After a recent string of posts on Facebook in the “Farmville area online yard sale” group Farmville's Main Street Mattress owner, James Mullins, is now facing civil lawsuits.
On Tuesday, March 21, Mullins appeared in Prince Edward County General District Court for four civil cases of warrant in debt against him and his store, according to Virginia General District Court online records.
Four people came before a judge to announce that they had paid for merchandise that was never delivered.
Mullins was sued in Sept. and Oct. 2016, as well as on March 7 and March 16, 2017 for warrant in debt, all cases were dismissed.
Joan Vieira of Powhatan, Va. claimed she purchased a mattress from Mullins on Dec. 23, 2016, and was told it would take two to three days for delivery. Mullins followed up with her to say that there was water damage to her merchandise and therefore, it did not ship. Vieira called the Kingsdown mattress warehouse and was told that they had not received an order.
Main Street Mattress is an exclusive dealer of Kingsdown mattresses, as per Mullins.
In Feb. 2017, Kingsdown received an order for Vieira’s mattress, but no payment, and the company was also able to confirm that there was no rain damage in their trucks.
Vieira took her concerns by posting in the “Farmville area online yard sale” group. She mentioned during the hearing that other people in the group had similar experiences, and she was not the first person to voice their grievances with Mullins.
Mullins countersued Vieira for libel, based on her Facebook posts; he said, “Some of these things (Facebook posts) said I’m a liar and I’m a fraud and I’m a thief.” The case was dismissed.
Mullins continued to mention how the posts were affecting his business, as $18,000 in credit card sales have been cancelled since the posts were published and when he inquired about the reason, he said, “(the customers) said it was from what they’d seen on Facebook.”
For the next two plaintiffs, Cheryl Bruce of Amelia Courthouse, Va. and Tommy Manning of Powhatan, Va., Mullins agreed to refund all their money without any protest.
Following them was Madeline Schutt of Farmville, her case was dismissed. Mullins said Schutt has never been to his store, but last year, purchased from the furniture store formerly at the same location as Main Street Mattress. The name of the store is unknown.
The judge ruled that Mullins needed to bring forth records of sales, as well as witnesses, in order to validate his statements, “You need to prove that what (was) said was not the truth…you need more than what you came with here today.”
Mullins now owes Bruce $2,225 and Manning $799.99, in addition to $112 in court fees, according to Virginia General District Court online records.
Kingsdown mattress has placed a temporary hold on Main Street Mattress, per Mullins, “It’s hurt my business.”
“I’m probably going to have to close my business after this. I’m making $200 a day (in mattress sales) and I don’t see how that can continue,” said Mullins.
The Rotunda reached out to Mullins and his lawyer advised him not to say anything until after the hearing. After asking for a contact number, he did not contact The Rotunda again.
Mullins has four more cases of warrant in debt pending and he will appear again in Prince Edward County General District Court again on April 18 at 1:30 p.m. and April 25 at 2:30 p.m., according to Virginia General District Court online records.
Continue to follow The Rotunda for updates.
Credit for the court report goes to Halle Parker.
Mattresses on Main is located on the corner of West Third Street and Main Street.
Mattresses on Main is located on the corner of West Third Street and Main Street.
Mattresses on Main is located on the corner of West Third Street and Main Street.