Here's how PATH is dealing with Ardent Ventures LLC/Ten Stone LLC, the scammers who are trying to take advantage of landowners along PATH's proposed route to insert themselves into your land deal and skim off some cash to line their own pockets.  Even after saying that they "find the tone to be pretty misleading" and "Ardent360 is a private party seeking to aggregate property interests for negotiations with PATH-VA in order that Ardent360 might obtain some portion of the negotiated amount,"  behind the scenes, PATH still publicly performs an action that can only be called impotent.

They don't mention the company involved, they don't mention what landowners are being told, they don't mention these scammers are representing to landowners that they can get "a higher price" for their property.  It's like Vern and Archie aren't really saying anything at all, and this "action" on the part of PATH is about as useful for discouraging scammers as teats on a bull.  Very ineffectual and completely worthless -- but that's about what we can expect from PATH.

Fortunately, I know of at least one citizen who has her complaint paperwork all ready to go to the Attorney General.  PATH has once again squandered an opportunity to receive at least a modicum of respect from the affected landowners.  And this makes me wonder...  is PATH behind the Ardent Ventures Scam, despite their protests to the contrary?  It wouldn't be the first time we've suspected we were being lied to; but we'll leave that up to the Attorney General to determine.

Landowners in Jefferson County have been receiving this letter. It's from a company called "Ardent360".  This same group has also been calling themselves "Ten Stone LLC".  The three names of individuals that we have are Rob Dickinson, Mark Krom and Bob Weatherwax.

UPDATE:  A quick investigation by a few astute citizens has clearly revealed this to be a scam.  Read further in the comments section and at The Power Line here, here and here.

We urge you to contact your Attorney General's office (or equivalent) and file a consumer complaint.  Don't sit around and wait for "someone" else to do it.  You are "someone" and only through the collective action of many citizens will quick results happen.  In fact, why isn't PATH filing a complaint of their own?  Not only do the Brobbsey Twins seem to be on the wrong side of state law, they have also inserted themselves into a Federal process by trying to skim off profits for themselves through PATH's Formula Rate cost recovery system.  Ut-oh, Bob & Rob!  Looks like you failed to do your homework and could receive detention!

The Brobbsey Twins probably won't be the last opportunists that smell a tasty morsel to be had by scamming landowners and the power companies.  Only if we make an example of them can we hope to discourage future opportunists.

Signing a deal with these guys is NOT in your best interest.  Put quite simply, they want to steal a portion of your piece of the pie and make money for themselves by inserting themselves into your deal with the power companies.  Ardent360 has invited themselves to a free lunch at your expense.  We urge you to check with an attorney before even speaking with these guys.

They cannot "increase the price you receive".  You can do that yourself by refusing to sign a deal with the power companies and forcing them to take your property via the eminent domain process in the courts.

Just say no to Ardent360.

Now that the important business has been taken care of...

Dear Bob,

Thank you for reminding me of why I continue to do what I do.  It's to protect my friends and neighbors from reprehensible parasites like you.

It is with great restraint that I refrain from detailing my opinion of you personally.  However, I will sum up what I think of your "PATH is going to happen" rhetoric in your letter -- PATH IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!  I know that saying it is furthers your goals, but quit lying to people.  We all know that the PATH project is on shakier ground than ever and is not needed.

You really shouldn't have called attention to yourself, Bob.  Just ask your friends at the power companies what happens to liars who try to take advantage of people they feel are weaker than they are.  Go away, Bob.

Sincerely,

Keryn

The Power Line has a great analysis of one of the first right-of-way purchase agreements that we have found between PATH and an owner of a large parcel of land in Jefferson County.

Prepared by the same attorney who is responsible for PATH's Option for Real Estate Sale and Purchase, this agreement also gives every legal advantage to PATH and strips rights from the landowner.

The average citizen is not equipped to deal with the PATH land agent and attorney sharks who are taking advantage of their lack of knowledge.  Be smart -- always demand to have your own attorney review any documents before signing.  If you think you can't afford an attorney, reality is that you can't afford NOT to have an attorney when dealing with PATH.

 

Overconfident PATH land agents are getting sloppy -- we now have one of PATH's Option for Real Estate Sale and Purchase contracts.  This is the form they want landowners to sign and then, "The Parties agree to not record this agreement.  A separate Memorandum of Option may be recorded."  In other words, the form they file with the county clerk gives very little detail, but still preserves their option rights to the property.  And you know what they say, the devil is in the details, and the details in this unfiled Option look like they were penned by Satan himself (or one of his attorneys).

Please, property owners, do not sign one of these without your own legal counsel!  It appears to be written to give every legal advantage to PATH and strip every legal advantage from the property owner and leave them responsible for a bunch of potential future headaches and financial obligations.

Think of it this way -- if you were selling your property to any other individual or entity in the open market, would you allow the buyer to create all contracts, and then sign them at your kitchen table without an attorney present and then hope everything works out okay?  No, in the real world, both parties have an attorney representing their own interests present at settlement as a safeguard against underhanded or illegal practices.  Try not to get distracted by that wad of cash the land agent is waving around, because surely he's a snake and that cash is the apple that tempted Eve.

We will be adding more details about this contract (along with explanations of some of its provisions which may not be in the best interests of the property owner) to our Landowner Resources section very soon.  Please, protect your rights!