CJ-2026-1393 - JEFFIE C. CALHOUN v. LIVELY'S WAY FOOD TRAILER SALES & CONSULTING, SAMUEL LIVELY, and CRYSTAL PATTERSON

What's This Case About?

Let’s cut straight to the chase: someone just got sued for $45,900 for selling a food trailer that never existed. Not a prototype. Not a half-built dream rusting in a back lot. Literally nothing. No wheels, no grill, not even a blueprint. Just cold, hard cash gone—poof—into the Oklahoma ether, leaving behind a paper trail, a broken dream, and one very angry plaintiff who just wanted to deep-fry her way to culinary freedom.

Meet Jeffie C. Calhoun, a resident of Chickasha, Oklahoma—a woman with a plan, a budget, and, apparently, a brief but tragic flirtation with the American small business dream. Her vision? A fully operational food trailer, the kind you see parked outside music festivals or dominating the lunch rush at construction sites. You know the type: stainless steel, neon sign, a menu that says “Tacos & Trauma” or “Burgers Before Lawyers.” But instead of sizzling carne asada, Jeffie’s got a court filing. And receipts. So many receipts.

On the other side of this delicious disaster: Lively’s Way Food Trailer Sales & Consulting, a now-suspect operation run by Samuel Lively and Crystal Patterson, who allegedly dabbled in the fine art of promising things they had no intention of building. Their business, based in Oklahoma City, supposedly specialized in turning entrepreneurial dreams into rolling reality—one customized food trailer at a time. But according to Jeffie, this wasn’t a business. It was a bait-and-switch with a side of grilled onions.

Here’s how the meal went down. In August 2025, Jeffie signed not one, but two written agreements (because why commit fraud once when you can do it twice?) with Samuel Lively’s operation. The contract—attached as Exhibit “A,” because even scammers love paperwork—laid out the specs for her dream trailer: custom build, specific features, all to be constructed in Oklahoma City. In return, Jeffie agreed to pay a total of $45,900—upfront. That’s not chump change. That’s mortgage-on-a-trailer-park-home money. That’s “I’m-selling-my-cousin’s-dirt-bike” money. That’s life-savings-if-you’re-trying-to-start-a-food-business-in-Oklahoma money.

And pay she did. On August 22, 2025, Jeffie handed over $23,950. Then, just two weeks later, on September 5, another $21,950. Receipts were provided—signed by Samuel Lively himself—because nothing says “trust me, I’m legit” like a handwritten receipt from a guy who may or may not have a business license. But here’s the kicker: according to the petition, nothing happened after that. No updates. No photos of a trailer frame being welded. No “We’re running behind, but your fryer’s almost in!” texts. Just silence. Radio. Dead air. The kind of silence that makes you check your bank account and then check your therapist’s availability.

Somewhere along the way, Jeffie caught wind that Samuel Lively wasn’t just slow—he was out. The business had shuttered. The dream factory was now a ghost kitchen. And yet, somehow, the money stayed put. In his pocket. Not a refund. Not an explanation. Not even the courtesy of a “Hey, things didn’t work out.” Just… gone. And that’s when Jeffie did what any wronged foodpreneur would do: she called a lawyer.

Now, let’s talk about why this isn’t just a sad story—it’s a lawsuit. Jeffie’s legal team, led by Anna K. Van Dyck (who, let’s be honest, probably has a playlist called “Scam Vibes Only”), didn’t just throw darts at a legal wall. They came with three distinct flavors of “you owe me,” each spicier than the last.

First up: Fraud. This isn’t just “you didn’t do the thing.” This is “you lied about doing the thing.” The claim here is that Samuel Lively took Jeffie’s money knowing he wasn’t going to build the trailer—possibly even knowing his business was already collapsing. That’s not a delay. That’s a con. And if proven, it’s not just about getting the money back—it’s about calling a scam what it is.

Second: Unjust Enrichment. Fancy term, simple idea. You can’t keep someone’s $45,900 and give them nothing in return. That’s like taking a down payment for a wedding cake and then using it to buy a jet ski. The law says: if you benefit at someone else’s expense under false pretenses, you gotta give it back. It’s the universe’s way of saying, “No free rides, Sam.”

Third: Breach of Contract. This one’s the legal bread and butter. You signed a deal. You took the money. You didn’t deliver. Boom. Breach. It’s the “I ordered a burger, you gave me air” of civil law. And while breach of contract doesn’t always imply evil intent, when combined with the other two claims? It starts to smell like a pattern.

