Ronald Shirley, Ron Shirley, Ron W Shirley, Ron W. Shirley, Ronald W. Shirley, Ron W Shirley Breach of contract, ponzi scheme, real estate developer fraud, con artist Colleyville, Texcas Texas

Judge awards $1 million in breach-of contract lawsuit

Colleyville developer Ron Shirley was penalized with a $1 million judgement in a breach-of-contract lawsuit against him after he didn't show for trail in the matter Tuesday.  The judgement order by 348th District Judge Dana Wumack includes $900,000 in punitive damages as well as the plaintiff's legal costs of $34,000 and compensation for $75,000 owed to the plaintiff, MPRW Investment, in a business deal with Shirley, accoridng to court papers.

The contracts MPRW, owned by Colleyville businessman Mike Milor, joined a partnership involving Shirley and his company RWS Management in 2005 to develop some property.  MPRW lent RSW $100,000 to build the project's roads.  The MPRW lawsuit was filed in March 2007 after Shirley didn't deliver on his promises, court papers indicate.  Court filings have accused Shirley of fraud and using business funds for personal use.

Attorney John Thorne had represented Shirley in the suit, but he said Tuesday he had withdrawn from the case before it went to trail.  Shirley could not be reached for comment.  He could attempt to obtain a new trail or appeal the judgement said MPRW attorney Ryan Valdez of the Cantey Hanger law firm in Forth Worth.

The judgements MPRW's collection prospects seem poor, Valdez said.  Other people are demanding money from Shirley, he said.  "We're going to try and find him and get in line" he said.

Shirley, 43, has been involved in numerous land developments, including some in Colleyville.  He has been sued several times in conneciton with business activies in Colleyville and other areas of Tarrant County.  He owes a $500,000 judgement in a suit brought in November 2007 by former Dallas Cowboys player Deion Sanders.

In Marc, Womack found Shjirley in comtempt of court during a different lawsuit.  Shirley was assessed a $214,000 judgement and order to provide certain financial information and pay additional legal costs.  When he was unable to, Womack order him jail.

Shirley was release five weeks later, after he filed for bankruptcy, which order creditors to seek relief through bankruptcy court. On May 15, Shirley's bankruptcy request was dismissed after he failed to file required financial information with the court.