(Rock Hill-AP) Nov. 28, 2003 - A class-action suit has been filed against accountants, lawyers and lenders of a Pageland investment company being investigated by the state.

The Thaxton Group filed for bankruptcy last month. It owes more than $120 million dollars to about 3,800 investors. The suit filed Tuesday in Anderson County on behalf of two investors seeks to collect debt for anyone who bought securities from Thaxton or its affiliates.

Attorney Randall Hood helped file the lawsuit. He says the South Carolina residents he represents feel they should not have bought these notes if the company was not in a position to pay them back.

The suit names as defendants Finova Capital Corp, Thaxton's largest lender. It also names the Charlotte law, North Carolina, firm Moore and Van Allen and the Raleigh, North Carolina, office of accounting firm, Cherry Bekaert and Holland. Officials with the companies dismissed the lawsuit's claims.

Thaxton has more than 50 offices around the nation dealing with auto loans, auto insurance and investments.

Posted 8:50pm by Eva Pilgrim