Home construction business sued for bad faith business practices and fraud

NEW ORLEANS— A woman is suing a construction company for allegedly failing to complete work on her home after payment was made.

Bernadine Amar filed suit against Legacy Homes New Orleans LLC and Shaneka Peterson, general manager of Legacy Homes, in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on Aug. 13.

The plaintiff claims that in the construction of her home on Metropolitan Street, the defendants refused to honor their contractual agreement by failing to show up to work and failing to maintain what work had been completed, rendering the structure unusable.

The defendant is accused of breach of contract and fraud for entering in to a contractual agreement with the plaintiff that included building the foundation, framing, installation of electricity and plumbing, and completion of construction of her home.

Amar agreed to pay in installments: a deposit of $37,920, second installment $34,920, third and fourth installments of $37,920 and upon completion the remaining balance of $12,640. Unsuccessful attempts were made to have the work completed when the defendants refused to show for work after the first two installments were paid and an advance of $15,000 given in December 2012, the suit claims.

An undisclosed amount is sought for breach of contract and debts totaling $126,400 for failure to perform the contracted work, rental payments made by the plaintiff, and costs of the proceedings and legal interest. The plaintiff’s case also attempts to “pierce the corporate veil” to charge Peterson with fraud for material misrepresentation, liability for damages, and bad faith business practice.

The plaintiff is represented by Erica Andrews of the Law Offices of Erica Andrews LLC.

The case has been assigned to Division A Judge Tiffany G. Chase.

Case no. 2013-07623.