An Evanston business owner claims her outdoor terrace was damaged by a Lake Forest design firm is now suing the company for more than $50,000, according to the lawsuit.
The complaint states that Andrea Liss, who owns an Evanston design firm, contends that employees of Lake Forest’s Craig Bergmann Landscape Design stained the outdoor terrace at her business while attempting to clean it last year. With the terrace in poor condition, her opportunities to use it for commercial-related events are limited.
“Instead of creating a vision for this client, the defendant created a nightmare,” Liss’s attorney Robert Clifford said in a statement.
The lawsuit filed on May 5 in Cook County courts is seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages.
Liss originally retained Bergmann around Jan. 1, 2024 to do some work at her business, according to the complaint. Less than three months later, she specifically hired Bergmann’s firm to clean and maintain the stone located on her outdoor terrace. About a month later, Bergmann employees power washed the bluestone terrace. However, the pressure from the power wash damaged the terrace.
Bergmann’s representatives promised to repair the stone for free, but several remediation attempts have been unsuccessful, the lawsuit adds.
Liss contends Bergmann breached the contract in four ways, including excessive power washing, using muriatic acid without telling Liss of the risks, not using appropriate materials and methods for cleaning the terrace, and not properly training or supervising the employees.
Liss also claims Bergmann did not have or maintain the required insurance coverage necessary to perform the work in Evanston, as required under local law.
“This is a clear case of David versus Goliath,” Clifford added. “Our firm will not tolerate when ‘the little guy’ is taken advantage of by companies who think they can collect full payment for a job that is not done according to the contract and as promised. This small property owner deserves to get what she paid for, and we will stand up for her rights in court to see that she does so.”
Bergmann did not return multiple messages seeking comment.
He has owned his firm for more than 43 years, according to his LinkedIn page.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
