CJ-2026-119 - J & L Rentals, Inc. d/b/a Oklahoma Territory Construction Equipment v. Nemaha Environmental Services, LLC

What's This Case About?

Let’s be honest — most of us have been that person. You lend your buddy a power washer for a weekend project, and suddenly it’s three months later and he’s “still using it,” while you’re stuck Googling “can I sue someone for not returning my pressure washer?” But in Garfield County, Oklahoma, things escalated way past borrowed tools and awkward group chats. We’re talking about a full-blown construction equipment takedown — not with hammers or excavators, but with liens, corporate veil piercing, and enough legal jargon to make your head spin faster than a cement mixer. Because in this case, a Missouri-based rental company is suing an Oklahoma environmental services LLC — and its sole owner — for $31,459.34 in unpaid bills. And yes, they’re trying to foreclose on the property over it. This isn’t just a dispute. This is war. And the battlefield? A dusty patch of land in Section 15, Township 24 North, Range 7 West — because of course it is.

So who are these players? On one side, we have J & L Rentals, Inc., doing business as Oklahoma Territory Construction Equipment — which, let’s be real, sounds less like a company name and more like a rejected Mad Max spin-off. They rent out heavy machinery to businesses that need to dig, drill, or generally make a mess with purpose. They’re incorporated in Missouri but operate in Oklahoma, which already feels like someone showing up to a local poker game with a briefcase full of federal regulations. On the other side? Nemaha Environmental Services, LLC, a mysterious-sounding Oklahoma LLC that, despite the name, doesn’t appear to be doing much environmental saving these days — more like environmental avoiding, by dodging their bills. And then there’s Audie Dorrough, the individual behind the LLC, whose name sounds like a cowboy who once punched a coyote and took its boots. He’s the man, the myth, the alleged alter ego — and, if the plaintiff has their way, the wallet.

The story starts — and this is important — on August 2, 2024, when J & L Rentals says they signed a contract with Nemaha Environmental to provide equipment for work on that aforementioned plot of Oklahoma dirt. What kind of work? The filing doesn’t say. Was it a landfill cleanup? A secret government bio-dome? A very ambitious backyard koi pond? We may never know. But what we do know is that from that date until February 26, 2025, J & L Rentals kept showing up with machines, labor, and materials, like the dependable construction version of DoorDash. And then, suddenly — radio silence. Or rather, invoice silence. Because while the equipment kept rolling in, the payments didn’t. By the end of February, the tab had hit $31,459.34. That’s not chump change. That’s three brand-new zero-turn mowers. That’s one really angry attorney.

When polite reminders failed — and let’s assume there were some, because nobody files a lawsuit over $31K without first sending at least one “Hey, just checking in…” email — J & L Rentals did what any self-respecting creditor in Oklahoma does: they slapped a Mechanic’s and Materialman’s Lien on the property. Filed on March 31, 2025, this lien basically says, “You didn’t pay? Cool. Now we own your land — or at least, we get first dibs if it ever sells.” It’s the financial equivalent of changing the locks. And it’s not just a scare tactic — it’s a legal claim that gives J & L Rentals the right to force a sale of the property if the debt isn’t paid. So now, that quiet stretch of Garfield County real estate? It’s basically collateral in a feud between two companies that probably don’t even like each other anymore.

But here’s where it gets spicy. J & L Rentals isn’t just going after the LLC. They’re going after Audie Dorrough personally — and to do that, they’re pulling out one of the nuclear options in business law: piercing the corporate veil. For the uninitiated, an LLC is supposed to be a legal bubble. You form a company, it takes on debts, and you, as the owner, are protected — like wearing a financial Kevlar vest. But if the court agrees that the company is just a puppet — a shell — and that Dorrough is the company, then that bubble pops. And suddenly, he’s on the hook personally. That’s what “alter ego” means here: not that he’s a secret superhero, but that the business and the man are so intertwined that they might as well be the same entity. And if the court buys it? Audie Dorrough could be forced to pay this debt out of his own pocket — retirement fund, house, dog’s college fund, whatever.

So what does J & L Rentals actually want? $31,459.34, plus interest, attorney fees, and costs. Is that a lot? In the world of construction, maybe not. A single excavator rental can run thousands per month. But for a small environmental services company in rural Oklahoma? That could be a quarter of their annual budget. And the fact that they’re being sued in state court — not federal, not arbitration — means this isn’t some corporate titan flexing. This is a local dispute, the kind that starts with a handshake and ends with a subpoena. And J & L isn’t just asking for money. They want the court to foreclose on the property, sell it, and use the proceeds to pay them first. Everyone else — including, presumably, Dorrough — gets whatever’s left. Which, at this point, might be a rusty shovel and a “For Sale” sign.

Our take? Look, we’re not here to judge who’s right or wrong — we’re entertainers, not lawyers (though we do own a gavel-shaped paperweight). But the sheer audacity of trying to foreclose on an entire property over a $31K debt? That’s the kind of energy we live for. It’s like showing up to a knife fight with a flamethrower. Is it justified? Maybe. Is it dramatic? Absolutely. And the “alter ego” claim? That’s the legal equivalent of saying, “He is the company — and the company is the debt.” It’s poetic. It’s petty. It’s perfect. We’re not rooting for blood — but we are rooting for someone to show up in court wearing a hard hat and yelling, “I built that site!” while pointing at a dumpster fire of paperwork. Because in Garfield County, Oklahoma, the real construction project isn’t on that plot of land — it’s the slow, methodical building of a grudge, one lien at a time.

