Skaf v. Beydoun: FL Jury Finds Contractor Breached Contract

Case Background

This civil lawsuit originated from a deeply troubled renovation project at the Playa del Sol Condominium in Fort Lauderdale. Susanne E. Skaf, acting as the Trustee of her Revocable Trust, initiated the action against Beydoun Construction, LLC, the contracting company responsible for the work. The Trust owned Unit 911, and Skaf sought to complete an extensive overhaul of the residential unit, which included demolition, framing, electrical and plumbing work, among other specific tasks like installing soundproofing, tiling, and addressing issues in the master and half bathrooms. The original contract price for the labor and materials totaled $110,000.00, which increased to $118,300.00 after $8,300.00 in change orders. Skaf contended that the contractor failed to fulfill its obligations, compelling her to pursue legal action to recover her losses.

Cause

The primary cause of the lawsuit involved the contractor’s failure to perform the agreed-upon renovation work in a proper and workmanlike manner. Skaf claimed that the construction company not only breached the contract by providing defective and incomplete work but also acted negligently in performing the services. A separate, serious allegation later emerged: Skaf claimed the contractor had filed a fraudulent construction lien against her property when a balance of $18,800.00 remained unpaid on the adjusted contract price.

Injury

The injuries Skaf claimed were entirely financial, rooted in the cost of repairing the allegedly defective construction and completing the work the contractor had left unfinished. Furthermore, the dispute escalated when the contractor filed a Claim of Lien against Unit 911 to secure payment of the outstanding balance, clouding the property’s title and forcing Skaf to incur additional legal expenses.

Damages Sought

Skaf sought to recover all financial losses she suffered as a result of the contractor's alleged failu