Posts
Contractors that worked on Trump’s DC hotel say he didn’t pay them $3 million that he owed them,Washington Post reports.
Two firms, Joseph J. Magnolia Inc. and A&D Construction installed plumbing, air conditioning, baseboards and crown molding in Trump’s $212 million hotel, but have filed liens saying they haven’t been compensated.
Magnolia, “completed all plumbing, mechanical and HVAC work, along with site sewer, water, storm and water services” on the project, according to its filing.
John D. Magnolia, the company’s president, said Trump had paid for most of the work and he voted for Trump. But now he’s getting worried about the unpaid bill of $2.98 million, especially considering Trump may divest ownership before paying.
“They have been decent people and so forth but the issues that are going on now, with all the talk about removing him from the lease we are concerned about what is going to happen there. So it’s basically a business decision that we had to make,” he said.
“We’re kind of working through that right now. Unfortunately Mr. Trump and Ivanka and so forth, they are I guess preoccupied by other matters now. They are trying to go run the country. So we’ll just see what happens,” he said.
Another smaller firm, A&D Construction of Sterling, Va., said in a lien it was owed $79,700 for wall base and crown molding work.
Their attorney, Richard M. Sissman, said the firm was a Hispanic-owned construction company that was subcontracted to work on the project.
“We did not contract directly with Trump,” Sissman said.
HSissman said A&D, owned by Osvaldo Tellez, is a small operation that needs the money it’s owed.
“I have not heard from anyone. My client is a small-time operator so he does not have deep pockets,” Sissman said.
A representative for Lendlease referred comment to the Trump Organization. In a emailed statement, the Trump Organization did not address the specifics of the legal action.
“In developments of this scale and complexity the filing of nominal liens at the conclusion of construction is not uncommon as part of the close out process,” a spokesperson for the company wrote. “In the case of Trump International Hotel, Washington D.C., the Trump Organization has invested over $200 million dollars into the redevelopment of the historic Old Post Office and is incredibly proud of what is now considered to be one the most iconic hotels anywhere in the country.”
Trump has been accused throughout his business history of refusing to pay the people and companies he contracts.
No comments:
Post a Comment