Case Overview

$31,459 Demand Petition

Jurisdiction

District Court, Oklahoma

Filing Attorney

Philip A. Schovanec, Garrett W. Proctor

Fellers Snider Blankenship Bailey & Tippens, PC

Relief Sought

$31,459 Monetary

Plaintiffs

J & L Rentals, Inc. d/b/a Oklahoma Territory Construction Equipment business
Rep: Philip A. Schovanec, Garrett W. Proctor

Defendants

Nemaha Environmental Services, LLC business
Audie Dorrough individual

Claims

#	Cause of Action	Description
1	Breach of Contract	Plaintiff claims Defendants failed to pay for equipment and services provided under a contract.
2	Collection on Account	Plaintiff claims Defendants failed to pay for equipment and services provided under a contract.
3	Foreclosure of Lien	Plaintiff claims a lien on Defendants' property for unpaid equipment and services.
4	Alter Ego – Piercing of Corporate Veil	Plaintiff claims the corporate veil of Nemaha Environmental Services, LLC should be pierced and Audie Dorrough held liable for the company's debts.

Petition Text

1,540 words

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF GARFIELD COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA J & L RENTALS, INC. d/b/a OKLAHOMA TERRITORY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, Plaintiff, v. NEMAHHA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC and AUDIE DORROUGH, Defendants. PETITION COMES NOW Plaintiff, J&L Rentals, Inc. d/b/a Oklahoma Territory Construction Equipment ("Plaintiff"), and for its claims against Defendants, Nemaha Environmental Services, LLC and Audie Dorrough ("Defendants"), states and alleges as follows: PARTIES, JURISDICTION, AND VENUE 1. Plaintiff, J&L Rentals, Inc. d/b/a Oklahoma Territory Construction Equipment, is a Missouri corporation authorized and conducting business in the State of Oklahoma. 2. Defendant, Nemaha Environmental Services, LLC is an Oklahoma limited liability company. 3. Defendant, Audie Dorrough, is an individual who resides in the State of Oklahoma. 4. This Court has jurisdiction over the parties and this matter. Venue is proper in Garfield County pursuant to 12 O.S. § 142, in that this action involves the enforcement of a contract negotiated and collection on an account incurred, and property located, in Garfield County, Oklahoma. FACTUAL BACKGROUND 5. Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference each and every material allegation in the foregoing paragraphs as if fully set forth herein. 6. Plaintiff is in the business of providing certain equipment rentals to businesses. 7. Beginning August 2, 2024, Plaintiff entered into a contract (the “Contract”) with Defendants to provide rental equipment for use at Defendants’ Property, as described below: West Half (W/2) of Section Fifteen (15), Township Twenty-Four North (24N), Range Seven (7), W.I.M., Garfield County, State of Oklahoma (the “Property”). 8. On or about August 2, 2024, Plaintiff began providing labor, equipment, and materials for the Property pursuant to the Contract. 9. Plaintiff last provided labor and materials and work on the Property on or about February 26, 2025, at which time Defendants had an unpaid balance of $31,459.34 for labor, materials, and equipment rentals provided at the Property pursuant to the Contract. 10. Plaintiff demanded payment for the labor, materials, and equipment rentals provided at the Property, yet Defendants refused to satisfy the unpaid balance. 11. As a result of Defendants’ failure to pay its unpaid balance, Plaintiff filed a Mechanic’s and Materialman’s Lien (the “Lien”) on the Property. Said Lien was filed of record in the office of the Clerk of Garfield County, State of Oklahoma on March 31, 2025, Book 2705, Pages 176-181. 12. As a direct result of Defendants’ failure to satisfy its unpaid balance for labor, materials, and equipment rentals provided for the Property, Plaintiff has suffered damages in excess of $31,459.34, plus interest, attorney fees, and costs. FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION (Breach of Contract) 13. Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference each and every material allegation in the foregoing paragraphs as if fully set forth herein. 14. Plaintiff and Defendants entered into the Contract wherein Plaintiff agreed to provide certain equipment and services to Defendants, for which Defendants initially and after the fact agreed to pay. 15. Plaintiff provided the equipment and services as agreed, and then invoiced Defendants for the amounts owed therefor. However, despite demand, Defendants failed and refused to pay the amount owed to Plaintiff under the Contract, and as such, Defendants are in default. 16. Plaintiff is therefore entitled to judgment against Defendants on this claim for Breach of Contract, and for the recovery of all amounts owed under the parties’ Contract, including all costs, charges, interest, fees, and other damages owed to Plaintiff in excess of $10,000.00, in an amount to be established at trial. Plaintiff further requests an award of its attorney fees and costs incurred in connection with this matter, and for such other and further relief as the Court deems to be just and proper. SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION (Collection on Account) 17. Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference each and every material allegation in the foregoing paragraphs as if fully set forth herein. 18. Plaintiff and Defendants entered into the Contract wherein Plaintiff agreed to provide certain equipment and services to Defendants, for which Defendants initially and after the fact agreed to pay. 19. Plaintiff provided the equipment and services as agreed, and then invoiced Defendants for the amounts owed therefor. However, despite demand, Defendants failed and refused to pay the amount owed to Plaintiff under the Contract, and as such, Defendants are in default. 