It took little more than a year to wreck Level Propane. The wrecking ball swung hardest in the Bankruptcy Court, where they knocked Level Propane apart, arranged the worst out-of-gas crisis in its history and stripped it of its assets. The Courts have been asked to stand up for what is right, and we can only hope they do.

Read how it was done in their own words:

"You further stated under penalty of perjury that on an occasion, Bob Angart pulled you aside and stated to you that, quote, "I need you to help me dispose of some extremely sensitive financial documents," end of quote." From the Deposition of Anthony Pressly

"Fired Benesch attorney alleges firm misconduct"
Crain's Cleveland Business, March 3-9, 2003

"...An enormous amount of money appeared from previous month's activity in the cash room of Horizen Propane..."
From the deposition of Jeff Kessler

Q. "So you went down to the warehouse, you found that the documents weren't there anymore and you ... didn't go to Mr. Argart?" A. "No." From the Deposition of Anthony Pressley Mar, 23, 2006

Level Propane is not the first company to be mishandled by this bank. Read about Procter & Gamble's racketeering charges against Bankers Trust in the Business Week cover story "The Bankers Trust Tapes". This article includes many quotes such as:

"According to P&G: ``Fraud was so pervasive and institutionalized that Bankers Trust employees used the acronym `ROF'--short for rip-off factor, to describe one method of fleecing clients.''"

You will find here the complaints that set out the facts of the cases, and links to other vital information including a GAO report on the propane industry and an article on the notorious “BT Tapes” affair.

This case demonstrates that you don’t need a gun to break the law, and that a bank can commit murder no less than a desperado. Why the banks set their sights on Level Propane is still an open question, but that they set their sights on Level Propane is clear – everything that Level built and all that it developed over ten years of pioneering efforts to modernize the industry is now in the hands of its bitterest rival.

We invite you to make up your own mind. And we invite your comments on the suit, on Level Propane and on the industry.