HANCOCK COUNTY — Danny Derrick is a man who likes to plan ahead. A while back he invested over $2,800 for a personally crafted double headstone for himself and his wife. The idea was to get things prepared for the future so their three sons wouldn’t have to deal with the burial when the time comes.
Derrick is one of over 70 people who have complained to local and state officials and filed lawsuits against Greenfield Granite Co. Inc. seeking restitution for services not received.
Tuesday, Nov. 10 Derrick took a step toward being reimbursed, he hopes. His case was heard in Hancock County Small Claims Court in front of Cody Coombs, Court Commissioner, who ruled in his favor. Officials from Greenfield Granite Co. Inc., did not appear at the court hearings.
“Do I think I’m ever going to see that money? No, I don’t,” Derrick said. “It’s a real shame.”
It’s now a wait and see game for people like Derrick who will have to see if he will ever be reimbursed.
In addition to many local lawsuits, the office of Attorney General Curtis Hill sued the local monument company and its registered agent, Cynthia A. Heck, Pendleton, Friday, Sept. 18. That suit is making its way through the courts.
Heck is the mother of Amie Strohl, who was running the business with her husband, James Strohl, until she died on Sept. 8.
Her death, which authorities said was of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, came on the same day she was to appear in small claims court to answer a complaint that Greenfield Granite Co. Inc. had not delivered a grave marker a customer had paid for months earlier.
The AG’s office is litigating the current lawsuit and filed an amended complaint on Oct. 19, adding additional consumers. That amended complaint indicated that it included, but was not limited to the named consumers.
Locally Derrick, who said he has talked with state officials but has yet to double check to make sure his name is on the suit filed by the AG, plans to do so as soon as possible. His case and one other was settled in favor of the plaintiffs Tuesday while three others scheduled to be heard had to refile due to a minor filing error. Those cases are expected to be heard in late December.
There are three other cases against Greenfield Granite Co. Inc. set for bench trials Tuesday, Nov. 17.
While Coombs could not talk about the specifics of any of the cases making their way through the legal system he did note the court is there to make sure justice is served.
“There are almost always multiple avenues for relief in cases and claims, but the parties have to discover those avenues on their own or with the assistance of counsel,” Coombs said in an email to the Daily Reporter. “The best I can do for any party regardless of side is ensure the parties know that the court will be available to them with or without an attorney if they find an alternate avenue for relief.”
Derrick said while his family got the ruling they wanted, including adding court costs to be reimbursed, he’s frustrated because he can not try to get any of his money back from James Strohl due to the fact he filed bankruptcy.
Derrick is hopeful the state claim against Heck might bring him some restitution so he can move forward with plans to purchase a new headstone. But, he knows he’s not alone in his frustration and is skeptical everyone who gave the business money will ever get anything back.
“Let’s say there are almost 100 people and each one of us paid $2,500, you’re talking over $250,000 she bilked out of people and I want to know where did that money go?” Derrick said.
Mary Collins was one of the first people to alert local and state officials several months ago about what was going on with the oldest business in Greenfield. She attended the court hearings Tuesday just to see how things played out.
Collins paid Greenfield Granite Co. Inc. $1,850 for a memorial bench back in February, something she never received.
Collins has since invested even more money, $2,300 for a memorial bench for her husband, Norman’s graveside after he passed away in September, 2019.
“The saddest thing about all of this is it didn’t have to be this way,” Collins said. “All she had to do was talk to us and maybe we would have worked with her, but she lied constantly to all of us.”
Anyone needing more information about how to file a complaint with the AG’s office can visit in.gov/attorneygeneral/2434/htm for more information.
