Dean Kruse mum on financial troubles

AUBURN, Ind., (WANE) --- - He's firing back against some customers, but hiding from the media. The complaints and lawsuits against Auburn auctioneer Dean Kruse are adding up, but he isn't saying much publicly about several lawsuits of his own.

Despite several phone calls and interview requests from NewsChannel 15, Kruse refuses to speak on camera about what's going on.

When NewsChannel 15's Janice Allen dropped by the offices of Kruse International Tuesday morning workers immediately said Kruse was unavailable. One worker said interview questions would need to be submitted in advance, another said Kruse simply didn't want to talk on camera about his financial troubles.

It hasn't always been so hard to score an interview with Kruse. NewsChannel 15 spoke with him in August when most of his financial troubles started coming to light, and again in October after he learned he was under investigation by the Secret Service for fraud.

Kruse's Better Business Bureau rating has plummeted to the worst possible score, and dozens of creditors says he hasn't made good on paying them.

In August he told NewsChannel 15 that was because he was waiting on others to pay him.

In December he filed seven lawsuits, seeking more than two million dollars. It's part of an effort to recoup nearly seven million dollars in debts Kruse says past customers owe for non-payment.

Kruse International Director of Public Relations Kelley Ellert says to expect another five to 15 suits filed over the next couple of weeks.

In a statement she said: "Kruse International has never sued a customer before because we value our customers and try to work with them outside of the legal system to collect payment - and in the past they have always made good on their purchases and loans. Unfortunately times are tough..."

Ellert couldn't say when an interview would be granted by Kruse. NewsChannel 15 will keep trying and continue to follow this story.

In the meantime, Kruse is preparing to head to DeKalb Superior Court next Wednesday to face a suit that's been filed against him by Hillcrest Bank.