Judge Ordered Dismissal of StoryBuilt Clawback Cases
A court-appointed receiver must drop dozens of lawsuits as clawback recovery targets are significantly reduced.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Construction
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An Austin judge has ordered the Stapleton Group to dismiss the majority of clawback lawsuits filed against individuals involved with the insolvent developer StoryBuilt. The total recovery target for these claims has been slashed from more than $6 million to $1.7 million.
Why it matters
The order marks a significant retreat in recovery efforts for the firm, which entered receivership in mid-2023. While the Justice Department declined to prosecute the company following an FBI investigation, the receivership continues to navigate complex legal hurdles.
The Stapleton Group must dismiss all but 10 of its 31 open clawback cases by October 30. Total recoveries to date remain under $100,000, despite the firm facing scrutiny from eight separate state and federal investigative bodies.
The players
Stapleton Group
This firm serves as the court-appointed receiver managing the insolvency proceedings for the developer.
Anthony Siela
He is a former executive of StoryBuilt who currently faces an active lawsuit.
Ryan Diepenbrock
He is a former executive of StoryBuilt currently named as a defendant in active litigation.
Chad Shepler
He is a former executive of StoryBuilt involved in a lawsuit regarding the firm's financial operations.
The details
Stapleton Group identified three distinct recovery scenarios in its recent filing, shifting away from aggressive litigation after twenty cases were already dismissed in August. Meanwhile, a high-stakes lawsuit seeking $5 million from former executives Anthony Siela, Ryan Diepenbrock, and Chad Shepler remains active ahead of a scheduled January trial.
Timeline
February 2021 was when StoryBuilt was allegedly insolvent.
Mid-2023 was when StoryBuilt entered receivership.
August 2026 saw the dismissal of twenty clawback cases.
October 30, 2026, is the deadline to dismiss specific clawback cases.
November 13, 2026, is the scheduled hearing regarding the receiver's future.
Market Landscape
The downsizing of these clawback efforts highlights the difficulty of recouping assets following a large-scale construction firm collapse. This shift forces a narrow focus on the remaining active litigation against former leadership rather than broad attempts to recover funds from numerous third parties.
While the litigation reduction primarily affects creditors and stakeholders in the insolvency case, it signals a move toward ending the lengthy legal proceedings surrounding the firm. Residents and local businesses involved in the development may see less uncertainty as the receiver streamlines its focus before the November hearing.
The takeaway
The drastic reduction in recovery targets suggests that legal avenues for recouping funds in this insolvency have reached a point of diminishing returns. Stakeholders should note that future recoveries will likely hinge entirely on the outcome of the executive litigation scheduled for early next year.
What happens next
A hearing on November 13 will determine the future of the company's receivership, while a trial for the lawsuit against former executives is set for January.
Further reading
Learn more about local industry challenges on the Austin Construction page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Austin American-Statesman.
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