This winter, while snowstorms swept through western Pennsylvania, patients and staff at Sharon Regional Health System continued to safely access the hospital, thanks in large part to the work of one local small business.
Turkey Run Landscaping LLC, owned by Cody and Shannon Osborne, provided around-the-clock snow and ice removal services for the hospital and related facilities under a “zero tolerance” contract. The company continued showing up through every storm, even as payments allegedly stopped coming in.
Now, the Osbornes have sought legal assistance after claiming they are owed more than $78,000 for services already performed.
It is important to clarify one point from the original article: no charges have been filed.
Why Attorney Dallas Hartman Took the Case
While his law firm is best known for representing injury victims, attorney Dallas M. Hartman believes the impact of financial harm on hardworking small businesses should not be overlooked.
Small businesses often operate on thinner margins than larger corporations or institutions. Timely payments are critical for covering payroll, maintaining equipment, purchasing materials, and continuing operations.
In this particular situation, the injustice felt personal to attorney Dallas M. Hartman. Why? Turkey Run Landscaping chose to do the right thing for the community it serves.
Even as the hospital became “severely delinquent” in payments, the Osbornes remained concerned about maintaining safe access to critical healthcare facilities during winter weather. They continued to deploy their resources because they understood the importance of their job.
That decision reflects something many small business owners understand well: commitments matter, reputation matters, and sometimes doing the right thing means continuing to show up even when circumstances become difficult.
Dallas M. Hartman believes that kind of reliability deserves fairness in return. It's why he decided that his firm would take on the case.
Sometimes the Only Way to Demand Fairness Is Through the Law
At its core, this case reflects a simple ethical and legal principle: if people uphold their end of a contractual agreement, they deserve to be paid for the work they performed.
Attorney Dallas Hartman noted that the contract terms in this case were “very clear” and that the company fulfilled its obligations throughout the winter season.
For many small business owners, legal action is rarely the first choice. Most would rather spend their time serving customers and running their businesses. But sometimes legal action becomes necessary simply to protect the work they have already performed.
The Osbornes continued showing up because they understood how important their work was to the community. They deserve fairness, not financial hardship. Sometimes protecting the “nice guy” simply means making sure the people who do the right thing are not left behind.