Engineering firm sues Jackson Co. restaurant

RIPLEY - The owners of a Jackson County restaurant are accused of failing to pay one of its neighbors for renovation work it performed.

JPL Ventures, LLC and James W. and Patricia Wilson are named as co-defendants in a breach of contract suit filed by Fox Engineering. In its complaint filed Aug. 15 in Jackson Circuit Court, Fox alleges JPL and the Wilsons owe it nearly $100,000 for work it did to renovate the Wilsons' restaurant, Crabby Patti’s, which is a few doors down Main Street from Fox’s Ripley office and across the street from the Jackson County courthouse.

According to the suit, on an unspecified date, the Wilsons contracted with Fox to renovate the building at 113 North Court Street to be the new home of Crabby Patti’s. Fox started work in April 2012 and continued for the next 13 months.

The work performed by Fox, the suit says, included “structural inspection, design, permitting, select demolition, portions of the plumbing, electrical, concrete, framing, structural, reinforcement, repairs to deteriorated structural members and materials.” Also, Fox says it “advanced monies for materials, permitting fees, labor and other expenses associated with the work performed.”

As a result, Fox avers the work it performed “substantially improved the condition and value of the structure owned by JPL,” which enabled it and the Wilsons “to acquire financing for the acquisition and operation of” Crabby Patti’s.

In the suit, Fox claims the total bill for its work came to $97,421.65. After making six payments of $500, Fox claims JPL and the Wilsons have “refused to pay the balance of money... for the work performed.”

Along with interest, attorneys fees and court costs, Fox seeks judgment against JPL Ventures, and the Wilsons for $97,421.65. It is represented by Leah R. Chappell with the Ripley law firm of Adams, Fisher and Chappell.

The case is assigned to Judge Thomas C. Evans III

Jackson Circuit Court, case number 13-C-90