Suit: Contractor didn't finish project and overcharged for it

A contractor is facing accusations that he didn't finish a client's construction project and overcharged for it.

Lena DiMarcantonio filed suit June 12 in Cook County Circuit Court against Rodolfo A. Magana and Monticello Construction Services Ltd.

According to the complaint, DiMarcantonio contracted the defendants in April 2013 to build an addition to her Glenview home for a total estimated cost of $249,757. She alleges she paid $30,000 as a down payment before work commenced on Aug. 23, 2013.

The plaintiff asserts the contract provided that the project would be finished by December 2013, but that the defendants stopped working in January and left the job unfinished.

The suit states DiMarcantonio has paid the defendant a total of $366,616.81 in cash to date, following 31 change orders during the course of the project that added to the cost. It further alleges that after bringing in a new contractor to finish the project, DiMarcantonio discovered Magana's original estimate was inflated.

DiMarcantonio, who is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, accuses the defendants of consumer fraud and breach of contract. She is represented by Chicago attorney Edward R. Moor of Moor Law Office P.C.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at Cook County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt and it only represents one side of the story.