Crook County contractor dispute moves from mediation to court
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (PRINEVILLE REVIEW) — A dispute between a Crook County homeowner and a Central Oregon contractor has escalated from a state-mediated agreement to a civil court case, according to records obtained by the Prineville Review.
The complaint involves Austin Cole Fox, operating as ACF Construction, and centers on a planned accessory dwelling unit project in Prineville. The homeowner, Patty DeDominic, alleges she paid a $10,000 deposit in June 2025 for the project.
According to documents obtained through a public records request, DeDominic said the project could not move forward due to county zoning restrictions. She alleged no construction work was completed, no materials were provided, and repeated attempts to communicate about next steps went unanswered.
In a demand letter later submitted to state agencies, DeDominic requested a full refund of the deposit and indicated she would pursue regulatory complaints if the issue was not resolved.
The matter was referred to the Oregon Construction Contractors Board, which oversees licensed contractors in the state. Records show the two parties participated in a telephone mediation on Feb. 12, 2026, where Fox agreed to repay the $10,000 in five monthly installments of $2,000 beginning March 10.
However, less than six weeks later, DeDominic notified the agency that the first payment had not been received. She subsequently issued a notice of default and requested documentation of the alleged breach.
CCB officials advised that further action to access the contractor’s bond would require a court judgment. DeDominic then filed a civil complaint in Crook County Circuit Court.
Records indicate attempts to serve Fox were initially unsuccessful, prompting DeDominic to hire a private investigator to locate a current address. The case has since been filed with the court, placing the CCB administrative process on hold pending the outcome.
State records show Fox’s contractor license is currently lapsed. Oregon law requires licensed contractors to maintain liability insurance and a surety bond, which can provide financial protection to consumers in certain disputes.
The Prineville Review reports Fox declined to comment on the allegations and instead disputed the publication’s reporting process, stating he intended to pursue legal action for what he described as slander.
The Construction Contractors Board declined to comment on the specific case but encourages consumers experiencing issues with contractors to file complaints with the agency.
As of publication, the case remains pending in Crook County Circuit Court. No response has been filed on Fox’s behalf. The Prineville Review also reports it has not independently verified additional public allegations circulating online involving the contractor.
