An attorney and his companies defaulted on a promissory note for more than $1.1 million, as well as interest, fees and costs, a Georgia-based bank alleges in a complaint filed Tuesday in Louisiana federal court.

Community Bank and Trust — West Georgia urged the court in its suit to order attorney James Graham, The Law Office of James A. Graham LLC, Graham's businesses, GH Waste Services LLC and The Healthy School Food Collaborative I LLC, and Dionne Graham to pay all amounts due under the note, plus interest, attorney fees and costs of collection.

According to the bank, the law office sought and obtained, through Graham, a $1.14 million loan from Fountainhead SBF LLC in April 2022. The note purportedly requires the firm to pay principal and interest payments of $12,889.76 every month, beginning May 2022, but the bank says the payments weren't made.

The bank, which transferred ownership of the note in January 2024, says GH executed an "unconditionally guaranteed" payment to the lender of all amounts owed under the note in April 2022, as well as "all expenses" incurred by the lender in trying to enforce the guarantee. The collaborative did the same, the bank says, as did both Grahams.

Because the note was not paid down according to its terms, the bank says it is in default. And, upon default, it states that it is entitled to "require immediate payment of all amounts by any borrower or guarantor, and may file suit and obtain judgment." It was entitled to do so "without further notice or demand," the bank says, but it formally notified the firm and all guarantors on the note of the default and demanded repayment earlier this year.

"Despite amicable demand, defendants have not paid the note," Community Bank says. "Guarantors are now expressly liable for the amounts due and owing."

As of Nov. 1, the bank says it is owed $1,032,699.75, as well as attorney fees, costs of collection and interest that continues to accrue at a rate of $237.74 per diem. That money, the bank argues, should be paid by either the Grahams, his businesses or the firm immediately.

Representatives for the parties did not respond immediately to requests for comment Wednesday.

Community Bank is represented by R. Chauvin Kean, Alexandra C. Veazey and Madeleine M. Simpson of Kean Miller LLP.

Counsel information for James Graham, The Law Office of James A. Graham LLC, GH Waste Services LLC, The Healthy School Food Collaborative I LLC and Dionne Graham was not immediately available.

The case is Community Bank & Trust — West Georgia v. The Law Office of James A. Graham LLC et al., case number 2:25-cv-02258, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.