Published: November 14, 2008 09:46 am      

Lawsuit filed over alleged drug house

Insurance co. seeks reimbursement for meth lab cleanup

By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer

A lawsuit has been filed in Laurel County Circuit Court against five men charged in April for allegedly running a drug house out of a Corbin residence.

Michigan-based Auto-Owners Insurance Company has filed suit against Chris Carter, Randall Barnes, Robert Jones, Tim Garland and Steve Clinton seeking repayment of monies the company paid to the property owners where the alleged meth lab was located.

In April, five people were arrested during the investigation of a residence at 103 Mitchell Street in Corbin. Police said they received several complaints about the residence and began an investigation. Carter was arrested and found to be carrying a white substance and drug paraphernalia, officials said. Also arrested were Barnes and Jones. Police said drug paraphernalia — such as rolling papers, syringes and a mirror with white powder — was found inside the home and Barnes was in possession of what officials believed to be methamphetamine and another substance that field-tested positive for crack-cocaine.

Officials also found a 9-mm assault rifle in the home and parts of a meth lab in the kitchen. Although the lab was not determined to be active, police said it had been used just days before. The Laurel County HazMat team cleared the residence, but the residence remains sealed as a biohazard.

Tim Garland and Steve Clinton were not arrested with the other three named defendants in April but were being sought by officials.

The complaint, which was filed in Laurel County Circuit Court on Nov. 5, states the defendants, as tenants of the property, were negligent by running the meth lab and causing a devaluation of the property owned by James and Frances Garland. The discovery of the lab led to the creation of a biohazard and condemnation of the property, the complaint states.

Because of this, the complaint states Frances and James Garland suffered a diminishment in the value of the property in the amount of $8,463.78, of which Auto-Owners Insurance had to pay $8,213.78.

Auto-Owners Insurance is seeking a judgment in the amount of $8,213.78, as well as pre- and post-judgment interest, court costs and “any other relief to which they appear to be entitled.”

The complaint lists the Mitchell Street address as being located in Laurel County, though it is actually located in Whitley County. Ashley Ryan, attorney for Auto-Owners Insurance, could not be reached for comment.