Local company's founder headed to trial

CHESAPEAKE - For months WAVY.com has investigated Financing Alternatives Incorporated, and it's founder George Christian. Christian's accused of taking millions of dollars from customers with poor credit for new computers then failing to deliver.

We first reported on Financing Alternatives in October 2007. From the start, George Christian's critics have argued he's trying to delay the eventual trial.

Nearly a year ago, Virginia filed suit against Christian, and finally a trail date has been set for November 5.

Financing Alternatives founder and owner George Christian showed up alone at court Wednesday. He's representing himself, and heard from Circuit Judge Randall Smith. Smith read Christian a letter from Federal Judge Jerome Friedman, who dismissed one of Christian's many motions. Judge Friedman said Christian would "evade, delay, preempt, short circuit, and otherwise thwart the civil enforcement act against him and his company."

When we asked Christian if he was trying to delay court with various motions, he claimed his computer crashed, causing bad information.

He said, "My computer crashed, and the first one was bad, then when I brought back the document it was not correct."

Judge Smith didn't buy any of that and questioned how a computer crash could change the words on paper.

Christian suggested he made the errors on paper.

In a move that could further delay a trial, Christian wants to question all 1,500 people who have filed complaints with the state.

Christian told the judge, "If there is 1,500 people who are saying this, then I should have a similar day in court with 1,500 people. How do we arrive at finding a liability without confronting the accusers?"

The court dismissed that request, saying he can only question those witnesses that take the stand against him.

Realizing this will be a difficult jury trial, Christian wants a taxpayer-paid court appointed attorney.

Judge Smith ruled 'no,' not in a civil case where no one can go to jail.

Smith also ruled Christian can not file any more motions until Christian's other motions are settled.

We're told Christian did withdrawa one of his motions asking Smith to dismiss himself from the trial.