A Suffolk man accused of stealing $50,000 for unfinished work on a Governor’s Land pool project is also being sued for hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages in civil court.
But this incident isn’t the only time he’s appeared in court in connection with his work in the Williamsburg area.
There are two lawsuits in Williamsburg-James City County courts – one in general district and one in circuit court – alleging Paul McQueen and a company he works for, Paradise Aquatics LLC, performed subpar work.
A third lawsuit is also filed by a landscaping company in Portsmouth, claiming McQueen and Paradise Aquatics owe money on an open account, according to online court records.
One lawsuit stems from the same incident in Governor’s Land he has been criminally charged for in Greater Williamsburg. The other alleges he performed subpar work installing a pool and didn’t install certain parts the homeowners bought.
McQueen was charged with construction fraud, a class 6 felony, on Jan. 19 for allegedly taking a $50,000 deposit last April, then never completing the work or returning the Governor’s Land homeowner’s phone calls, according to James City County Police.
McQueen allegedly took the $50,000 then only removed a few bricks, police said.
He is scheduled to appear in the Williamsburg-James City County General District Court on the criminal charges.
The same victim is suing McQueen in the Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court, alleging he breached the contract they signed in April and committed fraud by spending the deposit on items other than the project materials.
The lawsuit demands a $400,000 settlement: $50,000 for repayment and $350,000 in punitive damages.
“[The plaintiff] waited patiently for you to begin the job, which, in accordance with the terms of your Contract, would continue to work continuously until the job was completed.,” reads a letter sent to McQueen from the plaintiff’s attorney in November 2017.
“In looking at this circumstance, it appears you took the $50,000 from [the plaintiff] under false pretenses and never applied the money to purchase materials for his job, and used [the plaintiff’s] deposit for purposes other than it was intended.”
The second Williamsburg lawsuit was filed by a couple in Williamsburg who allege McQueen did not perform work up to par when constructing a new pool at their house.
The couple hired McQueen just a few months before he entered into a contract with the Governor’s Land homeowner in December 2016.
The suit alleges over a dozen issues, stating the pool leaked, the base was two inches off-level, equipment was improperly installed, and more, according to a complaint.
The lawsuit asks for $25,000 with interest at 6 percent.
McQueen is scheduled to appear in court on the pool construction charges Feb. 28 at 2:30 p.m.
The third civil lawsuit filed in Chesapeake against McQueen and Paradise Aquatics says the company owes SiteOne Landscaping Supply, a Portsmouth company, money. The amount of debt is not listed online, although cases filed in general district court in Virginia can be filed for claims up to $25,000.
