Monongalia man says friend owes him thousands

MORGANTOWN -- A Monongalia County man claims his friend has not returned a phone call or letter in almost two years to discuss or pay back a $15,000 loan.

Cliff Sutherland claims he and James King signed a contract and loaned King $15,000 for repairs to be completed on King's mother's home in January 2003, but since then, King has only paid back $8,000 and has not sent a payment in over a year.

Sutherland is suing King for the rest of the loan and interest.

In a suit filed Dec. 22, Sutherland stated King has breached his contract with him because he has failed to continue to make payments on the loan of $15,000.

Sutherland used the $8,000 King did pay back toward the loan to apply $6,995.36 to the principal and $1,004.64 to the interest according to the suit. However, it has been over a year since King has been in contact with or made a payment to Sutherland.

According to the suit, filed by attorney Edmund J. Rollo, Sutherland has tried repeatedly to contact the defendant in an attempt to remedy the situation, but has not heard from the defendant since Jan. 13 of 2003.

Though a judge has not yet been assigned to the case and he is not seeking a jury trial, Sutherland is seeking compensatory damages that include the loan and interest, court costs, attorney's fees, and he hopes the judge will grant him general damages for his "annoyance and inconvenience."

Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 05-C-757