Christian M. Giggenbach
LEWISBURG — A Rupert insurance agent has filed a civil complaint against a Rainelle insurance company, claiming a Rainelle man reneged on a contract after the defendant purchased the plaintiff’s insurance business.
The lawsuit, filed by Craig J. Fox, individually, and Fox Insurance Agency, named Ronald A. Fleshman and Ron Fleshman Insurance as co-defendants in the case. Fox is being represented by the Charleston law firm of Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love.
The suit states Fox “had a thriving and lucrative insurance practice” in Rupert and entered into an “asset purchase agreement” with Fleshman on Jan. 30, 2006. According to the terms of the contract, Fox agreed to sell his insurance business to Fleshman for $250,000 “to be paid in monthly installments over four years.”
“Defendant Ron Fleshman Insurance has failed to abide by the terms and conditions set forth in the asset purchase agreement, bill of sale ... by repeatedly failing to make the periodic payments required by those contracts,” the suit said.
The suit also alleges Fleshman failed to honor a lease agreement with Fox that had terms of $750 per month for four years and claims Fleshman “improperly terminated” Fox after he began working for him selling insurance.
Fox is asking the court for compensation for the breach contract, punitive damages and other damages.
