CJ-2025-00226 - Robert Clayton v. AAA Crawl Space Specialists, LLC

What's This Case About?

They paid $51,250 for a home renovation that was supposed to make life easier in their golden years. Instead, they got a half-demolished house, life-altering injuries, and a contractor who seems to have ghosted them like a bad Tinder date. Welcome, folks, to the Clayton v. AAA Crawl Space Specialists, LLC disaster — where a dream remodel turned into a full-blown legal horror show.

Meet Robert and Elizabeth Clayton, a married couple in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, who, like many retirees, just wanted to age in place with a little more comfort and a lot less tripping over doorframes. Their plan? A renovation on their home at 444933 E. 1013 Loop in Gore, Oklahoma — work focused on accessibility, because let’s face it, stairs get meaner with age. In April 2025, they signed a contract with a company called AAA Crawl Space Specialists, LLC, which, despite the name, apparently does more than just crawl spaces — they dabble in full home remodels, at least according to the Clatons’ expectations. The man behind the operation? Cornell Jerome Fox, an individual defendant, along with Rejean Mahee, another named individual — both allegedly running this LLC out of thin air and bad decisions.

The Clatons paid $42,750 upfront — a chunk of change, sure, but not unheard of for a major renovation. In May 2025, AAA supposedly started work. But instead of progress, what followed was a masterclass in how not to run a construction business. The work was, by the Clatons’ account, “shoddy” and “defective” — the kind of phrase that means “you could probably knock it down with a stiff breeze.” Then, in early June, AAA dropped the mic: they demanded another $8,500 just to keep going. That’s right — not only was the work subpar, but they wanted more money to continue doing a bad job. It’s like paying a chef to cook your steak, getting one that’s raw and burnt at the same time, and then being asked to tip extra for “effort.”

And then… silence. AAA vanished. No notice. No explanation. Just a half-destroyed house, unpaid invoices, and a couple left standing in what was supposed to be their accessible dream home, now looking more like a fixer-upper from a haunted house reality show. The Clatons say they tried to reach out — multiple times — but more than 30 days passed with zero response. The work? Still unfinished. The damage? Very much complete. And to add insult to injury, their insurance company started sniffing around, threatening to drop coverage because, hey, an open construction site with no contractor in sight kind of looks like a liability magnet.

Now, let’s talk about the legal buffet the Clatons are serving up in court. They’re not just mad — they’re strategically mad. First up: breach of contract. Simple enough — you promised to do a job, you took the money, you didn’t do the job. That’s Contract Law 101, folks. Then comes negligence — not only did AAA fail to finish, but they allegedly botched what little work they did, violating basic professional standards. Imagine hiring someone to install a ramp and they leave jagged wood sticking out like a booby trap — that’s the vibe here.

Next, unjust enrichment — a fancy way of saying, “You can’t keep our money for work you didn’t do.” It’s the legal version of “spit it out.” Then, the big guns: fraud. The Clatons are alleging that AAA — and its human faces, Fox and Mahee — never intended to finish the job. That the whole thing was a scam from the start: take the down payment, do minimal work, then disappear. If true, that’s not just bad business — that’s straight-up grifting. And finally, chose in action — a term so obscure it sounds like a law school drinking game — which basically means the Clatons are demanding the return of their $51,250 because it’s their money, and AAA has no right to it. Oh, and injury to property, because the botched job didn’t just leave the house incomplete — it allegedly damaged it. So now they don’t just have a half-remodeled home — they have a worse home than before.

All of this adds up to a demand for $507,500. Is that a lot? For a $51,250 project, yes — it’s ten times the original payment. But let’s break it down. They’re not just asking for their money back. They’re asking for damages to fix the damage, cover legal fees, compensate for emotional distress (implied in the “life-altering injuries” line), and maybe, just maybe, punish these guys for pulling a fast one. In the world of civil lawsuits, this kind of multiplier isn’t unheard of when fraud and negligence are involved — especially when the plaintiffs are elderly and the damage impacts their safety and independence.

So what’s our take? Look, we’re not lawyers, we’re drama detectives. And the most absurd part of this case isn’t even the ghosting — it’s the audacity. Promising accessibility improvements to elderly homeowners — people who likely just want to live safely and comfortably — and then exploiting that trust for a quick payday? That’s not just bad contracting. That’s karmically offensive. And the fact that they allegedly demanded more money mid-screwup? That’s the kind of move that makes even shady used car salesmen say, “Dude, come on.”

We’re rooting for the Clatons — not just because they’re the plaintiffs, but because this feels like a classic case of little people vs. a company that saw them as easy marks. If AAA really did take the money and run, then this lawsuit isn’t just about compensation — it’s about accountability. And if Fox and Mahee thought they could vanish into the Oklahoma countryside with $50k and a half-ripped-out bathroom, they forgot one thing: paper trails. And angry retirees with good lawyers.

