ODESSA, Texas — Once again, legal battles have followed on the heels of a failed attempt to convert a credit union to a mutual bank charter.

The now $129 million First Basin Credit Union filed its application to convert to a mutual bank charter in August 2007 but withdrew it before the members finished balloting. At the time the CU said it withdrew the application because of a campaign of "misinformation," including phone calls, among members about the impacts of the conversion.

Members who organized a group called Saved First Basin to oppose the charter change denied spreading any misinformation or making any calls, but they are among those being sued. The suit named Letty Ayala-Moreno, Carol Uranga and Sylvia Acosta, all organizers of Save First Basin as well as Armando Rodriguez, a Commissioner for Ector County, Manny Puga who is CEO of the Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and a Save First Basin supporter Danny Armstrong. The suit also named the Center for Member Trust and the $303 million Self-Help Credit Union, headquartered in Durham, North Carolina.