BANKING

Ex-Banker Sued Again: Former Orange County banker Ronald L. Rodgers is facing more legal problems, but he may not know it yet.

Rodgers, ousted last year from his position as president of Bank of Newport, was sued last week by Frontier Bank in La Palma for defaulting on a $130,000 loan. But a lawyer for the bank said no one has been able to find the one-time banker to serve him with the lawsuit.

“We’re trying to locate Mr. Rodgers now,” said Frontier’s lawyer, Thomas J. Prenovost Jr. of Santa Ana. “We believe he moved out of state two or three months ago. We think he might be in Florida.”

Bank of Newport had no idea Rodgers was gone. The bank had sued Rodgers in January, alleging that he and his secretary lived the high life on bank expense accounts. Rodgers later married his secretary, Verna Johnson.

Stephen M. Magro of Orange, who represents Rodgers in the Bank of Newport suit only, said he is in touch with Rodgers, but he refused to say where his client might be. Rodgers has denied all the allegations in the Bank of Newport lawsuit.