So stay tuned, Sequoyah County. Because when this case goes to court, we’re bringing popcorn. And maybe a hard hat — just in case the next episode involves structural collapse.

Case Overview

$507,500 Demand Petition

Jurisdiction

District Court, Oklahoma

Filing Attorney

John S. Farley, III

HELTON LAW FIRM

Relief Sought

$507,500 Monetary

Plaintiffs

Robert Clayton individual
Rep: John S. Farley, III, OBA #33504, Kaylee A. Lewis, OBA #36473, HELTON LAW FIRM
Elizabeth Clayton individual
Rep: John S. Farley, III, OBA #33504, Kaylee A. Lewis, OBA #36473, HELTON LAW FIRM

Defendants

AAA Crawl Space Specialists, LLC business
Cornell Jerome Fox individual
Rejean Mahee individual

Claims

#	Cause of Action	Description
1	breach of contract	AAA failed to perform work agreed upon while retaining payment
2	negligence	AAA failed to use the applicable professional standards of care
3	unjust enrichment	AAA improperly retained payment for substandard and incomplete work
4	fraud	Defendants induced Plaintiffs to contract by promising to complete renovations
5	chose in action	Defendants unlawfully converted funds owned by Plaintiffs
6	injury to property	AAA negligently damaged Plaintiffs' property

