Man says repairman shipped vehicle to secret location

A Hardin County man claims his repairman failed to make the requested fixes to his vehicle and has since sent it to another undisclosed location.

Robin Detwiler claims he brought his 1971 Chevy pickup truck to defendant Leonard Parkerson for repairs, which consisted mainly of body work. By Dec. 3, 2012, Detwiler and Parkerson entered into a contract in which Parkerson agreed to return Detwiler’s vehicle by a certain date, according to the complaint filed July 19 in Jefferson County District Court. If he failed to abide by the contract, he promised to give Detwiler his 2006 Dodge Ram 3500, the suit states.

“Since bringing the repair vehicle in to defendant, defendant has made multiple representations regarding the time frame finishing repairs to the vehicle would require,” the complaint says. “Each time a new representation was made by defendant, plaintiff would acquiesce to the new time frame. Defendant represented to plaintiff that repair vehicle would be ‘show quality’ when finished.”

While waiting for his vehicle’s repairs to be completed, Detwiler claims he purchased fenders, doors, paint, sealer and cleaner, plus other parts to be used toward his vehicle. In total, Detwiler paid $4,375 to Parkerson, according to the complaint. He also paid Parkerson a cash advance of $2,425 and gave him a 1996 Chevrolet step-side pickup truck for a $2,000 credit toward the balance he owed Parkerson, the suit states.

However, Parkerson never repaired the vehicle and has since placed it in an undisclosed location, the complaint says. Detwiler claims he has been unable to locate his truck.

The situation intensified after Detwiler purchased the lien on the Dodge Ram Parkerson had promised him if he had finished to complete repair work on time. Detwiler spent $4,600 on the lien and its accompanying paperwork, plus an additional $2,000 in repair costs, according to the complaint.

Since then, however, Parkerson hired Top Gun wrecker service to abscond the Dodge Ram, which was parked in Detwiler’s driveway, on June 11, the suit states.

Afterward, Detwiler found Parkerson at Sun Travel and attempted to repossess the truck, but Parkerson sped away, nearly striking Detwiler’s vehicle, the complaint says.

“Defendant’s vehicle came within two inches of plaintiff’s vehicle causing immediate fear or apprehension of imminent bodily harm,” the suit states.

In his complaint, Detwiler alleges assault, conversion and breach of contract against Parkerson.

He seeks a judgment within the jurisdictional limits of the court, plus pre-judgment interest, exemplary damages, post-judgment interest, costs, attorney’s fees and other relief the court deems just.

William Marcus Wilkerson of Beaumont will be representing him.

Judge Donald Floyd, 172^nd District Court, has been assigned to the case.

Case No. E194-548