Facts

Plaintiffs Rodrigo and Monica De La Cruz alleged that they hired defendants Dough Smith and Enterprise Builders Inc. (Enterprise) to remodel their home.

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS:
The De La Cruzs claimed that after work had begun on the project, they called defendants and were told that the person working on their property was not their employee. The defendants absolved themselves of responsibility of the work done so far on the project. It was revealed during discovery that this problem had happened to other homeowners, as well.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
Enterprise contended that it had merely referred the home remodeling job to a third party contractor, by the name of Al Gass.

Damages

The De La Cruzs sought to recover $366,215.

Result

The De La Cruzs settled in arbitration and were awarded $241,215 in compensatory damages against Smith, individually, and Enterprise. They were also awarded $950,000 in punitive damages against Smith. The interest was $113,935, as of Oct. 26, 2009.