I am a former employee of PPH Transport and Marshall W. While Marshall proceeds to bash Rick in this story, I will give you all some background. When I showed up at Pure Pleasure my first day, Marshall asked if I could trim 3 horses for him. I am a farrier. I said sure, I did it on the house, free, friends you know. He loaded me out that afternoon on my first trip. He paid me but shorted me $180. I asked why, his response was, "Well you're a new guy so I'm keeping the extra money." You're welcome for trimmimg your horses.
Later into my employement, I was hauling to somewhere, I unloaded the horses for a rest. He chewed me out for that. "Those horses don't need a rest". I said I didn't care what he thought, I was unloading everyday. He bragged to me that he would go coast to coast non-stop! The horses were fine.
The end of the road for me and Pure Pleasure Horse Transport, was when I hauled a load of horses from MO. to Florida for one of his customers. (8 or 9 horses) I helped them catch the horses,(3 hrs, Mustangs) set up thier pens at the other end paid $1340 to repair my trailer from the Mustang Stallion and never got paid. After sueing them and arguing with Marshall, he told me "F--- You". Exact words. He doesn't owe anything to me. Marshall got his deposit so he was happy. His crew drives nothing but Stock trailers. Maybe one has an enclosed trailer. He doesn't stop, self admitted and will never return a deposit even if it his fault. Self admitted by him.
Rick, used his own pictures, his own letters of praise from customers he hauled for. He never passed himself off as PPH. I have been booking loads for Rick and passing contacts on to him. The last and most important point, Marshall at PPH knew he was booking his own horses because PPH couldn't keep him loaded. Marshall said he understood. No fraud, no "Tortable" offense as the "Ranchlady" says, I'm not sure that's in any law book I've studied, Rick drove to within 25 miles of her house to load her Mule and then she cancelled. He did his part, he showed up.. I would bet that had the first words from your mouth not been, I'm suing you, I'm demanding, you have committed fraud, etc. He probably would have been happy to refund your money.
Marshall will no doubt respond, but ya'll keep in mind that he agreed to keep Rick on with the understanding that he hauls all loads booked with PPH. If they don't have any, he can book his own.