Quick Answer: An Orange County Superior Court has entered a judgment ordering Thomas Lynch to pay $199,152.29 to Preferred Finance, LLC (formerly Liberty Debt Solution) and Brian Roche. Lynch originally filed the lawsuit in 2018, but his complaint was dismissed. The defendants then won on their cross-complaint after a bench trial. The judgment, entered January 14, 2026, includes $146,611.18 in damages and $52,541.10 in prejudgment interest.
A copy of a court judgment was recently submitted to me in a case I’ve been following since 2018. Thomas Lynch — a name that has come up repeatedly on this site over the years — sued Liberty Debt Solution, LLC and Brian Roche. After more than seven years of litigation, the case has concluded. Lynch lost, and he now owes nearly $200,000.
Here’s what the court record shows.
The Case: Lynch vs. Liberty Debt Solution
According to the judgment filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Orange — Western Justice Center, Thomas Lynch filed the original complaint on September 5, 2018, against Liberty Debt Solution, LLC and Brian Roche.
Every weekday I read the enforcement actions, filings and fine print the outlets skip, and turn them into the one or two moves that actually improve your position — a rate worth moving for, a fee you can refuse, a deadline to beat before it costs you.
In the latest issue (Sep 11): You drive to the dealership to pick up the car. There is no car. There was never a car.
I write Your Money Actually most weekdays — actionable money information you will not find anywhere else, and the small decisions that compound. It is free, I sell nothing, and I take no money from any company I write about.
The case number is 30-2018-01016550-CU-OE-WJC, and it was assigned to the Honorable Judge Sheila Recio in Department W08.
The Daily Money Brief — Free, at 10 AM
Money you may be owed, scams to dodge, and the fine print decoded — the consumer money news that affects your wallet, every weekday.
I first wrote about this dispute in September 2018 when I received court documents involving Lynch and Liberty Debt Solution.
What Happened in Court
The judgment lays out a clear timeline of how this case progressed:
- September 5, 2018: Lynch filed the original complaint against Liberty Debt Solution and Brian Roche
- June 22, 2023: Liberty and Roche filed a Cross-Complaint against Lynch for breach of contract, express contractual indemnity, and implied contractual indemnity
- August 1, 2023: Liberty Debt Solution, LLC changed its name to Preferred Finance, LLC
- October 14, 2024: Lynch’s original complaint was dismissed without prejudice in favor of prevailing party defendants
- March 4, 2025: The cross-complaint proceeded to a one-day bench trial
- May 13, 2025: The court entered its signed decision
- January 14, 2026: Final judgment entered
The Judgment
The court’s ruling was decisive:
Specifically, the judgment states:
- Judgment is entered in favor of Preferred Finance, LLC and Brian Roche on Lynch’s original complaint. Lynch recovers nothing.
- Judgment is entered in favor of Preferred Finance, LLC and Brian Roche on their cross-complaint against Lynch.
- Lynch must pay $199,152.29, jointly and severally, consisting of $146,611.18 in damages and $52,541.10 in prejudgment interest calculated at the annual rate of 10%.
- Preferred Finance, LLC and Brian Roche are the prevailing parties and are entitled to recover costs against Lynch, including attorney’s fees.
Key Detail: The judgment notes that Liberty Debt Solution, LLC changed its name to Preferred Finance, LLC on August 1, 2023. The cross-complaint allegations included breach of contract, express contractual indemnity, and implied contractual indemnity.
Thomas Lynch’s History on This Site
For readers who may be new to the name, Thomas Lynch has been a recurring figure in debt relief industry coverage on this site. Here’s a brief timeline of my previous reporting:
- January 2011: I first wrote about Lynch in connection with Legal Helpers Debt Resolution
- September 2018: I covered the Liberty Debt Solution lawsuit and asked readers for help summarizing the court documents
- April 2019: Court records surfaced showing allegations against Lynch involving OC West, Liberty Financial USA, and Liberty Debt Solution
- January 2020: Coverage of Lynch’s Consumer Financial Alliance partnership dispute and Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings
- December 2021: Reporting that Lynch was being held in Orange County jail on charges including domestic violence, stalking, and witness intimidation
You can read all previous Thomas Lynch coverage here.
What This Means
The facts here are straightforward. Lynch filed a lawsuit against Liberty Debt Solution and Brian Roche in 2018. His complaint was dismissed. The defendants filed a cross-complaint, went to trial, and won. Lynch now owes them $199,152.29 in damages and interest, plus potentially additional attorney’s fees and costs as the prevailing parties.
Whether Lynch will actually pay this judgment remains to be seen. But as a matter of public record, this is how the case concluded after more than seven years of litigation.
Key Takeaways
- Thomas Lynch filed a lawsuit against Liberty Debt Solution and Brian Roche in September 2018
- Lynch’s complaint was dismissed without prejudice in October 2024
- Liberty (now Preferred Finance) and Roche won their cross-complaint at trial
- Lynch was ordered to pay $199,152.29 — including $146,611.18 in damages and $52,541.10 in prejudgment interest
- The defendants are also entitled to recover attorney’s fees and costs
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Lynch vs. Liberty Debt Solution lawsuit about?
Thomas Lynch filed the original complaint on September 5, 2018, against Liberty Debt Solution, LLC and Brian Roche in Orange County Superior Court (Case No. 30-2018-01016550-CU-OE-WJC). The defendants later filed a cross-complaint against Lynch alleging breach of contract, express contractual indemnity, and implied contractual indemnity.
How much does Thomas Lynch owe from the judgment?
The court ordered Lynch to pay $199,152.29, consisting of $146,611.18 in damages and $52,541.10 in prejudgment interest calculated at an annual rate of 10%. The defendants are also entitled to recover attorney’s fees and costs as prevailing parties.
What happened to Liberty Debt Solution?
According to the judgment, Liberty Debt Solution, LLC changed its name to Preferred Finance, LLC on August 1, 2023. The judgment was entered in favor of Preferred Finance, LLC and Brian Roche.
What was the outcome of Lynch’s original complaint?
Lynch’s original complaint was dismissed without prejudice on October 14, 2024, in favor of the prevailing party defendants. Lynch recovers nothing on his complaint.
Who is Thomas Lynch?
Thomas Lynch is a figure who has appeared in debt relief industry coverage on GetOutOfDebt.org since 2011, beginning with his connection to Legal Helpers Debt Resolution. Over the years, he has been associated with multiple debt relief companies and has been the subject of various legal proceedings.
Dealing With Debt? Understanding your options is the first step. See how all your debt relief options compare — including ones most sites won’t tell you about. The Find Your Path quiz gives a recommendation based on your actual numbers, and the Scam-O-Meter checks any company’s complaint history before you sign. Federal Reserve research shows bankruptcy filers recover faster than those who don’t file.
