An Orleans Parish resident is suing a mobile dog grooming service, claiming that she was provided with an inadequate client list and faulty truck after she began working under the company's license.
Tanya Silvernagel and her business WOW Silvernagle LLC, are suing Stefanie Trumbauer and the Jefferson Parish company Whiskers on Wheels Inc., seeking declaratory judgment and damages over a dispute regarding licensing fees and a faulty truck.
New Orleans attorney Scott Galante filed the 11-page suit Dec. 10 in Orleans Parish Civil District court. The suit seeks damages for breach of contract, defamation and slander, negligence and negligent misrepresentation, among other charges.
According to the lawsuit, Silvernagle and Trumbauer "entered a series of agreements ... to effect a franchise relationship involving mobile dog grooming services" beginning in August 2009. The plaintiffs claim that the defendants failed to give an adequate client list that would cover the cost of franchising a truck, and that the truck provided was faulty and contained defective electrical wiring.
The suit also claims that, in the summer of 2010, "the elements of the agreements relating to the geographical districts/exclusive zip code areas in the metro-New Orleans area were not being honored."
Silvernagle withheld licensing payments until the issue could be resolved, the suit states. Trumbauer allegedly responded by calling the New Orleans Police Department and claiming that the truck under Silvernagle's possession was stolen.
The suit seeks damages for the the value of all funds paid to defendants, expenses associated with repairing and maintaining the fully-modified pet grooming vehicle,"value of lost income from clients, mental anguish and emotional distress and other damages.
This case has been assigned to Orleans Parish Judge Piper Griffin.
Orleans Parish Case 2010-12352
Mobile dog grooming service workers take licensing dispute to court
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