In face of foreclosure, attorney vows he's not going anywhere

BRADENTON — Prominent local attorney, child advocate and philanthropist Edwin “Eddie” Mulock has survived a heart transplant and a kidney/liver transplant.

A foreclosure lawsuit against his 42-year-old law practice should be no different, he said.

A bank sued Mulock in Manatee County Circuit Court last week, contending he defaulted on a $550,000 commercial loan by not making payments for almost a year, court records show. The suit by U.S. Bank National Association also seeks to foreclose on Mulock’s law office at 519 13th St. W.

Mulock said he had not yet seen the suit, but said it won’t end his legal career.

“I will be practicing law for a long time,” he said.

Mulock said he has been unable to make loan payments because of the kidney/liver transplant and the subsequent economic downturn. He was away from the office for a prolonged period of time for the 2006 transplant, only to see business drop because of the economy upon his return.

“Being out sick put a big dent in my ability to build the business back up,” Mulock said. “I got a bit behind in business and could not catch up.”

To keep his business afloat during his absence, he tapped into his equity and borrowed the $550,000 from Lehman Brothers Bank. The loan later was assigned to U.S. Bank.

The suit contends Mulock has not made any payments on the loan since Feb. 1, 2009, and owes more than $585,000 in principal, interest and late fees. Mulock said he had been negotiating with the bank.

C. Craig Eller, a West Palm Beach attorney for U.S. Bank, declined to comment on the negotiations Wednesday.

“All I can say is that all of my contacts with Mr. Mulock have been very cordial,” he said. “He has been a gentleman, and I hope he is able to resolve this.”

A Bradenton native and Manatee High School graduate, Mulock has practiced law in Manatee since 1968.

But he also is well-known for other endeavors, including conducting radio broadcasts of Manatee High football games and founding the Dream Oaks Camp for disabled, sick and special-needs children. Mulock was inspired to create the camp while recovering from a 1995 heart transplant.

“If I can survive that, I have no doubt I can survive this,” he said of the bankruptcy case. “I’m a survivor. Somehow, I’ll make it.”

Duane Marsteller, transportation/growth and development reporter, can be reached at 745-7080, ext. 2630.