Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Tucumcari's David Olguin (left) and Tucumcari Automotive owner Robert Moore posed in August in front of Olguin's 1990 GMC truck that was slated to be rebuilt through donations. Olguins' parents have filed suit against Moore and Tucumcari Automotive, saying the repairs weren't finished.
Last fall, the owner of a Tucumcari automotive repair shop offered to crowd-source repairs for a teen's pickup truck for free in exchange for showing the rebuilt vehicle at a street-rod show. He called it "The Dream Build."
Nine months later, the teen's parents filed a lawsuit, alleging the repairs hadn't been completed and that the truck be returned.
Tony and Rosalee Olguin filed the complaint for return of property and damages on April 11 in Tucumcari District Court against Robert Moore Jr. and his Tucumcari Automotive shop.
The Olguins are the registered owners of the 1990 GMC truck driven by their son, David.
In August, the Quay County Sun reported Moore had enlisted businesses and people from all over the country to donate money, parts or labor to repair the truck at no cost. David initially brought the pickup to Tucumcari Automotive to replace a bumper and grille.
Moore at the time estimated the total value of the overhaul would be at least $60,000, calling it "The Dream Build."
In exchange, Moore wanted Olguin to show the finished truck in October at the NSRA Southwest Street Rod Nationals in Oklahoma City.
Tony and David Olguin told the Sun at the time they admitted being skeptical at first about the offer ("I don't know if he's trying to fix it up or screw me over," the teen said) but agreed to it.
Moore said the project was a way to give back to the community.
In the lawsuit, it states "Mr. Moore has not completed the work on the truck as promised" and has refused to return it to the Olguins.
The complaint requests damages for failure to rebuild the truck as promised, punitive damages for "willful, malicious and reckless" activities by Moore and his shop, attorney fees and an order of the return of the truck.
Dean Border of Border Law Office in Albuquerque filed the complaint on the Olguins' behalf.
Reached by phone last week, Moore said he hadn't been served with the lawsuit. He vowed to countersue for $30,000 - the value of the repairs performed so far on the truck.
Moore texted to the Sun an invoice of the work done, including 170 hours of labor and $34,100.18 worth of repairs that include a new bumper, new grille, rebuilt transmission, body and paint work, new seat and door panels and upholstery.
Moore said the reason the truck wasn't finished by October "was the people that were donating the parts, several of them backed out because of the attitude of the parents and how I was being treated."
He accused Tony Olguin of "being aggressive" and threatening him. He also accused him of damaging the truck.
Moore said he's been busy moving his shop operations to a new site on Tucumcari's west side.
"That's the next thing I'm doing as soon as I'm done moving," he said. "They think I'm a miracle worker. I got to run my shop, do that for free and pay my guys to do it and have it done."
