Monongalia County sisters say company duped them

MORGANTOWN -- Monongalia County sisters claim that they were given false references and paid a $10,000 deposit on an addition that never got built.

Kim B. and Sandra R. Carey claim that General Property Services and Doug Hilling, the owner, signed a contracted in June 2004 to build an addition on their home. However, Hilling and General Property Services are not contractors.

In the suit filed on Jan. 12, the Careys stated that General Property Services said they could add the addition to their home for $70,000, but needed a $10,000 deposit before they could start work. The Careys paid the $10,000 and never saw Hilling again.

The Carey sisters soon discovered that Hilling didn't even have a work permit for the addition. So, in July, the Careys attained a work permit from the city of Morgantown for the addition. Approximately two weeks later, Hilling, with no permission from the Carey sisters, tried to obtain a work permit for their home at 1279 Broadview Drive. Later in July, the Carey sisters began investigating Hilling and his references, and they claim that Hilling had given them false references, no business or contracting permit, and had basically defrauded them.

In the suit filed by Natalie J. Sal, of Sal & Rose, the Careys say that they finally spoke to Hilling in August and he agreed to return their money, but didn't. To top off the whole situation, he never started work on the addition. They have continued to try to contact him, but have not heard from him since August.

The Carey sisters are now seeking compensatory damages in the form of their $10,000 deposit, lost wages, court costs, and attorney's fees. They are also seeking a trial by jury to decide on punitive damages for their mental anguish, severe emotional distress, and annoyance and inconvenience.

Monongalia County Circuit Court case number: 06-C-26