A Chicago couple who remodeled and expanded their house has sued, alleging shoddy work, plans and handling for the project.
Ciro and Daiva Longobardo filed a lawsuit May 6 in Cook County Circuit Court against Chicago Custom Home Builders Inc. (CCHB), Neil Regan and J. DiMaria Architecture (JDA).
According to the complaint, in early 2013, the plaintiffs, who own the property at 1831 West Race, Chicago, decided to remodel their home. The defendants were called and an estimate of $420,350 was arrived at to expand an addition onto a second lot, a three-story, 1,620 square foot expansion, the suit says.
Then, NLP Engineering, JDA and an architect, Natalie Perry joined the project, the suit states. In late spring, Perry and NLP were working with the appraisal company, JDA, to search for a general contractor, according to the suit, and the couple entered into an agreement with CCHB, but the plaintiffs still weren't getting updates on the blueprints they were entitled to view.
The Longobardos allege CCHB and Regan failed to reveal the identifies of their subcontractors and suppliers, which were constantly in a state of change. The lawsuit says CCHB and Regan "reallocated sums set budgeted for specific purposes, specific subcontractors and/or specific material suppliers without advance notice to or the consent of the plaintiff."
Once the remodeling began, the suit says, CCHB was further cited for various acts or omissions, such as being late in scheduling remodeling work which required the plaintiffs and their two young children to stay for long periods in a hotel. CCHB is also cited for changing and "up-charging" the work plans and not performing the work itself "in a good and workmanlike manner."
After compiling a list of examples of poor workmanship and planning, the plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages against this defendant, citing CCHB with breach of contract and warranty, as well as piercing its "corporate veil."
Regan, the lawsuit continues, "exercised such a degree of ownership and control over CCHB in their dealings with plaintiffs such that CCHB became joined in a unity of interest and ownership." Regan is cited along with CCHB for consumer fraud, and Regan is cited alone for fraudulent concealment," according to the lawsuit.
For each count, the Longobardos seek in excess of $100,000, plus costs. JDA is cited with professional negligence, for which the plaintiffs seek damages in excess of $100,000, plus costs. They are represented by attorneys Donald A. Robinson and Robert S. Schwartz of Robinson, Shapiro and Schwartz in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2015-L-004672.
