Suit against Haynes Furniture heads to trial

A Circuit Court judge decided that Steve and Patricia Orr don't have to sweep their dispute with Haynes Furniture Co. Inc. under the rug.

The Orrs sued Haynes alleging that the local furniture giant forced them out of business after they opened a store next door to Haynes’ huge Virginia Beach showroom. In October 2009, The Carpet Connection leased space in a small plaza that backed up to Haynes’ parking lot and hung its sign facing that direction.

Three days later, Haynes employees parked two truck trailers at the lot's edge, a few feet away from The Carpet Connection's back wall, blocking views of the store and its sign, the Orrs said in their lawsuit, filed in January in Virginia Beach Circuit Court. Haynes did this "deliberately and with malicious intent," the Orrs’ suit reads, "thereby obstructing and interfering" with their business.

The suit claims damages of $49,000 and seeks triple that amount as allowed under state law, as well as unspecified punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.

Haynes denied the accusations in a counterclaim, arguing that the Orrs wrongfully used its parking lot to attract customers to The Carpet Connection. In its suit, Haynes seeks at least $5,000 to cover its lost business and costs to protect itself.

The judge has ordered the case to go to a jury trial, scheduled for Jan. 23.

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