declined to comment, citing Fifth Third’s policy of not commenting on pending litigation. Stonewall attorneys John Hamilton and Steve O’Brien did not immediately return calls Monday afternoon seeking comment.

Stonewall Farm and its related entities also face lawsuits from Chase Bank, which has sued for about $7 million, and from a third lender, Stone Wall Acquisition, which has received a $16 million judgment in Pennsylvania. Eight Stonewall entities have filed for bankruptcy in Florida and Kentucky.