Couple sues pastor for $6.8 million

By Christopher Quinn

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Virginia couple expects to hear a response next week to their $6.8 million lawsuit against their former pastor, who also has a church in Atlanta, and others.

Jose and Yvette Strickland's Virginia suit claims they lent Pastor Deron Cloud of Capitol Heights, Va., $737,000 to start a second Soul Factory church in Stone Mountain. The Soul Factory began making payments, but quit three years ago. That caused the Stricklands to lose seven mortgaged, income-producing properties.

They filed the suit Sept. 30. Timothy Obitts of McLean, Va., Cloud's attorney, said he will file the response next week.

The church believes any money received from the Stricklands was a gift and not to be paid back, Obitts said by phone.

"So they are a little bit surprised by this to say the least," he said.

Michael Trevelline, the Washington attorney representing the Stricklands, said, "It put them in bankruptcy. They had no reason to give away that kind of money. They told my clients, We will pay it back."

Calls to Cloud and Jose Strickland were not returned.