Jury Awards $175,000 in Breach of Contract Case

A Fairfax County jury has awarded $175,555.45 in damages to a local resident after determining that a Chantilly-based renovation company breached its contract by delivering incomplete and defective work. Following closing arguments by BLG’s attorneys, the jury ruled for BLG’s client and found that the substandard work required the homeowner to hire another contractor to redo the majority of the project.

The case stems from a June 2022 agreement in which the Plaintiff hired the Defendant contractor to renovate a recently purchased townhome in Chantilly. The scope of work included a kitchen renovation, flooring replacement, and painting, with a total contract value of $107,000. The Plaintiff, who had purchased the home in preparation for the birth of his son, was assured the renovations would be completed by January 2023, aligning with the expiration of his current lease.

Despite being given seven months of undisturbed access to the property, the Defendant delayed the project, only beginning the kitchen and flooring work a week before the scheduled move-in date. In their rush to complete the project, the Defendant failed to secure proper permits, delivered substandard workmanship, and used defective materials. Most concerning, the contractor left live wires and exposed electrical sockets, creating a serious safety hazard for the Plaintiff and his infant son, forcing them to temporarily relocate.

In an effort to allow the Defendant to remedy the issues, the Plaintiff extended multiple opportunities for the contractor to correct the deficiencies. However, by March, much of the work remained unfinished and unacceptable, leading the Plaintiff to terminate the contract. By this point, the Plaintiff had already paid approximately $86,000 to the Defendant and its subcontractors. A subsequent estimate from a reputable Class A contractor projected the cost to repair and complete the work at $114,000.

During the trial, the Plaintiff’s attorney, Robert Rose, successfully argued for full compensation, securing $175,555.45 in damages, including attorney’s fees. In his closing argument, Mr. Rose urged the jury to uphold community standards and reject substandard construction practices.

For further details, refer to case number CL2023-8455 in the Circuit Court of Fairfax County.