AMX files suit against employees charged with stealing $2.1 million

A Houston County circuit court judge recently granted an order stopping the transfer or sale of any money, stocks or property owned by Billy Ludlam, his wife, Susan Ludlam, or his brother, Matt Ludlam.

Circuit Court Judge Ed Jackson granted a temporary restraining order requested by Alabama Motor Express, Inc., also referred to as AMX trucking.

AMX trucking company, located in Ashford, also filed a civil lawsuit against Billy Ludlam, Susan Ludlam and Matt Ludlam in an effort to recover money they say the Ludlam family members stole from AMX.

The lawsuit alleges that as a result of “deceptive” conduct the defendants illegally received payments from AMX trucking totally $2,131,833.

Click here to read a copy of the complaint:

A hearing has been set for Wednesday when the judge will determine whether to make the restraining order permanent until a judgement in the case. The restraining order filed against the Ludlam family, who all live in Henry County, will expire Thursday if the court does not hold a hearing to hear evidence on the order.

Henry County records show Billy Ludlam and Susan Ludlam have built a residence, acquired multiple pieces of real estate, along with a boat and several vehicles since the “deceptive conduct” started, AMX chief financial officer Jim Franklin said in an affidavit of support for the restraining order. According to the affidavit, AMX has a lawful claim to those assets, which are valued in excess of $363,000.

Houston County Sheriff’s investigators arrested all three members of the Ludlam family last month and charged them with multiple felony crimes, alleging they stole in excess of $2.1 million from the trucking company.

Susan Ludlam and Matthew Ludlam have preliminary hearings scheduled for April 4.

Lawsuit

AMX filed the fraud and misrepresentation lawsuit in Houston County Circuit Court on Monday through their attorney Taylor Flowers. AMX “demanded” a judgment against the defendants, Billy Ludlam, Susan Ludlam and Matthew Ludlam for compensatory damages and punitive damages.

The lawsuit alleges the two brothers, while employed at the trucking company, created invoices for services and materials to be bought for a nonexistent company called National Tire Inc. AMX failed to receive any of the services.

Billy Ludlam worked for AMX from May 5, 1997 to Dec. 21, 2007, as the director of maintenance, while his brother Matthew Jerome Ludlam worked for AMX from July 22, 2003, to Jan. 26, 2008, as the manager of the parts department. According to the lawsuit the brothers were assigned to review and approve invoices for vehicle repair and parts purchases.

The lawsuit alleges the brothers used deception to improperly obtain payments from AMX.

Payments for the fake services were paid to Billy, Susan and Matthew Ludlam and those payments were deposited into a bank account for the fake company, the lawsuit alleges. The defendants continued to receive payments until the “deception” was discovered in January 2008, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit asks the court to require the Ludlam family to reveal how much money was improperly taken and the location of the money taken.