Courts in Sudbury have awarded two former clients of Eco Life Home Improvements Inc. more than $30,000 because the company didn't complete home improvement contracts.
But according to an article on Canadian Contractor, one judge warned that collecting from Eco Life owner David Murray is unlikely, considering a flurry of legal problems Murray is facing.
Eco Life is facing as many as 24 small claims actions, and last week in two separate judgments, plaintiffs were awarded $4,600 and $25,000 respectively, plus additional costs and interest.
Murray failed to personally appear at the Cedar Street courthouse in Sudbury for either of the hearings.
The first case, the $4,600 award, dates back to 2016. Homeowner Stephanie Orsini and her husband prepaid for five windows and some other work, which was to be completed in early 2017.
“He never showed up, he never called,” Orsini told Canadian Contractor. “I called his office but didn’t get any response. I even went to the office periodically to try to get a resolution, to try to get him to get the windows done.”
A day earlier, a former client was awarded $25,000, the largest award a small claims court can deliver.
Homeowner Darrell Ranger paid Murray more than $17,000 for three contracts. While some insulation work was done, after several delays, Ranger was then told some material was on backorder and worked stopped. After a heated phone conversation, Ranger testified that Murray said, “I quit” and hung up.
Ranger attempted to have other contractors finish the work, but it was difficult and expensive.
“They don’t like finishing other contractors’ job because they have to warranty the work, and they didn’t start the job,” he said in court. “And when they did quote me, it was pretty expensive because they wanted to make sure that they were gonna make money on it in case something was to happen from Dave’s work.”
When ruling in Ranger's favour, Justice Gerard E. Guimond advised him this would be an award, “that you’re never going to collect on, sir. He’s got – I’ve seen at least 10 matters go before me.”
“I don’t know why this man’s not in jail. I don’t know why he hasn’t been charged. Because it’s so obvious what he’s been doing for years.”
In addition to multiple small claims actions still to come, Murray is scheduled to appear in court on May 29 to answer charges laid in April by the Greater Sudbury Police Service for theft under $5,000 and trafficking of stolen property. Sudbury police also have an ongoing criminal fraud investigation into the activities of Murray and Eco Life.
Shortly after the criminal charges for theft and trafficking were laid, Murray’s company was evicted from its rented premises near the end of April for failing to pay rent. Eco Life’s license to conduct business in the city was revoked in April.
Murray intends to appeal that decision at a hearing committee meeting June 5. Read the full story at Canadian Contractor.
