The Duquesne man accused of burning his business and residence last week following a long string of business difficulties filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Nov. 4, 2002, according to U. S. Bankruptcy Court records.
According to court records, Keith "Skip" McBride declared bankruptcy for his Webb City-based business, Coin-Op. He marked the box for 0 to $50,000 in estimated assets and $100,001 to $500,000 in estimated debts. Only two major creditors were listed on the bankruptcy petition, Jason Higdon of Joplin, and Mercantile Bank of Western Missouri.
The bankruptcy filing took place about the time McBride had been hit by several civil suits in Jasper County Circuit Court.
As Joplin Globe reporters Jeff Lehr and Derek Spellman wrote in a well-researched April 15 article, Firstar Bank of Joplin sued Coin-Op, McBride and his wife Wanda, and their business agent David L. Taylor in February 2001, claiming Coin-Op had defaulted on two loans, still owing the bank more than $240,000.
The Globe also reported that Billiards of Tulsa picked up a $4,649 judgment against Coin-Op in Tulsa County, with a foreign judgment entered in Jasper County.
Two other lawsuits were filed during the same year McBride filed for bankruptcy, the Globe article indicated. Both lawsuits were dismissed at the request of the plaintiffs.
Bankruptcy court records indicate the Missouri Department of Revenue was also after McBride and Coin-op. Attorney General Jay Nixon filed a application asking that overdue tax returns be filed. The document says, "The DOR does not have on file the following tax returns: October 2002 sales tax; September 2002 withholding tax and 2001 corporation income tax
"These tax returns are necessary to complete claims for the DOR so that claims are based on actual rather than estimated figures." Nixon asked for and was granted more time to file a claim against McBride and Coin-Op.
Court records indicate the bankruptcy petition was dismissed on Jan. 27, 2003, for "failure to file schedule and statements."