Former Old Town Coffee Chocolates owners request default judgement; court documents show attempt to resolve before filing lawsuit

 

This morning, was the first hearing in a 2025 lawsuit filed on 12/3/25 by Cathy Kunkler and Gail Mentink against Amanda Slinkard. 

All parties are pro per. I have court documents which include the original complaint, first amended complaint, loan documents, text messages and emails showing the attempts at communication which no other media provides on a regular basis.

I am not going to add all the pages and all the court documents but enough for you to see how Slinkard has treated Gail and Cathy. Most of are getting court documents for free, which you would have to pay for or go to the courthouse and look up, most of you invest zero in my independent reporting.

As you can see there have been issues with proof of service and rejection of documents by the court clerk. It is an extremely busy morning with a lot of cases all day today and me having to check multiple times, court minutes not added from last week.

Humboldt Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Timothy Canning may feel differently and cut pro per parties some slack or give them guidance. 

I was in the courtroom today. Judge Canning did.

This morning e court listed a request for a default judgement by Gail and Cathy. However that May 7 request had already been granted which I found out directly from Gail and Cathy. I spoke with them twice today. Today is June 1, that should have been updated in e court. The document was finally entered after my post today.

I did not see Slinkard in the courtroom. She was not in court today.

Judge Canning sent Gail and Cathy to self help and directed them to the next steps to take. There is a dismissal hearing on 10/2/26.

Here are some of the text messages showing the attempts to resolve this before the lawsuit. There are also emails. 

Most locals are familiar with the details and history of why this lawsuit was filed on December 3, 2025. No one is shocked.

Cathy Kunkler and Gail Mentink owners of Old Town Coffee and Chocolates were in business for 20 years. The Old Town Eureka location was the original and Henderson Center location came years later. Both Kunkler and Mentink are respected and liked in the community. 

They retired sold the business to Amanda Slinkard in 2022. I reported on it on October 28, 2022 and mentioned that Slinkard formerly owned Sassafras, another business in Eureka that is closed.

The businesses were never the same under Slinkard's ownership and closed this May. This Friday, when I walked past the Eureka Old Town location, there was a sign saying, "coming back soon."

Cathy and Gail told me they are "optimistic" that the Old Town location will be open again. 

Stu’s Brews will be opening a second location at the former Henderson Center Old Town Coffee and Chocolates.

Court minutes for 6/1 were added after my post.