In a recent lawsuit filed against Claude “Chip” Hayes, Spencer Haithcote alleged that Hayes failed to make payments to Haithcote’s retirement account and Roth IRA. Haithcote was employed by Hayes as site foreman for the Whiskey Creek development in Lynchburg. He was employed by Hayes from June 2025 until he resigned in July 2026.

After resigning, Haithcote said attempted to withdraw funds from those retirement accounts, and found that a number of payments had not been made, despite being deducted from his paychecks. The payments were submitted as ACH payments, but failed to process. Haithcote alleged he made several attempts to get Hayes to pay the money owed him, with no results.

He filed suit in Moore County to recover the funds, interest, and punitive damages. Haithcote submitted statements, correspondence, and supporting financial documentation to the court. Court date was set for Oct. 6, 2026, at 9 a.m. in Sessions Court before Judge Terry Gregory.

Court convened at the appointed time, and Judge Gregory called Haithcote and Hayes. Haithcote was present, but neither Hayes nor his attorney was present. Judge Gregory had Haithcote sit down to give Hayes time to show up in the event he was running late. Gregory called the case a second time, no Hayes. Then he called the case a third time, still no Hayes. The third time, Judge Gregory found in Haithcote’s favor, awarding him the $5,000 he asked to be paid.

As Haithcote gathered his papers to leave, Judge Gregory gave him a bit of advice, tongue in cheek. “Don’t spend that money before you get it.”