![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/stolen-valor2-300x200.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Article posted in its entirety. <\/p>\n
BY: SCOTT SHINDLEDECKER<\/strong><\/p>\n The Montana Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a Whitefish businessman who was defrauded of about a quarter-million dollars in a stolen valor case involving a Virginia man.<\/p>\n According to a previous Daily Inter Lake story, in May 2019 a Flathead County District Court jury awarded $1.7 million in damages to Donald W. Kaltschmidt Jr. after finding Laron D. Shannon liable for fraud and negligent misrepresentation in a case involving an oilfield services company in which Kaltschmidt was a silent investor.<\/p>\n Kaltschmidt, who served in the United States Marine Corps, sued Laron Shannon, Elizabeth Shannon and Oilfield Warriors, LLC, in 2014, alleging Laron Shannon had misrepresented himself as an active U.S. Marine. Shannon dressed in Marine Corps clothing when contacting Kaltschmidt at his Whitefish car dealership and claimed to be active in supporting veterans\u2019 causes, when he \u201cnever actively served in the United States Marine Corps or in any other military service branch,\u201d according to the lawsuit complaint.<\/p>\n Shannon, who represented himself in last year\u2019s court proceedings, appealed the award, challenging rulings on evidence by the District Court and procedural rulings that ultimately led to the completion of the trial after Shannon left the courtroom in the middle of the first day of the trial due to what he said was a medical emergency.<\/p>\n The rulings on evidence centered around 300 pages of documents Shannon tried to introduce in court a few days before the trial was to begin. Kaltschmidt had tried, without success, to obtain documents from Shannon for more than four years to prove the defendant\u2019s military service.<\/p>\n But the District Court was presented with proof the documents Shannon attempted to introduce into evidence were either falsified or fabricated.<\/p>\n On April 28 the state Supreme Court issued its ruling, stating the District Court had not erred in its decisions in the case.<\/p>\n After the verdict in 2019, Kaltschmidt said \u201cThis lawsuit was really about stolen valor.\u201d<\/p>\n Kaltschmidt, the longtime Whitefish businessman who owns the Don K car dealership, said he was alerted to Shannon\u2019s misrepresentation of military service by fellow Marines. No service record could be found for Shannon, according to court records.<\/p>\n \u201cWe asked him for a DD214 form; anyone who has served in the military for any length of time would have this,\u201d Kaltschmidt told the Inter Lake last year. \u201cWe\u2019ve been asking him to produce documents for five years. He had nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n While Kaltschmidt told the Inter Lake last year the case was more about stolen valor than \u201cabout me making a bad business decision,\u201d the lawsuit also detailed his business dealings with Shannon and made allegations of fraud and related counts. Shannon approached Kaltschmidt more than five years ago about establishing a company to clean oil and gas drilling rigs and related equipment in the oil fields of North Dakota and Eastern Montana. Shannon\u2019s business plan was to preferentially hire veterans for the business venture, according to court records.<\/p>\n Relying on Shannon\u2019s representations, Kaltschmidt invested $250,000 in the enterprise, to be named Oilfield Warriors, LLC in exchange for a 25% share in the company. But within months, Kaltschmidt\u2019s investment was largely dissipated, no revenue had been generated by the company, employees had filed complaints against the company, and, disconcerting to Kaltschmidt, he had received reports that Shannon was not a former Marine. After obtaining confirmation that Shannon had not served in the U.S. Marine Corps, Kaltschmidt initiated court proceedings in 2014.<\/p>\n \u201cThe philanthropic aspect of hiring veterans was the only reason that Mr. Kaltschmidt was interested in the venture,\u201d the complaint stated.<\/p>\n At some point during the spring of 2014, Kaltschmidt learned Oilfield Warriors had spent roughly $175,000 in two months but had not cleaned a single rig or piece of equipment, the lawsuit stated. It further alleged that unbeknownst to Kaltschmidt, Shannon established JD Services and Hire America\u2019s Finest at or about the same time as the formation of Oilfield Warriors, both companies that competed actively with Oilfield Warriors.<\/p>\n Kaltschmidt\u2019s lawsuit claimed Shannon committed constructive fraud, actual fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract and deceit, among other allegations.<\/p>\n Shannon claimed he enlisted as a reserve and had active duty service during training at Quantico from July 13, 1982, through Aug. 21, 1982, and that he was \u201cdischarged honorably with a rank of officer candidate,\u201d Shannon\u2019s court declaration states.<\/p>\n Further court documentation showed Shannon filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in September 2018.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Read the article here: American Military News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"