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The Lexington Blue saga: The failed roofing company's path to bankruptcy

Stories by Lexington Herald-Leader journalists, with AI summarization

This collection of articles about Lexington Blue focuses on its pattern of alleged fraud and mismanagement. The company, once operating in Lexington, Louisville and Cincinnati, abruptly closed and faces numerous legal challenges and accusations of failing to deliver roofing services promised to customers.

Catch up with the stories below.

The offices of Lexington Blue roofing company on Pasadena Drive in Lexington were closed and locked on Monday, April 28, 2025, after the company announced it has gone out of business. At least one customer showed up to try to get answers, to no avail. By Tasha Poullard

NO. 1: LEXINGTON ROOFER, UNDER INVESTIGATION BY KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL, SHUTS DOWN

Several lawsuits also are pending against the company with offices in Lexington, Louisville and Cincinnati. Homeowners waiting for new roofs are angry. | Published April 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Lexington Blue, a roofing company with headquarters in Lexington, operated in Louisville and in Cincinnati as well. The company alerted customers over the weekend it has gone out of business. By Tasha Poullard

NO. 2: CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT SOUGHT AGAINST ROOFER LEXINGTON BLUE: ’429 PROJECTS IN QUEUE’

Louisville couple claims they paid in full, but no work was ever done. | Published April 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Brad Pagel posted this photo of himself smoking a cigar on a beach in April, just before announcing to Lexington Blue customers that the company had closed.

NO. 3: LEXINGTON BLUE OWNER OPERATED ‘A CULT’ OF FRAUD, INTIMIDATION, EMPLOYEES SAY

Customers lash out at owner of now-shuttered roofing company for his alleged scams and fraudulent activities. | Published May 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Former customers of Lexington Blue Tammy and Steven Book, left, and Debbie Kirsch Coe in front of their Lexington homes. The Books say that Lexington Blue took their deposits and shingles but never provided the new roof as contracted. Coe said Lexington Blue put on a roof but did it so poorly that it needs to be replaced along with her gutters and more. By Marcus Dorsey

NO. 4: ‘ORGANIZED CRIME’: HOMEOWNERS SAY LEXINGTON BLUE ROOFING COMPANY CONNED THEM

Former employees say the Lexington Blue roofing business ‘just wanted to build a pipeline of money,’ a Herald-Leader investigation reveals. | Published May 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Lexington Blue, a roofing company with headquarters in Lexington, operated in Louisville and in Cincinnati as well. The company alerted customers over the weekend it has gone out of business. By Tasha Poullard

NO. 5: LEXINGTON BLUE UPDATE: ROOFING SUBCONTRACTOR OUT AFTER ‘HATEFUL PHONE CALLS’

Subcontractor says Lexington Blue kept all the insurance payments. | Published May 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

A text from Lexington Blue owner Brad Pagel to employees about Andrew Stringer said, “He’s gonna end up in the back of a van if he doesn’t take his article down.” One employee had his girlfriend share these texts with Stringer to warn him.

NO. 6: LEXINGTON BLUE JOB CANDIDATE THREATENED BY ‘UNHINGED’ OWNER AFTER REDDIT POST

“He’s gonna end up in the back of a van if he doesn’t take his article down,” owner Brad Pagel texted employees. Harassed job candidate said, “Nobody needs to go through this.” | Published May 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Roofing company Lexington Blue on Pasadena Drive onMay 16, 2025. When sales representatives were promoted to team leaders they were given blue cars to drive. Many of the cars sat in front of the closed Lexington Blue offices for weeks until they began disappearing. By Marcus Dorsey

NO. 7: KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL FILES SUIT AGAINST LEXINGTON BLUE AND ITS OWNER

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office asked to freeze bank accounts while his office seizes roofing company records. | Published May 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Brad Pagel posted this photo of himself smoking a cigar on a beach in April, just before announcing to Lexington Blue customers that the company had closed.

NO. 8: KY JUDGE FREEZES LEXINGTON BLUE OWNER’S ASSETS. HE INSISTS HE’S BEING ‘VILIFIED’

Attorney General Russell Coleman urges former Lexington Blue customers who need help to call his office. | Published June 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Roofing company Lexington Blue on Pasadena Drive on May 16, 2025. When sales representatives were promoted to team leaders they were given blue cars to drive. Many of the cars sat in front of the closed Lexington Blue offices for weeks until they began disappearing. By Marcus Dorsey

NO. 9: LEXINGTON BLUE FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY, OWES $3.2 MILLION TO CUSTOMERS, FORMER EMPLOYEES

Brad Pagel, owner of the Lexington roofing company, says he was a third party to take over outstanding contracts. | Published June 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

A hearing scheduled in the Lexington Blue bankruptcy case for owner Brad Pagel took place on June 26, 2025, at the US Bankruptcy Court on E. Vine St., 2nd floor courtroom in downtown Lexington, Ky. By Tasha Poullard

NO. 10: FIRST HEARING HELD IN LEXINGTON BLUE BANKRUPTCY CASE BUT WITHOUT OWNER BRAD PAGEL

What this means for homeowners waiting for roof repairs. | Published June 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

A hearing scheduled in the Lexington Blue bankruptcy case for owner Brad Pagel took place on Jun 26, 2025, at the US Bankruptcy Court on E. Vine St., 2nd floor courtroom in downtown Lexington, Ky. By Tasha Poullard

NO. 11: LEXINGTON BLUE UPDATE: AG WANTS BANKRUPTCY DISMISSED, EXPANDS FRAUD CASE

A meeting of Lexington Blue creditors is scheduled for Friday afternoon by telephone. Here’s how to dial in. | Published July 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Brad Pagel walks into his creditors hearing on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, at US Bankruptcy Court in Lexington, Ky. By Christian Kantosky

NO. 12: ANGRY KY HOMEOWNERS CONFRONT LEXINGTON BLUE ROOFING OWNER IN COURT

Homeowners who say they were ripped off by failed roofing company Lexington Blue had the chance to confront owner Brad Pagel on Monday, and they did not mince words. | Published August 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Brad Pagel posted this photo of himself smoking a cigar on a beach in April, just before announcing to Lexington Blue customers that the company had closed.

NO. 13: LEXINGTON BLUE OWNER ASKS JUDGE TO DISMISS KY ATTORNEY GENERAL’S COMPLAINT

Lexington Blue roofing company owner Brad Pagel has filed a motion through his new attorney, Adrienne Southworth, to have the Kentucky attorney general’s lawsuit against him dismissed. | Published August 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The offices of Lexington Blue roofing company on Pasadena Drive in Lexington were closed and locked on Monday, April 28, 2025, after the company announced it has gone out of business. At least one customer showed up to try to get answers, to no avail. By Tasha Poullard

NO. 14: LEXINGTON BLUE BANKRUPTCY CONVERTED TO LIQUIDATION. WHAT IT MEANS FOR HOMEOWNERS

A bankruptcy judge on Thursday ordered failed roofing company Lexington Blue’s bankruptcy be converted immediately to a Chapter 7 liquidation case rather than dismissing it outright, as Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office had sought. | Published August 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Brad Pagel posted this photo of himself smoking a cigar on a beach in April, just before announcing to Lexington Blue customers that the company had closed.

NO. 15: BRAD PAGEL SAID HE WASN’T RUNNING LEXINGTON BLUE. HIS TEXTS SAY OTHERWISE

Lexington Blue owner Brad Pagel’s texts to employees appear to contradict claims he made under oath about his involvement in day-to-day operations during the final years of the failed roofing company. | Published August 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.