SKOWHEGAN -- A Solon plumbing contractor has filed a lawsuit against a Somerset County commissioner's construction firm, charging P.R. Construction failed to pay over $55,000 in bills.

In a lawsuit filed in Somerset County Superior Court last month, Consolidated Plumbing and Heating of Solon states that P.R. Construction, a Fairfield firm, failed to pay for plumbing work done on a house in Carrabassett Valley.

Philip Roy, chairman of the Somerset County Commission, is president of P.R. Construction.

Reached Thursday, Roy said he was "flabbergasted" by the lawsuit, which he said is completely without merit.

Roy said his firm was the manager of the project, coordinating construction of a home in or near the Sugarloaf ski resort almost two years ago.

"We were not the general contractor," said Roy. "He is suing the wrong person."

Roy called the lawsuit "stunning," because he said that the plumbing contractor who is suing him worked directly with the people who were building the house and was paid for his work by them.

Roy said his firm hasn't been paid by the owners of the home, and actually has a lien against them.

He declined to give the name of the homeowners Thursday. He said he tried to reach them after he was contacted about the lawsuit but they were apparently traveling.

Wallace Wooster, who is listed as the senior member of the contracting firm, could not be reached by phone on Thursday. His attorney, James C. Bush, of Preti Flaherty in Portland, also did not return phone calls.

While Roy says the lawsuit is without merit, a Superior Court Justice has granted a motion for attachment filed by Consolidated Plumbing and Heating.

A motion for attachment is similar to a lien in that it prevents the sale or disposal of property that one party in a lawsuit might be entitled to, depending on the outcome of the legal action.

Justice William Anderson granted a motion for attachment for $55,758.60 on May 5. The lawsuit was dated April 4, but was received in Somerset County Superior Court on April 16.

An affidavit filed in support of the lawsuit by William Wallace, senior member of Consolidated Plumbing and Heating, states that his company entered a contract with P.R. Construction to work on the home.

After work was done, however, bills submitted to P.R. Construction were not paid, according to the affidavit.

P.R. Construction owes Consolidated Heating and Plumbing $55,758.60, along with damages, attorneys fees, interest and penalties, the affidavit says.

Roy, however, said his contract with the owner of the home is clear.

"They pay the bills," he said.

He said he hopes the lawsuit can be dealt with fairly quickly.

Roy said he never received official notification of the lawsuit because it was sent to attorney Thomas F. Jewell, in Portland, who is a clerk for P.R. Construction.

Jewell, reached Thursday afternoon, said his office sent the complaint on to the wrong person. They should have sent it to Roy, he said.

Alan Crowell -- 474-9534, Ext. 342

acrowell@centralmaine.com