Hickory Housing Awarded $2.45 Million

Rockland Daily Staff 

Supreme Court Judge Paul Marx has awarded $2.45 million to the Hickory House housing complex on Main Street in Spring Valley. 

Two contractors, Consumer Protection Restoration (CPR) and Prestige Reality Group Inc., have failed to perform the prescribed work and have been over-billed. The contractors were hired after a 2017 fire destroyed Building A at the housing complex.

During the repair, CPR found asbestos in Building B that needed removal and became structurally unsafe. CPR had a contract with Hickory House worth almost $4 million to repair the damage. Prestige Reality Group had a contract worth nearly $16 million for demolition and reconstruction. Both companies were asked to stop work shortly after and subsequently filed mechanics liens against the premises. A mechanic's lien is a guarantee of payment to builders, contractors, and construction firms that build or repair structures.

Judge Marx released a decision on Jan. 19, finding CPR and Prestige wrongfully filing mechanics liens against the property without just cause and willfully exaggerated. 

Wayne Gavioli, an attorney representing Hickory House, said the judge's verdict was a "huge victory for the good people of Hickory House." He said the court award would help complete the repairs.

According to Lohud's Steve Lieberman, Marx issued the following disbursement of funds with Hickory House getting $2.45 million, a result of deducting the awards to CPR and Prestige from the money allotted to Hickory House:

• Hickory House is awarded $3,776,026 from CPR and Prestige jointly on its exaggeration claim. Hickory House's request for interest is denied.
• CPR and Prestige are jointly awarded the sum of $1,595,258 from Hickory House. CPR and Prestige's request for interest is denied.
• Hickory House is awarded counsel fees in the amount of $261,692.