Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder, is back in business, but the legal challenges continue as another of his companies is sued. Former Beattie employees speak out, only with WINK.
In recent months, his business, Beattie Development, has been raided by police, his six different contracting licenses have been revoked, and now his plumbing business is under fire.
A lawsuit filed Tuesday against Bergau Plumbing alleges that a $1 million promissory note was not paid in full. The plaintiff, Bergau Brothers, INC, argues that Paul Beattie and BPP Plumbing (Bergau Plumbing) still owe over $434,000 of the note.
Bergau Plumbing is another Beattie business. Former employees spoke only to WINK under the promise of anonymity and said they saw the problems piling up behind the scenes.
Since the raid at Beattie Development, employees say Beattie has focused his time and energy on Bergau Plumbing. As Bergau's CEO, he met with his employees, although they said he was often difficult to reach because he had different phone numbers and email addresses.
The employees make several allegations against their former boss, including that most of the work done at Beattie Development since the raid was unauthorized and unlicensed.
The source summarized a conversation with a colleague after the raid.
“Since [employee name] said I guess we'll keep working without a license because Paul Beattie told him so. We have been doing illegal work ever since.”
This colleague was ultimately fired. The source said: “Because [employee name] would ask the questions about the license.”
City of Cape Coral records indicate 12 Bergau permits have been confiscated since the August raid.
Employees made other allegations against the disgraced contractor, such as money coming in, being withdrawn quickly and being forced to lie to customers.
On Thursday, Beattie's attorney declined to comment to WINK News.
The Better Business Bureau notes that Bergau Plumbing is not accredited.
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