So what does Jeffie want? $45,900. Is that a lot? For a single food trailer? Honestly? It’s right in the ballpark. Custom food trailers can run anywhere from $30K to $80K depending on the bells, whistles, and whether it comes with a built-in espresso machine for stressed-out owners. So $45,900 isn’t outrageous—it’s actually pretty reasonable. Which makes the scam even more infuriating. This wasn’t some wild, overpriced fantasy. It was a normal investment in a normal small business dream. And someone took it.

Now, here’s our take: the most absurd part of this whole saga isn’t even the scam. It’s the receipts. Samuel Lively didn’t just pocket the cash and ghost. He signed paperwork acknowledging receipt of the funds. Like he was playing store. “Yes, ma’am, here’s your official document proving I now have your life savings. Have a nice day!” It’s the audacity. It’s the bureaucratic flourish on top of the betrayal. It’s like a bank robber handing you a deposit slip after emptying your account.

And look—we’re not saying every startup works out. We get it. Building a food trailer business is hard. Supply chains, permits, welders who ghost you. But there’s a difference between “I tried and failed” and “I took your money and vanished.” One gets a sympathy card. The other gets a court summons.

We’re rooting for Jeffie. Not just because she’s the plaintiff, but because she represents every person who’s ever tried to climb the small business ladder—only to find someone sold them a broken rung. She didn’t ask for a mansion. She wanted a trailer. A little rolling kitchen to serve tacos or burgers or whatever her heart desired. And someone decided that dream was theirs to take.

So here’s hoping the District Court of Oklahoma County serves up some justice with a side of accountability. And if nothing else, let this be a warning to all aspiring food truckers: if the guy takes your money and gives you a receipt… make sure he also gives you a trailer.

Case Overview

$45,900 Demand Petition

Jurisdiction

District Court of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma

Filing Attorney

ANNA K. VAN DYCK

VAN DYCK LAW OFFICE, PLLC

Relief Sought

$45,900 Monetary

Plaintiffs

JEFFIE C. CALHOUN individual
Rep: ANNA K. VAN DYCK, OBA#35015

Defendants

LIVELY'S WAY FOOD TRAILER SALES & CONSULTING, SAMUEL LIVELY, and CRYSTAL PATTERSON business|individual

Claims

#	Cause of Action	Description
1	FRAUD	Plaintiff claims Defendant accepted funds for a food trailer that was never built
2	UNJUST ENRICHMENT	Plaintiff claims Defendant retained benefits without commensurate compensation
3	BREACH OF CONTRACT	Plaintiff claims Defendant failed to comply with a contractual agreement

