This case is a classic example of white collar crime. These guys have enough (of someone elses') money to drag this on indefinitely. If you have enough money to hire a 'good' lawyer, you can forestall your judgement day.
Most of us do not have that kind of disposable income, nor, may I add, the political connections.
The system should not allow this kind of b*&^%$#@t to go on. I mean from 1998 to present, thats eight years folks. Anybody have an estimate what the delays have cost the taxpayers so far?
Why not be HONEST? If you are caught with your hand in the till, admit it and take your punishment. RIDICULOUS!
metalman.

Metalman do you know what ‘kiting a cheque’ is?
It always amazes me how people can spout off with no clue or knowledge of the facts.
Kiting is something that most people did up to about 5 to 7 years ago. Yes you metalman most likely have kited a cheque in the past.

Kiting is when you write a cheque for payment and then hope your income (lets say it is your pay cheque) can get deposited before the cheque clears at the bank. In the old days you had about 7 to 10 days a grace before the money had to be there, but today with electronic banking it no longer is the common practice of most businesses and people in general.
Did you know kiting was illegal? Yes much to everyone’s surprise all these years. Therefore, I would give Doug and Mike some slack as they appear not to be stealing or anything other than trying to make a business that employed many people and generated incomes for many people survive.
I would think it is the other way around and it is CIBC or other lawyers that are trying to make a mountain out of a molehill…
Happy New Year to all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Check_kiting

This is the case as it is in the USA. A fine of $1million and jail time for up to 30 years is not the normal "punishment" for some minor gig.

I would think that it had been going on for some time with notification to the "kiters" by the bank. I also suspect for it to go this far it would have been relatively serious, not just a one time practice with sufficient back up to pay NSF and other charges, including the money to cover the actual cheque(s).

"Therefore, I would give Doug and Mike some slack as they appear not to be stealing or anything other than trying to make a business that employed many people and generated incomes for many people survive. I would think it is the other way around and it is CIBC or other lawyers that are trying to make a mountain out of a molehill…"

Yes, lets blame the victim once again. It could not possibly be the businessman doing something he shouldn't, could it. From what I have read in reports on the matter in the past, it is far more than hoping there was enough money to cover a cheque. However, let's wait for the court case and evidence to unfold before finding him innocent or guilty, shall we.

To Free Enterprise.

That is not exactly what "kiting" is. It usually involves cash at some point. If company "A" owes you $5000.00 and company "B" owes you $5000.00, and company "C" owes you $5000.00 and Company "C" comes in and for some reason pays you cash, you can put that in your pocket. Company "A" will then pay you by cheque, so you will take that cheque and pay a partial payment on Company "C's" bill, and the rest on Company "A"'s bill. Company "A" should be all paid off, but you have pocketed the cash from company "C", so now you have to take someone else's cheque to pay the balance owing on Company "A" and it becomes a real nightmare for bookkeeping. The people doing this are very clever for quite a while until the accountants start digging deeper. This usually happens with accounts that have 90 - 120 days or longer so the "kiter" has more time to figure things out and make partial payments to all accounts involved.

I can see why so many have financial probelms.

Furthermore, once Ford learned of their antics they pulled their stock out......stat! hence the reason why the receivers were changing the locks on the doors when they came swooping down.

Free enterprise.
They did a lot more than just kiting.
Trust me the fraud was severe with these guys.
My pal got screwed over on his new pickup he bought there even.
It is just that CIBC is actually big enough to fund the legal battle is all.

When the case is done and you read what they did you will then understand.

you are absolutely right, Marty. The Big plan at the former dealership involved lien payouts that did not go to the right places...instead went into the pockets of you know who.......
Hope the people responsible get what they deserve!