Sarasota, Fla. – In a Friday news conference held in Sarasota, Florida Attorney General Ashley Uthmeier unveiled a lawsuit targeting Evolve Construction LLC, Evolve Construction and Restoration Inc., and six of the company’s executives. The state alleges the firm scammed at least 80 customers – the majority of them senior Floridians – out of millions of dollars in insurance payouts following the devastation of Hurricanes Ian and Milton in 2024.
Alleged scheme
According to Uthmeier, the unlicensed contractors went door‑to‑door in the weeks after the storms, offering free inspections and presenting themselves as experts. They told homeowners that they would replace roofs, perform mold remediation and complete other essential repairs. Victims were then asked to sign contracts and provide large payments, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars, which the company allegedly kept without ever beginning the work.
The Attorney General’s office says the contractors also failed to obtain the home‑solicitation permits required by Florida law, further violating consumer‑protection statutes.
Financial impact and scope
Uthmeier reported that investigators have already identified more than $1 million in fraudulent payments from 80 victims, and the total amount taken from seniors could rise as the investigation continues. The lawsuit was filed in the 20th Judicial Circuit and includes complainants from a broad swath of the state, including Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola, Manatee, Volusia, St. Lucie, St. Johns and Broward counties.
Legal claims
The complaint brings two counts of unfair trade practices against both the business entities and the individual executives. The state is seeking injunctive relief to stop the alleged fraud, monetary damages for the victims, and a full restitution of the stolen insurance funds.
“These people need to be made whole. These bad actors need to pay,” Uthmeier said.
Protecting licensed contractors
Uthmeier emphasized that the scheme also harms legitimate, licensed contractors who would have performed the repairs. She warned other unscrupulous operators: “If you do it in Florida, we will find you, we will catch you, we will hold you accountable. If we can find a crime you have committed, we will punish you criminally as well. We will certainly use everything in the books to right these wrongs.”
Secretary Melanie Griffin of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the chairman of the Florida Home Builders Association, and representatives from Mullet’s Aluminum Inc. joined Uthmeier at the press conference, underscoring the broader impact on the construction industry.
What residents can do
Florida consumers who suspect they may have been targeted by Evolve Construction or similar firms are urged to submit information through the state’s consumer‑protection portal at www.myfloridalegal.com. Homeowners can also verify a contractor’s licensing status at myfloridalicense.com.
The announcement comes as the state reflects on the two‑year anniversary of Hurricane Helene, which brought record storm surge to the Tampa Bay area, and follows the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Milton.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
