ORANGE COUNTY (LALATE) – Is the Teutel empire going bankrupt, or is the Orange County Choppers foreclosure storyline an artful crafted twist to reality TV? Orange County Choppers did face foreclosure proceedings in 2010. Now that storyline strikes the reality show American Chopper. But while fans expect the frequent emotionally bankrupt father-son conflicts, there are no indications that OCC is heading to financial bankruptcy.

This month on American Chopper, fans learn that a business, which drove a father and son apart and prompted lawsuits, is now heading to foreclosure. But was that the case in real life?

According to Teutel Sr’s attorney, in 2010 there was never financial trouble for Orange County Choppers. Rather, foreclosure proceedings results from bickering over mortgage amounts. The assets that had depreciated in the latest recession and a bank allegedly refused to renegotiate the mortgage terms.

What do you do when you have a mortgage of $12.5 million on a building that is not even worth $8 million in the current economy? It’s not an unusual conflict in today’s economic climate but it certainly plays out for great reality TV conflict.

And while American Chopper is usually Sr vs Junior, this storyline is OCC vs GE. The mortgagor and a mortgagee couldn’t come to agreement on loan terms. But clearly producers did agree that it’s a great conflict for tv viewers.

The trouble stems from two mortgages carried by OCC through GE Commercial Finance Property Corp. One mortgage is $11 million, another is $1.5 million. In July 1, 2010, OCC missed both mortgage payments; but producers didn’t miss to capture the conflict. The payments added up to $96,400 and $14,000 installments due July 1, 2010. Orange County Choppers lawyer Richard Mahon says the mortgages needed to be negotiated since they were based upon a $12 million valuation a building now worth only $7-8 million. GE Commercial Finance spokesman John Oliver refused to comment about the foreclosure matter.