Ron Vannatta of Shelbyville is suing financial investment broker Robert W. McLean, president of McLean and Company of Murfreesboro. Vannatta's legal battle for millions invested by him at McLean's request is just one of the suits facing McLean.

According to reports, Vannatta said McLean and Mark S. Riddle of Rutherford County convinced him to mortgage "virtually all of his real estate holdings in order to fund large investment accounts controlled by McLean."

Vannatta, who was promised guaranteed rates of return and periodic payments of interest and principal on his invested $8.5 million, also used a portion of First Christian Church's scholarship fund to raise the money.

Also filing suits against McLean are Ryan Shepard Church of Murfreesboro and the estate of Byron Kerr. Both suits were filed last month, alleging total misappropriation of over $2 million.

The Nashville law firm Bowen, Riley, Warnock and Jacobson is representing Vannatta in the suit. According to spokesperson Steven Riley, a judge froze McLean's assets in early July. A meeting to appoint someone to oversee McLean's funds was held this morning in Murfreesboro with Circuit Court Judge Mark Rogers presiding.

Vannatta, who could not be reached for comment this morning, reportedly filed the suit after McLean stopped making payments on the investment in April.

Bryan Elliott, pastor of First Christian Church, said he wasn't aware of where the scholarship funds were invested.

"We are praying for all the families involved in this suit," he said. "Officially, I don't know where the money is invested. That is something that is handled by the appointed members."

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UPDATE: After our print edition went to bed, First Christian church released the following statement:

The Scholarship Fund that is mentioned is the Vannatta Family Scholarship Fund for the benefit of Children of First Christian Church. The funds are donated by the Vannatta Family and all investments there of are made at the discretion of the Trustees of the fund and the Vannatta Family.

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McLean is noted as a philanthropist and major benefactor of both Middle Tennessee State University and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Donations to the Hall of Fame and Museum were used to secure the purchase of "Mother" Maybelle Carter's 1928 Gibson Guitar and Bill Monroe's 1923 Gibson mandolin. The foundation was only on the receiving end of McLean's money troubles, never having invested any money with the former member of the Country Music Foundation.

MTSU received "generous donations" from McLean including $1.5 million to MTSU's School of Music in 2003 for the purchase of 54 Steinway pianos. Accordingly, the music school was named in his honor.

MTSU spokesperson Tom Tozer said, "McLean has been a loyal supporter of MTSU." He declined to say just how much money McLean had donated over the years.

McLean also serves on the advisory board of MTSU's Jennings A. Jones College of Business. The board is made up of "a highly select and diverse group of business and community leaders who dedicate a portion of their time to enhancing, promoting, and resourcing the quality of business education at MTSU," according to MTSU promotions.

He was also a major investor in the film "Our Very Own," which was shot and set in Shelbyville.

The three lawsuits will be heard in Chancery and Circuit courts in Murfreesboro. Willard Holdings of Chicago is also named in the suits.

Vannatta is a former fraternity brother of the accused.