Florida contractor arrested for lack of workers' comp, licenses during state of emergency
The contractor faces five years in prison if convicted of workers' comp fraud and unlicensed contracting during a state of emergency.
A Florida contractor is facing up to five years in prison for unlicensed contracting during a state of emergency and workers’ compensation fraud, according to the state’s department of financial services.
On May 8, 2023, Eric Harris, proprietor of All Phase Renovation & Construction, walked into the Lee County jail to turn himself in on an arrest warrant for failure to secure workers’ comp — less than $20,000 and impersonation of a contractor during a state of emergency, according to documents from the Lee County Sherriff.
The investigation into Harris began after Elizabeth Zabel, a Fort Myers homeowner, claimed that she hired All Phase Renovation to do repair and remediation work after suffering extensive water damage from Hurricane Ian. The consumer said her homeowners association had referred All Phase Renovation to her, as the company was already doing work in the neighborhood, according to court documents.
The work include removing drywall, wet foam insulation and regulator insulation; counter work in the kitchen and bathrooms; and mold remediation. Zabel said despite paying Harris in full, the work was never completed.
During the course of the work, Zabel had questioned Harris about his insurance coverage and licenses. The contractor had said he had coverage and would provide proof, but Zabel only received a copy of the certificate of liability insurance.
Court documents revealed that Harris had previously carried the necessary workers’ compensation coverage, but the policy had lapsed in February 2019. Investigators noted that the previous existence of coverage shows that Harris was aware that workers’ comp insurance was a requirement to legally operate his business.
Concerning his licensing, Harris told Zabel he was planning to take a one-week course in Miami to obtain a Handyman’s license, which doesn’t exist in Florida, “so he wouldn’t get in trouble” for the work he was doing.
‘I don’t want to end up in the Pokie’
Zabel told investigators that she felt “people were watching Eric Harris’ work in the various units,” and that Harris “knew he wasn’t supposed to be doing the plumbing or the spraying.”
During the course of their business, Zabel was told by Harris that he didn’t “want to end up in the Pokie because one tells on me.”
“Defrauding a homeowner following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian is absolutely despicable and will not be tolerated in Florida,” state CFO Jimmy Patronis said in a release. “Unlicensed activity puts everyone at risk and ultimately leaves storm victims in the lurch. This contractor took the money, but didn’t do the work. Often bad actors who defraud consumers don’t carry workers comp coverage, so we’re able to take them off the street so no one else is defrauded. Florida consumers must always stay on guard and be on the lookout for unlicensed activity.”
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