20. Plaintiff is therefore entitled to judgment against Defendants on this claim for Collection on Account, and for the recovery of all amounts owed under the parties’ Contract, including all costs, charges, interest, fees, and other damages owed to Plaintiff in excess of $10,000.00, in an amount to be established at trial. Plaintiff further requests an award of its attorney fees and costs incurred in connection with this matter, and for such other and further relief as the Court deems to be just and proper. THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION (Foreclosure of Lien) 21. Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference each and every material allegation in the foregoing paragraphs as if fully set forth herein. 22. To secure payment of the indebtedness owed to Plaintiff by Defendants, on March 31, 2025, Plaintiff recorded at Book 2705, Page 176-181 of the records of the County Clerk for Garfield County, Oklahoma, the Lien covering the Property and all buildings, fixtures, and appurtenances thereto. 23. The Lien relates to labor, materials, and equipment provided and used in connection with the maintenance, operation, and repair of the Property, and, as such, was proper and correctly filed in compliance with 42 O.S. §§ 141 et. seq. 24. Defendants or some other party may claim some right, title, lien, estate, encumbrance, claim, or other interest in and to the property covered by the Lien, the exact nature of which is unknown to Plaintiff. Plaintiff alleges that any such claim is junior, inferior, and subject to Plaintiff’s Lien as described above. Plaintiff therefore requests judgment in its favor and against Defendants on Plaintiff’s claim for Foreclosure of Lien, and that the Court declare: (a) That Plaintiff’s Lien is a valid, first, and superior lien against the Property and Defendants’ interest therein; (b) That Plaintiff’s Lien should be foreclosed and the Property be sold with the proceeds therefrom to be first applied to satisfy the costs incurred in filing and prosecuting this action, then to the payment and satisfaction of Plaintiff's claim and judgment as demanded herein, with the surplus, if any, to be paid into the Court to abide the Court's further order; and (c) That the right, title, and interest of Defendants, or any person or entity claiming by or through Defendants, in and to the Property, should be determined to be subject, junior, and inferior to the Lien of Plaintiff, and adjudging that upon confirmation of the sale of the Property, that Defendants, and all persons or entities claiming by, through, or under them, be forever barred, foreclosed, and enjoined from asserting or claiming any right, title or interest, estate, or equity of redemption in or to said Property or proceeds, or any party thereof. FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION (Alter Ego – Piercing of Corporate Veil) 25. Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference each and every material allegation in the foregoing paragraphs as if fully set forth herein. 26. Plaintiff and Defendants entered into the Contract wherein Plaintiff agreed to provide certain equipment and services, and for which Defendants represented and agreed payment would be made to Plaintiff. 27. When entering into this Contract, or at times subsequent thereto, Defendant Audie Dorrough represented and agreed to be personally responsible for the payment of the amounts owed to Plaintiff under the Contract. 28. Further, based upon information and belief, including the correspondence provided to Plaintiff by Defendant Audie Dorrough, Nemaha Environmental Services, LLC is the alter ego of its members and the other individual Defendant Audie Dorrough. As such, the business entity of Nemaha Environmental Services, LLC should be disregarded and the organizational veil pierced, with all Defendants being liable for the debts of said company, including all amounts owed under the Contract which is the subject of this action. 29. In addition, based on the foregoing and, the representations and conduct of the individual Defendant, both before and after the Contract was negotiated and performed by Plaintiff, pursuant to 12 O.S. § 682, such Defendant is responsible for the debts and obligations owed to Plaintiff under the parties’ Contract. 30. Plaintiff is therefore entitled to judgment on this claim for Alter Ego – Piercing of Corporate Veil, and the entry of an order finding that all Defendants are responsible for all obligations and debts owed under the parties’ Contract. Plaintiff further requests an award of its attorney fees and costs incurred in connection with this matter, as well as such other and further relief deemed by the Court to be just and proper. PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, J & L Rentals, Inc. d/b/a Oklahoma Territory Construction Equipment prays for judgment in its favor and against Defendants Nemaha Environmental Services, LLC and Audie Dorrough, on all of the foregoing claims. Plaintiff requests damages in excess of $10,000.00, in an amount to be determined at trial, including all attorney’s fees, costs, and interest as allowed by law, and with such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper. Respectfully submitted, Philip A. Schovanec, OBA No. 16303 Garrett W. Proctor, OBA No. 36762 FELLERS SNIDER BLANKENSHIP BAILEY & TIPPENS, PC 100 N. Broadway, Suite 1700 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Telephone: (405) 232-0621 Facsimile: (405) 232-9659 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Attorneys for Plaintiff, J & L Rentals, Inc. d/b/a Oklahoma Territory Construction Equipment