Need Cash Fast? Maybe the County Owes You Money

SANTA ANA — The county is about to bank $58,000 in unclaimed money unless hundreds of individuals, groups and companies who are owed step forward before Tuesday.

The money--including security deposits, fee refunds and uncollected court judgments--has sat in the county’s coffers for three years and is scheduled to be moved to its general operating fund on Tuesday with approval from the Board of Supervisors.

A list of creditors released Wednesday included dozens of individuals as well as several familiar corporate names: Walt Disney Co., owed $63.29; Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, $70.82; and AMI Medical Group/Villanova, $3,023.46.

County officials said they have tried in vain to locate those who are owed. The county is required by law to publish a list of creditors in a newspaper. The county chose the Daily Pilot, a small daily that circulates only in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.

“We had no idea about this. It’s a surprise,” said Doug McGinnis, vice president of United Pacific Construction in Orange, when he learned that the company is owed $11. “As far as I know, no one ever called us. We’ve been at the same location for three years and in this area for 10 years.”

McGinnis said he will call the treasurer’s office and claim the money. “It doesn’t hurt to ask,” he said.

Treasurer-Tax Collector John M.W. Moorlach said a few of those owed money have come to claim it in the past few months.

“I’m actually surprised the departments weren’t able to find some of them,” Moorlach said. “There is one [claim] here from AMI/Villanova for $3,000. That’s a publicly traded company.”

Other familiar names on the list are Blue Cross, Koll Co., Pacific Bell and an Orange County Transportation Authority coach operators union.

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Unclaimed Assets

Hundreds of businesses and individuals have until Tuesday to stake claims on $58,000 in unclaimed money held by the county. Here are the 10 firms or individuals owed the most:

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Owner Amount Marnatt Construction Co. $4,502 AMI Medical Center/Villanova 3,023 Garcia & Sons Engineering Inc. 2,434 Niagara Drinking Water Inc. vs. Alex Marra 1,637 Puritan vs. NA 1,327 A-Plus vs. Friendly Hills 1,086 Bob Boyes 925 Gary Drawert 809 Carella vs. Gieger 788 Byron Connick 730

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Source: Orange County treasurer-tax collector