Confectionary store files lawsuit against contractor, alleging 2024 property damage
A confectionery store brand headquartered in Alliance has filed a lawsuit against a contractor that the store alleges caused damage to one of its properties in 2024.
The suit is related to a cleanup project from November 2024, where a building located at 228 East State Street in Salem, also known as the Schory Property, was demolished after part of the roof came off the building.
At the time, Salem Fire Chief Scott Mason told 21 News that the roof had been in need of repairs for some time before it came down.
Demolition work was done on the building, which was reported to have damaged two neighboring businesses:
- BB Rooners
- Heggy's Confectionery
The suit, filed on January 20, 2026, alleges that the company, noted to be Veterans Energy and Construction Services LLC and contracted by The Columbiana County Land Bank to demolish the Schory Building, caused damage to the Heggy's Confectionery store, located at 296 East State Street in Salem.
The plaintiffs in the suit, named as Heggy's Alliance & Salem Gen 3 LLC, claim that Veterans Energy and Construction Services LLC did not show regard for the safety of people and property during the demolition period that they were contracted to perform.
The suit includes the following as examples of the complaint, listing:
- Surrounding the area with barricades to prevent entry
- Failed to construct a barrier to keep debris from falling onto other properties, including the Heggy's Confectionery store
- Failed to demolish the masonry wall of the property in a safe manner
- Failed to use debris chutes to guide materials to a waste container
- Failed to take measures to control a dust plume, which potentially contained asbestos, from cascading onto, into and upon the property
- Negligently used a large excavator, which the plaintiffs claim was too large a machine to precisely demolish the building and prevent collateral damage
As a result of the above actions, the plaintiff claims that a portion of the wall of the Schory Building was toppled over by the contractor's excavator, which caused severe structural damage to the property and a large outdoor freezer.
The suit goes on to state that Veterans Energy and Construction Services LLC offered to make repairs to the building and the outdoor freezer.
A replacement freezer is noted to have been installed by the defendant in May 2025, but it had flawed electrical work, which eventually resulted in the plaintiff contracting with another company for repairs on or about July 8, 2025.
In total, the plaintiffs are requesting judgment in this case and the following to be paid by the defendant:
- Compensation for damages in the amount of $25,000
- For interest at the statutory rate from and after November 10, 2024
- Cost of attorney fees
- Other court costs
21 News has reached out to the business owner of Veterans Energy and Construction Services LLC, who said that they were unaware of the suit and had no comment at this time.
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