Petition Text

1,060 words

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA JEFFIE C. CALHOUN, Plaintiff, -v- Case No. CJ- 2026 - 1393 LIVELY'S WAY FOOD TRAILER SALES & CONSULTING, SAMUEL LIVELY, and CRYSTAL PATTERSON, Registered agent. Defendant. PETITION COMES NOW the Plaintiff, JEFFIE C. CALUHOUN, and for cause of action against the Defendant(s) and alleges and states as follows: 1. That Plaintiff is an individual with a residence in Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma. 2. That the Defendant(s) are individual residents whom conduct business as Lively's Way Food Trailer Sales and Consulting of the City of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, State of Oklahoma. 3. That the subject of this action arose under contract for construction and services to be performed by the Defendant(s) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and therefore this Court has jurisdiction of this action under 12 Okla. Stat. § 142. Factual Allegations 4. That Defendant contacted Plaintiff for construction of a food trailer to be built in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 5. That on or about August 12th, 2025 and on August 2nd, 2025, the Defendant entered into a contractual relationship with the Plaintiff of which was in writing. (See attached Exhibit “A”). 6. That the contract specified that the Defendant(s) were to produce a food trailer for the benefit of the Plaintiff, with certain requirements. 7. That the Defendant(s) failed to perform any action related to the contract, but accepted funds in advance from the Plaintiff for said performance. 8. That the Defendant(s) has failed to complete any item as outlined in the contracts, Exhibit “A”, and has failed to return any funds accepted by them to the Plaintiff, having accepted funds in advance for the services. 1. FRAUD COMES NOW the Plaintiff, and for cause of action against Defendant(s), and states to the Court as follows: 9. That Plaintiff entered into a contract with Defendant(s) for construction and service of producing a food trailer as outlined in the attached Exhibit “A” on August 12th, 2025 and August 22nd, 2025. 10. That Plaintiff advanced payment to the Defendant(s) for the construction and service on August 22nd, 2025 in the amount of $23,950.00, and on September 5th, 2025 in the amount of $21,950.00 of which payment was accepted and receipts were provided to Plaintiff by Defendant, Samual Lively. (See attached Exhibit “B”). 11. That Plaintiff received information that Defendant, Samuel Lively, had retained the money and was not planning to perform any services on behalf of the Plaintiff, and was no longer in operation. 12. That Defendant has retained all funds provided by Plaintiff, and has failed to return any funds which were presumed by Plaintiff to be advanced for materials and services for the construction of a food trailer. 13. That Defendant has failed to fulfil his promise and/or has acted in deceit by failing to provide the service which was subject to the contractual agreement, and has retained funds of the Plaintiff after knowingly closing his business. 14. That the Plaintiff has been damaged in the amount of $45,900.00 by Defendant(s). WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendant(s) for damages in the amount of $45,900.00, together with all costs of this action accrued and accruing, reasonable attorney’s fees as found by the Court, together with such other relief which the Plaintiff may be entitled. 2. UNJUST ENRICHMENT COMES NOW the Plaintiff, and for cause of action against Defendant(s), and herein realleges and restates all of those matters set forth in Plaintiff’s Count I, and further alleges and states as follows: 15. That Defendant(s) unjustly received a benefit provided by Plaintiff in providing funds in advance for construction and services in production of a food trailer in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 16. That the benefit was conveyed upon the Defendant(s), and retained by the Defendant(s) for personal use, and at the detriment of the Plaintiff who was induced to provide said funds under the promise of a finished food trailer under the parameters outlined in Exhibit “A”. 17. That under the circumstances it would be unjust for the Defendant(s) to retain the benefit provided by the Plaintiff without commensurate compensation, as Plaintiff would suffer monetary loss for the failure of the Defendant to perform under the contract, and having retained all funds provided by the Plaintiff as required under said contract. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays judgment in equity over and against the Defendant(s), and for such other and further relief to which Plaintiff may be entitled to receive. 3. BREACH OF CONTRACT COMES NOW the Plaintiff, and for cause of action against Defendant(s), and herein realleges and restates all of those matters set forth in Plaintiff’s Count I and II and further alleges and states as follows: 18. That Defendant and Plaintiff entered into a contractual agreement as is customary and acceptable in the industry which Defendant(s) provides services. This agreement was written by Defendant(s), and signed and dated on August 12th, 2025 and August 22nd, 2025, with Plaintiff approving by phone. 19. That both parties have the capacity to contract, and consented to the lawful objective of construction and services to produce a food trailer for Plaintiff, all construction and service to occur at the Defendant’s business address in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 20. That the Defendant(s) agreed to construct said food trailer per the contract as outlined in Exhibit “A”. 21. That the Defendant(s) failed to comply with the contract after having accepted $45,900.00 from the Plaintiff in advance, and have since closed said business without returning said funds, nor completing any agreed upon construction or service. 22. That the Defendant(s) have breached the agreement by failing to comply with the contract between them and the Plaintiff, and have retained funds from the Plaintiff causing the Plaintiff to suffer damages. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays judgment in equity over and against the Defendant(s), and for such other and further relief to which Plaintiff may be entitled to receive. Respectfully submitted. ______________________________ ANNA K. VAN DYCK, OBA#35015 VAN DYCK LAW OFFICE, PLLC 122 N. 4th Street P.O. Box 909 Chickasha, OK 73023 (405) 224-0386 Attorney for Plaintiff VERIFICATION STATE OF OKLAHOMA ) ) ss: COUNTY OF GRADY ) Jeffie C. Calhoun, Jr., being first duly sworn upon oath says: That she is the Petitioner above named, that she has read the foregoing Petition and knows the contents thereof, and that the facts therein set forth are true and correct as she verily believes. Jeffie C. Calhoun, Jr. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 17 day of February, 2026. MELISSA TARVER NOTARY PUBLIC #23000520 EXP: 1/9/2027 Melissa Tarver NOTARY PUBLIC