Petition Text

1,298 words

IN THE DISTRICT COURT IN AND FOR SEQUOYAH COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA ROBERT CLAYTON and ) ELIZABETH CLAYTON, ) Husband and Wife ) Plaintiffs, v. AAA CRAWL SPACE SPECIALISTS, ) LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability ) Company, and ) CORNELL JEROME FOX, ) an individual, and REJEAN MAHEE, ) an individual, Defendants. Case No.: W-25-224 Judge: SEQUOYAH COUNTY, OKLAHOMA FILED IN DISTRICT COURT NOV 07 2025 MELANIE EDGMON, COURT CLERK BY_________________ DEPUTY PETITION COMES NOW, Plaintiffs Robert Clayton and Elizabeth Clayton ("Plaintiffs"), by and through their attorneys of record, HELTON LAW FIRM, and for their causes of action against the above-named Defendants, alleges and states as follows, upon information and belief: JURISDICTION AND VENUE 1. Plaintiffs, Robert and Elizabeth Clayton, are the owners of real estate located in Sequoyah County which is the subject of this action. 2. Upon information and belief, Defendant AAA Crawl Space Specialist, LLC ("AAA") is an Oklahoma limited liability company and conducts business in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. 3. Upon information and belief, Defendants Cornell Jerome Fox and Rejean Mahee are Oklahoma residents that conduct business in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. 4. AAA provides construction and remodeling services in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. 5. The actions giving rise to this matter occurred in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. 6. The real property subject of this action is located exclusively in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. 7. This Court has both proper jurisdiction and venue for this action. STATEMENT OF FACTS 8. Plaintiffs realllege and incorporate by reference all preceding paragraphs herein as if set forth in full. 9. On or about April 30, 2025, Plaintiffs contracted with AAA to remodel a home on Plaintiff’s property located at 444933 E. 1013 Loop, Gore, OK 74435 (the “Subject Property”). 10. On or about May 2025, AAA began performing work on the Subject Property after Plaintiffs paid Defendants $42,750.00. 11. On or about June 2, 2025, AAA demanded Plaintiffs to provide an additional $8,500.00 in order to continue work. 12. The little work AAA provided was shoddy and performed in a defective manner, resulting in significant damage to the home. 13. The purpose of the remodel work was primarily to provide more accessibility for Plaintiffs, who are elderly. 14. Plaintiffs attempted to reach out to AAA to complete the work, but more than thirty (30) days have lapsed since those requests were made. 15. Plaintiffs have suffered severe, life-altering, personal injuries due to AAA’s substandard and incomplete work. 16. After causing significant damage to the Subject Property, Defendants absconded with Plaintiff’s payment. 17. To date, work for the Subject Property remains unfinished. 18. Because the Subject Property remains unfinished, Plaintiffs’ insurance has threatened to revoke coverage for the Subject Property. 19. Plaintiffs have been injured by paying AAA for work that was either not performed or seriously defective. COUNT I BREACH OF CONTRACT (Against AAA) 20. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate by reference all preceding paragraphs herein as if set forth in full. 21. AAA breached the contract with Plaintiffs by performing shoddy workmanship, breaching the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing, and for failing to perform work agreed upon while retaining money provided by Plaintiffs. 22. Plaintiffs suffered monetary damages as a result of AAA’s breach and are entitled to actual and consequential damages in excess of $75,000.00. 23. Plaintiffs are entitled to recover their reasonable attorneys’ fees due to AAA’s breach. COUNT II NEGLIGENCE (Against AAA) 24. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate by reference all preceding paragraphs herein as if set forth in full. 25. Plaintiffs contracted with AAA to provide certain services to Plaintiffs. 26. AAA had a duty to use care to avoid causing harm, injury, or damage to Plaintiffs will providing services. 27. AAA failed to use the applicable professional standards of care at the time of rendering services. 28. AAA consciously ignored a substantial and unjustifiable risk with the natural and foreseeable consequences of its conduct. 29. Because AAA ignored this risk, Plaintiffs have suffered harm and debilitating personal injuries. 30. AAA breached its duty to Plaintiffs by failing to use the applicable standards of care. 31. As a direct and proximate result of AAA’s actions, Plaintiffs has suffered damages including but not limited to: (1) compensatory damages and (2) time and expense incurred in attempting to cure and mitigate the harm resulting from AAA’s negligence in an amount exceeding $75,000.00. COUNT III UNJUST ENRICHMENT (Against AAA) 32. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate by reference all preceding paragraphs herein as if set forth in full. 33. AAA received payments in excess of the value of work performed by AAA. 34. AAA has improperly retained a benefit to which it is not entitled. 35. Plaintiffs are entitled to a money judgment for all amounts paid to AAA. In addition to Plaintiffs’ and attorneys’ fees and costs. COUNT IV FRAUD (Against All Defendants) 36. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate by reference all preceding paragraphs herein as if set forth in full. 37. Defendants induced Plaintiffs to enter into a contract to exchange sums of money for remodeling work to the Subject Property. 38. Defendants induced Plaintiffs to enter into this contract by promising to complete renovations for greater accessibility for a certain price and schedule. 39. Upon information and belief, Defendants’ intention was to secure the initial payment from Plaintiffs and abscond with the payment. 40. To secure the down payment, Defendants promised to fully remodel the Subject Property as requested by Plaintiffs, which Defendants had no intention of doing or completing. 41. As a result of Defendants’ fraud in inducing Plaintiffs to contract, Plaintiffs have suffered actual damages in excess of $75,000.00. COUNT V CHOSE IN ACTION (Against All Defendants) 42. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate by reference all preceding paragraphs herein as if set forth in full. 43. Plaintiffs have the right to possess the funds held by Defendants. 44. Defendants unlawfully converted funds owned by Plaintiffs. 45. As a result of Defendants’ actions, Plaintiffs have suffered damages in excess of $51,250.00. COUNT VI INJURY TO PROPERTY (Against AAA) 46. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate by reference all preceding paragraphs herein as if set forth in full. 47. AAA negligently, recklessly, or willfully discarded, destroyed, converted, or otherwise injured valuable property belonging to Plaintiffs, specifically the Subject Property. 48. As a result of AAA’s actions, Plaintiffs have suffered damages in excess of $75,000.00. 49. Pursuant to 12 O.S. § 940, Plaintiffs respectfully request this Court award costs and attorneys’ fees. PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs, Robert and Elizabeth Clayton, respectfully request that this Court grant judgment in their favor against Defendants, AAA Crawl Space Specialists, LLC, Cornell Jerome Fox, and Rejean Mahee as follows: A) Against Defendant AAA Crawl Space Specialists, LLC for Plaintiffs’ First Cause of Action for breach of contract in an amount in excess of $75,000.00, in addition to Plaintiffs’ reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and all expenses related to this action. B) Against Defendant AAA Crawl Space Specialists, LLC for Plaintiffs’ Second Cause of Action for negligence in an amount in excess of $75,000.00, in addition to Plaintiffs’ reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses related to this action. C) Against Defendant AAA Crawl Space Specialists, LLC for Plaintiffs’ Third Cause of Action for unjust enrichment in an amount in excess of $75,000.00, in addition to Plaintiffs’ reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses related to this action. D) Against Defendants AAA Crawl Space Specialists, LLC, Cornell Jerome Fox, and Rejean Mahee for Plaintiffs’ Fourth Cause of Action for fraud in an amount in excess of $75,000.00, in addition to Plaintiffs’ reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses related to this action. E) Against Defendants AAA Crawl Space Specialists, LLC, Cornell Jerome Fox, and Rejean Mahee for Plaintiffs’ Fifth Cause of Action for chose in action in an amount of $51,250.00, in addition to Plaintiffs’ reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses related to this action. F) Against Defendant AAA Crawl Space Specialists, LLC for Plaintiffs’ Sixth Cause of Action for injury to property in an amount in excess of $75,000.00, in addition to Plaintiffs’ reasonable attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses related to this action. Respectfully Submitted, By:__________________________ John S. Farley, III, OBA #33504 Kaylee A. Lewis, OBA #36473 HELTON LAW FIRM 9125 S. Toledo Ave. Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137 (918) 928-7104 – Telephone (918) 710-3930 – Facsimile [email protected] [email protected] Attorneys for Plaintiffs