Action filed against contractor for work on home damaged by Hurricane Katrina

NEW ORLEANS— A woman claims to have been bamboozled by an unlicensed contractor that performed unsatisfactory repairs on her home in 2007.

Linda Joseph filed suit against AVN Construction Inc. in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on July 16.

The defendant has been accused of being at fault, liable and responsible for substantial and material breaches of contract in causing direct and proximate damages to the plaintiff.

Joseph claims that she needed construction and renovation work done on her home on Ticou Street as a result of damages from Hurricane Katrina. Joe A. Garcia, in the scope of his employment relationship with the defendant, AVS, met the petitioner and presented her with an agreement to perform work on her residence.

According to the suit, on or before Aug. 3, 2007, AVN has not been a licensed contractor in Louisiana or with the Louisiana state licensing board of contractors, and so fraudulently represented himself to Joseph.

The plaintiff timely paid funds owed the defendant under contract totaling $55,000. The defendant did not hold up his end, however, by performing unsatisfactory and incomplete work according to the terms of the contracts. She alleges the work done caused further damage to the property so that the plaintiff was unable to obtain fire insurance.  In response to Joseph’s complaints, AVN Construction refused to cure the defects and complete the work, according to the lawsuit.

An undisclosed amount is sought for the expense of redoing the work, attorney’s fees and costs and all other court-approved relief for damages.

The plaintiff is represented by Steven R. Rue of the Law Offices of Steven Rue & Associates LLC.

The case has been assigned to Division F Judge Christopher J. Bruno.

Case no. 13-6651.