Elvis Dumervil, the former NFL linebacker who has been on a real estate buying binge the last three years, allegedly sacked a Miami scaffolding company for nearly $100,000.
J and M Scaffolds of Florida sued Dumervil in Miami-Dade Circuit Court two weeks ago for breach of contract and unjust enrichment.
The complaint alleges Dumervil rented scaffolding from J and M since 2018 for construction of a house he is building in Coral Gables, but that he hasn’t paid a $98,908.16 bill, and failed to return about $11,528 worth of wood beams and other equipment.
Dumervil declined comment. Representatives for J and M did not return a phone message seeking comment and the company’s attorney was out of town and unavailable for an interview.
In 2016, about a year after retiring, Dumervil began acquiring apartment buildings and formed his company, Prestige Estates. It’s focus is buying and then renovating apartment complexes. In an interview with The Real Deal last year, he said his company had since acquired a portfolio of more than 700 multifamily units, mostly in North Miami and North Miami Beach.
In 2016, Dumervil filed a notice of commencement to build a single-family home on a 35,789-square-foot vacant lot at 5555 Oakwood Lane in Coral Gables that he bought for $1.7 million in 2014.
According to the suit, on March 19, 2018, J and M notified Dumervil that he had not paid for any of the scaffolding he had rented, but he ignored the notice. Nine months later, J and M filed a construction lien against his property, for $70,229 of the outstanding $98,908.
“Despite the foregoing, Dumervil continued use of the goods on the property and continued to fail and refuse to pay J&M the amounts due and owing under the agreement,” the lawsuit states. “Accordingly, on February 8, 2019, J&M recorded an amended claim of lien in the amount of $92,514.93.”
J and M filed a third amended lien for the full amount last month. The company alleges Dumervil is still in possession of the scaffolding and other supplies.