A dispute between a homeowner in Crook County, Oregon, and a local contractor has moved from mediation to the courtroom. The case involves Austin Cole Fox, doing business as ACF Construction, and homeowner Patty DeDominic, who claims she paid a $10,000 deposit for an accessory dwelling unit project that never commenced due to zoning restrictions.
Details of the Dispute
According to public records, DeDominic alleges that after paying the deposit in June 2025, no construction work was initiated, and no materials were supplied. She also reported that her attempts to communicate with Fox about the project’s progress were ignored.
DeDominic initially sought resolution through the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB), which mediated a telephone agreement on February 12, 2026. Fox agreed to repay the deposit in five installments of $2,000 each, starting March 10. However, DeDominic reported that the first payment was not received, prompting her to issue a notice of default and request further documentation of the breach.
Legal and Administrative Actions
With the CCB advising that accessing the contractor’s bond would require a court judgment, DeDominic filed a civil complaint in Crook County Circuit Court. Attempts to serve Fox were initially unsuccessful, leading DeDominic to hire a private investigator to locate him. The case is now pending in court, putting the CCB process on hold.
Records indicate that Fox’s contractor license has lapsed, which under Oregon law means he is required to maintain liability insurance and a surety bond to protect consumers in such disputes. Fox has declined to comment on the allegations and has disputed the reporting process, suggesting he may pursue legal action for slander.
The CCB has encouraged consumers facing issues with contractors to file complaints, although they declined to comment on this specific case. As of now, no response has been filed on behalf of Fox in court.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
