The majority of these transactions were for the benefit of defendant Pearson, defendant Pearson’s wife, and a former church secretary. On December 23, 2011, Plante Moran issued a preliminary finding report that demonstrated that, between 20, over $237,000 was removed from plaintiff Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church’s bank accounts through questionable t ransactions. When the accusations against defendant Pearson arose, the church members began to take sides and formed a pro-defendant Pearson faction and an anti-defendant Pearson faction. At this vote, members voted to retain defendant Pearson as pastor. On Sunday October 31, 2011, the board of trustees and the deacon board gave public notice to the congregation of Pilgrim’s Rest of the status of the investigation of defendant Pearson and of a Novemvote to terminate defendant Pearson’s employment. After the Octomeeting, plaintiffs Blackwell and Mayfield hired Plante Moran to analyze the church finances. Between July 6, 2011, and October 13, 2011, defendant Pearson admitted numerous times to giving himself raises, using church credit cards for non-church purposes, and paying monetary honorariums to himself, all without either board’s approval or authorization. In April of 2011, the board of trustees and board of deacons became aware of defendant Pearson’s authorizing a raise for him self. In 2011, defendant Pearson was the pastor and president of plaintiff Pilgri m’s Rest Bapti st Church.
Plaintiff Pil grim’s Rest Baptist Church is an ecclesiastical corporation. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.
The consolidated case Defendants-Appellees/Cross-Appellants and Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs-Appellees/Cross- Appellants (collectively refer red to as “pastor’s opponents”) cros s-appeal the same or der.
#Pilgrim rest baptist church embezzlement trial#
3- Appellees (collectively referred to as “pastor’s supporters”) appeal the trial court’s Novemorder that dismiss ed their cl aims under MCR 2.116(C)(8).
11-012242-CZ PILGRIM REST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, JESSIE OSBY, ARTIS OSBY, JENNIFER CUMMINGS, JEFFREY CUMMINGS, SCOTTY PEARSON, JR., LAFOYA PEARSON, MARY WILLIAMS, ANDREW WILLIAMS, HAYWOOD WARE, CHRISTINA DEAN, SHARON ASHFORD, GLORIA SALLIE, JESSIE SALLIE, WAYNE PEARSON, and KEON PEARSON, Plaintiffs/Counter-Defendants- Appellants/Cross-Appellees, and FELISHA TODD, ALEONE SIMMS, LORENZO PEARSON, KEAYSHA McDONALD, SANDRA BENTLEY, MAMIE RAYBON, JUSTIN CUMMINGS, EDNA WILLIAMS, DEENA KING, FLORIDA PARNELL, KENDRA THOMAS, BONNIE SMITH, SEAF SMITH, ALVIS HOLSEY, ANDREA HOLSEY, MARQUITER RANDLE, GEORGE WEAVER, JR., LOUISE MILLER, APRIL JACKSON, BESSIE CARTER, RHONDA LEE, BRENDA 318797 Kent Circuit Court ARTHUR PEARSON, SR., Defendant/Counter-Plaintiff- Appellant/Cross-Appellee. PILGRIM’S REST BAPTIST CHURCH, a/k/a PILGRIM’S REST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, NATHAN MAYFIELD, and STEPHON BLACKWELL, Plaintiffs/Counter-Defendants- Appellees/Cross-Appellants, FOR PUBLICATION Ap9:00 a.m.
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