INDIANAPOLIS -- The state attorney general has filed a suit on behalf of dozens of Indiana homeowners left behind on their bills after the sudden closure of a Chicago-based escrow company.

The suit was filed Friday against American Escrow seeking restitution for 76 homeowners in Boone, Johnson, Hancock and Marion counties who have had to deal with late fees after their property tax and insurance bills were not paid, Call 6's Rafael Sanchez reported.

Brenda Woodruff said she was told by American Escrow that her spring tax bill had been paid, although Boone County had no record of it. As a result, she had to repay her taxes, along with her flood and homeowners insurance policies.

"I was devastated," she said. "Where I was going to get that money? What am I going to do?"

The attorney general's office said it is working with government agencies county taxing authorities to mitigate additional costs for American Escrow customers.

The Marion County Treasurer's Office has agreed to waive all penalties for those homeowners. They said this is a situation they haven't had to deal with in recent history.

"It's never occurred before. I was checking with people who've worked here for quite awhile, and at least in 20 years there's never been this kind of a situation come up," Marion County Treasurer Chief Deputy Tom Creasser said in March.

Call 6 attempted to contact the owner of American Escrow, Derek Lurie, this week but was unsuccessful. Another company to which Lurie was linked, American Tax Reporting, said that Lurie is no longer associated with the business.

The attorney for American Escrow told Call 6 he had not seen the attorney general's case and could not comment.

Homeowners from from Pennsylvania to Missouri have filed two lawsuits against the company and have requested class-action status.

More Information:

File A Complaint With The Indiana Attorney General's Office

File A Complaint With The Illinois Attorney General's Office