See you in court, says frustrated Karwood homeowner after work abandoned

Fed up with a Paradise home-buildingcompany's inaction for work that was supposed to be completed more than a year ago, a homeowner istaking the company to court.

Thomas O'Brien is among people living in duplexes on a cul-de-sac in the Karwood Estates neighbourhood whohave gravel pits for front yards and driveways.

The eyesore has been a long-running issue for homeowners like O'Brien, who has a contract signed by company vice-president Randy Oramfor a paved driveway and landscaped yard that were supposed to be completed byJune 2023.

"It's gotten to a point for me after waiting so long with no feedback that I have made a claim with small claims court. And so I actually served the documents to Karwood [Monday]," said O'Brien.

He said he walked into the office Monday,handed the documents to Oram, and then left. He called the moment "short and sweet."

"It was a very short interaction. Just told him I'm suing Karwood for work that's still not completed. And I said, 'Have a great day,'" recalled O'Brien.

"All he said was 'Alright, sir.' And that was it."

In a statement of claim filed with court, O'Brien wrote that he moved into his home in September 2022, and that a lawn and driveway were part of the home's cost.

"This is not completed despite me making continued calls, emails, registered mail, and contact to media outlets who have reached out to the company," he wrote.

"I gave attempted to resolve this issue many times with no success.I am making a claim for the cost to complete work in a contract they broke."

In total, he is looking to get $5,525 from small claims court. He said he plans to hire a contractor to complete the work.

"Hopefully it's the beginning of the end or they'll actually take it serious," he said.

Contacted by CBC News,Karwood president Greg Hussey refused to do a recorded interview.

Ongoing saga

In August, O'Brien first spoke with CBC News about delays in contracted work for sidewalks, paved driveways and landscaping and how he wasn't able to get answers from Karwood despite months of attempting to contact the company.

Shortly after CBC News started requesting interviews, Karwood representative Rhonda Potter told residents over email that work would start the following week but soon after thework came to a halt, leaving mounds of rubble, broken planks of wood and even abandoned equipment in the cul-de-sac.

In response to the mess and unfinished work, residents including O'Brien contactedCBC News again. After a site visit by town of Paradise staff and a call to Karwood, some of the rubble and the lone piece of equipment were removed.

So far, only work on the cul-de-sac's sidewalks has been completed, said O'Brien.

At the time, Hussey blamed delays on the town of Paradise and media attention, and said that he wanted to finish the work for his clients.

"We are now unfortunately into a time of the year with conflicting crew schedules, holidays and our nice flu season, which affects the days available to work on this project," he wrote in an email to CBC News in October.

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