A well-known Cincinnati car dealer in the midst of a multimillion-dollar civil fraud case died early Monday, apparently of injuries suffered from falling down some stairs.

        Harry Hocks Jr., 72, was pronounced dead at 12:45 a.m. at University Hospital, where he had been taken after he fell and hit his head. His body was taken to the Hamilton County morgue, where an autopsy was scheduled to be performed.

        Mr. Hocks, of Hyde Park, was accused of swindling many of the clients who thought — incorrectly — that they'd purchased the cars from him. They let him keep the titles, allowing them to forego paying sales taxes on the vehicles. Most paid Mr. Hocks in cash.

        But now, Firstar and Fifth Third banks want to repossess the cars because the loans on them are in default.

        Firstar, which lost the most at $1.6 million, filed suit against 74 buyers and Mr. Hocks. Most of the customers had paid Mr. Hocks for the cars in cash. Fifth Third is working out deals individually with more than 90 of Mr. Hocks' customers.

        Even before Mr. Hocks' death Monday, the civil case against him had come to a standstill — because of a judge's conflict of interest in the case. Judge Steve Martin recused himself last week because he owns stock in Firstar Bank.

        A new judge, Richard Niehaus, was appointed to take Mr. Martin's place.

        Said Hans Zimmer, a lawyer representing more than 70 buyers: "This certainly has put a wrinkle on things that was, to put it mildly, unexpected.”

        Nov. 24 report: Auto dealer accused in lease scheme

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