Cusimano Construction LLC

I had the good fortune to be referred to CCL for a restoration estimate on a hotel I manage after Hurricane Michael. Most of the contractors seem dodgy, but Mr. Cusimano was a consummate professional, and handled the estimate from start to finish. We were able to get the claim settled and the restoration completed a lot faster than other businesses I heard about, thanks to Cusimano Construction. I hope I don't need restoration again in the future, but if I do, I'll be calling CCL first!
Oct 18th, 2021

Would give NEGATIVE Stars if Google allowed. I lost my flat roof from Hurricane Michael in 2018 and have been trying to put my roof back on ever since. There is a huge shortage of contractors after a Natural Disaster. I was having no luck finding a contractor when Brad Starnes, who represented Highland Homes Roofing at the time, recommended Cusimano Construction, LLC (CBC1258403) out of Key West. I met with Stephen R Cusimano several times; and I knew in my gut I shouldnt use Cusimano but didnt pay attention to the little inner voice we all so often ignore. When your home is half destroyed due to a hurricane, you dont listen to the voice in your headyou are desperate to put your life back togetherto be normal. I paid Cusimano a $5,000 ck for a Structural Engineer to redesign my flat roof to a gable/hip roof in order to address concerns regarding wind mitigation/hurricane straps, which has been an issue with insurance premiumsthey charge double if you cant prove hurricane strapsapparently the roof on the other side of my home has hurricane strapsit is still here. I have the copy of my ck (9059) dated June 21, 2019 to Cusimano with "Structural Engineer" noted in my Memo. Cusimano said the cost for a structural engineer to prepare my roof and elevation drawings was $5,000 and that I was lucky it wouldnt be $10,000 due to a shortage of engineer availabilityshould have listened to my inner voice. I knew $10,000 was out of whack but it made $5,000 sound better and I was desperate for a roof. I later found out Cusimano paid Harris Building Solution (Bus Lic# CGC1525806), $4,000, instead of paying a Structural Engineer (copy of Cusimano Check 2002 attached). It was Cusimano's agreement with Harris from the beginning. Aaron Harris, who is a Civil Engineer (PE# 79158), confirmed the $4,000 amount by an e mail on September 25 (copy attached) and stated $4,000 was his fee for the work. Cusimano pocketed $1,000 of the $5,000 that was to go to a Structural Engineer as noted for the roof drawings. On September 15, 2019, I requested my $1,000 back from Cusimano since he pocketed the money. Cusimano has not paid me back. But Brad Starnes at least returned my keys. Now I am having to pay another tech and architect an additional $1,000 to fix and stamp the drawings so I can get bids to frame/dry in my roof instead of just tarps while I await my insurance company's supplemental payment through the Appraisal and Umpire process, which was triggered by Cusimano's Construction Estimate to my insurance company having incorrect quantities on it. I also paid an additional $1,850 to Highland Homes for new tarpsthe old ones began disintegrating in AugustI was worried my home would start caving in. I hope I am reimbursed by insurance for the cost. So now I have to pay an Appraiser and an Umpire for their servicesmore money out of my personal pocket which wont go toward putting my home back together. I turned Cusimano into the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation and apparently the Florida doesnt care if a homeowners hard earned money is pocketed by an unethical construction contractor. I hope the State Attorney Generals office feels differently. I have heard that many subcontractors have not been paid by Cusimanoso I am not the only one from which Cusimano is pocketing money. Construction Company Owners like Stephen R Cusimano should have their license taken away or at the very least be suspended from doing business in Florida till Cusimano pays back the money that was pocketedthen people/companies like Cusimano wouldnt behave so unethically with other peoples hard earned money during a Natural Disaster or any other time while doing business in the State of Florida. And here I sit a year laterI should have listened to my inner voicelet that be a lesson. You be the JudgeDoes Cusimano have an ethical duty to pay me back what was pocketed?
May 2nd, 2020