#brian hall

Defenders Northwest LLC has been been accused of running a multi-year fraudulent restoration scheme. A 63 page lawsuit naming Defenders Northwest LLC, Brian Hall and Michele Hall, and AUTOHOME USA has been filed and can be accessed here or through an online search.

When Chad Ullery wanted to restore a 1984 Land Rover Defender, he hired a Gig Harbor company to perform the work. He had heard the company and its owner had a good reputation. Nearly eight years went by and Ullery claimed he was ripped off: The job remained unfinished and the vehicle had yet to be returned.

Car restoration business is international in nature. Those who specialize in it source parts in China or Europe, and some scour various suppliers in North America. Sadly, the parts import industry is wrought with fraud and the only remedy is uniform best practices and better collaboration between law enforcement agencies.

Land Rover restoration fraud has been around for some time, and the victims are usually collectors and Land Rover enthusiasts. One such incident illustrates that there is need for new, better regulations and uniformity of rules. It has been flagged in recent news

The latest news reports in America state that the number of fraud cases in car restoration is rising. After COVID, scammers began to target classic car collectors, relying on fake online reviews and fancy websites to lure in their victims. According to Motorious and Yahoo Auto, there is a trend that has car enthusiasts on high alert because restoration schemes are on the rise. Even federal law enforcement is now paying attention to consumer complaints. Read more on

Back in the early 2000s, the phrase “soft bigotry of low expectations” was leveled at the crumbling American education system, a jab at the creeping apathy toward quality that is poisoning society. Today, that same apathy has metastasized, enabling a cesspool of fraudsters and charlatans to peddle shoddy, often outright fraudulent services. These swindlers thrive on the illusion of competence, preying on trust across industries critical to survival—healthcare, legal services, financial management—and even in the escapes of pleasure we seek from a world teetering on chaos.

Take the world of classic car restoration, where passion and precision are supposed to reign. For those who’ve scrimped and saved to own a piece of automotive history, the stakes are high. Restoring a classic isn’t just about reviving faded glory; it’s a can be savvy investment with serious returns. Yet, across the United States, a wave of deceitful restoration shops is fleecing collectors, leaving them financially gutted and emotionally shattered. These scams, cloaked in slick websites and silver-tongued sales pitches, exploit the nostalgia and trust that define this community. Read more on

A wave of vintage car restoration scams is sweeping the United States, leaving passionate collectors defrauded, their prized vehicles lost or destroyed, and their finances drained. What was once a niche built on trust, craftsmanship, and shared automotive passion has become a lucrative target for criminals and fraudsters exploiting the deep emotional and financial investment collectors place in vintage automobiles.

An egregious example of car restoration scamming has emerged in Pierce County, Washington, where a company called Defenders Northwest, LLC stands accused of orchestrating a high-value fraud under the guise of a Land Rover Defender restoration. The business, operated by husband-and-wife team Brian and Michele Hall, advertised itself as a legitimate restoration and expedition outfitting company based in Gig Harbor, Washington. Brian and Michele Hall continue to promote their purported services online, offering cars and coffee events, off-road adventures and open house lunches. However, court filings allege that the Halls took over $200,000 from out-of-state collectors and failed to deliver a functioning vehicle—let alone a restored one.

Across the United States, a growing number of vintage car collectors are finding themselves entangled in costly restoration disputes, revealing a troubling shift in what was once a niche community built on craftsmanship and trust. Where enthusiasts once bonded over chrome, patina, and preservation, some now find themselves chasing down vanished vehicles, depleted savings, and promises unfulfilled.

Among the more high-profile cases is one unfolding in Pierce County, Washington, involving a company called Defenders Northwest, LLC. Known for its specialization in Land Rover Defender restorations and off-road expeditions, the business is operated by Brian and Michele Hall, a husband-and-wife team based in Gig Harbor. The company continues to advertise restoration services, “cars and coffee” events, and expedition outings. However, court documents allege the Halls accepted over $200,000 from out-of-state collectors for a restoration that never materialized in any meaningful form.