Lawyer in Hutaree case sued for allegedly defaulting on student loan

Rataj has been in the news recently because he represents Tina Stone - one of nine Hutaree members indicted in March on federal charges including seditious conspiracy and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction.

The members are accused of conspiring to levy war against the United States. Among the allegations is that members discussed killing a law enforcement officer, then attacking the funeral procession motorcade with homemade bombs. Tina Stone was among four members released in May pending trial, while the rest remain in federal custody.

Attorney Deborah Winslow, who is representing the government in the student loan suit, could not be reached for comment today.

Rataj said he will fight the suit and can produce records from his accountant and the Michigan Higher Education Student Loan Authority showing he has already paid nearly $30,000 of what the government is seeking.

"I want to show the court and the Department of Education that I did not take the money and run," Rataj said. "I've definitely made a good faith effort to meet my obligations."

Rataj said he made regular payments from 1990 up until about 2002, but admits his track record wasn't perfect.

In 2002, he began making inquiries about the remaining balance, but wasn't provided with the information, and did not make further payments, he said.

Records filed Tuesday in federal court in Detroit show the Department of Education has been charged with collecting the balance since June 2006. Officials reviewed Rataj's student loan case at the end of April, records show.

Rataj said he opened his own practice in 1994, and it wasn't easy making payments promptly each month while he was getting things off the ground.

"Even today, the money sometimes comes in, sometimes doesn't."

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.