Call Kurtis: Chasing After A Puzzle For 7 Years

A puzzling problem. An Auburn woman bought three custom puzzles but she only got two of them. She paid up front for the puzzles.  And even after seven years, she's not giving up.

"I just feel like a little bulldog, nipping at his heels," says Cathy Runne, Auburn resident.

Cathy got the first puzzle, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, within months of ordering it in 2003.

"They're a beautiful piece of work and you can tell that it's very detailed oriented and extremely well done," says Cathy.

She liked it so much, she ordered two more from artist Bryan Damewood of Life Puzzles, then located in Nevada City.

But she's only received one of those.  And says it took six years and only after he closed and she spotted The Lady and the Tramp puzzle on display at his new location in Grass Valley.

"I was so mad and furious and I was going to walk right out with it but I didn't want to be accused of shoplifting," says Cathy.

Bryan gave her the puzzle and said he didn't call her when it was done because he needed it for his gallery. And now she awaits a third puzzle with a Yankee logo, which she paid $139.59 for back in 2003.

She says Bryan promised it would be done this past summer but then his store closed.

"It wasn't about the money, it's just about the principle and here he goes again," says Cathy.

We called Bryan Damewood.  He tells us he's a "starving artist." And says she's "not the only customer" who's "been wronged" and he "doesn't respond to being muscled."

So when is she going to get her puzzle or a refund? He couldn't tell us. But we noticed he still has a web site up.    Is he still taking money for puzzles, when he hasn't delivered an order from seven years ago?

Posing as a potential customer, our producer gave him a call.

"So you're not in business, can you take my order then or not? Are you accepting orders?" asked our producer.

Bryan told our producer he will take orders but he won't take money up front until he sets up his business again in a few months after settling some personal problems.

Cathy has heard excuses for the past seven years and now wants to warn others about Bryan Damewood and Life Puzzles.

"It's not that we need the money but he needs to be accountable," says Cathy.

It's too late for Cathy to sue in small claims court. You only have four years for written contracts. It's two years for oral contracts.

Bryan says he will finish Cathy's puzzle but just can't give us a time frame. This is why you shouldn't pay in full up front.

There's no incentive to get the job done.