By Paul Waldmiller
Did you know that Florida Attorney General James filed a consumer protection lawsuit on September 25, 2026, against Evolve Construction, LLC, Evolve Construction and Restoration, Inc., and six of their executives for allegedly defrauding Southwest Florida residents after Hurricanes Ian and Milton?
The state accuses the unlicensed Naples-based companies of using unfair and deceptive trade practices to collect over $1million from at least 80 victims, more than 60% of whom were seniors. The alleged repairs were for roof repairs, mold remediation, and water mitigation services that were never completed.
The lawsuit, filed in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in Lee County, alleges the defendants operated as a common enterprise that went door-to-door in 11 counties (including Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, and Hillsborough) offering free inspections and taking large payments, often exceeding $10,000, without finishing the work. In addition to the corporate entities, the suit names individuals such as Patrick Antione, Aleksandr Guldshtadt, and Jaser Zaabri for their direct participation in these practices.
The state is seeking an injunction to stop the conduct, financial restitution to consumers, civil penalties, and attorney’s fees under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Attorney General Uthmeier emphasized that the companies left families with unfinished homes and liens, urging other potential victims to file complaints via MyFloridaLegal.com to help strengthen the case.