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A Cautionary Contractor Tale

Story Published: Jun 12, 2012 at 8:28 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 12, 2012 at 8:28 PM EDT

When Sonya Speer hired an independent contractor to do some backyard landscaping work and drainage repairs at her Trippanyville Road home in the town of Norfolk, she thought by getting a signed contract she wouldn't have any problems.

Speer said she paid the contractor $7,000 as a down payment for the agreed upon $9,300 job on April 12 and work commenced.

But two weeks later, she said the contractor told her he needed an additional $2,000 up front to rent some equipment.

According to Speer, she paid the amount and has not heard from or seen the contractor since early May.

She said her backyard a mess, her savings account is depleted and only about one-eighth of the work is done.

"It's heartbreaking. I have a hard time understanding that somebody could even do this to somebody," she said.
 
Chris Kocienski is the owner of the landscaping business in question.

We attempted to contact him at his residence about Speer's situation, but no one came to the door.

While Speer has filed a complaint with state police, prosecutors say it's often difficult to separate criminal from civil actions.
 
"We do look at those cases on a case by case basis to determine whether or not it's best handled in a civil context, small claims or in county court, or if there's a criminal aspect to it," said St. Lawrence County District Attorney Nicole Duve.                                                                
 
Speer doesn't expect to ever get her money back.

She just hopes that one day she will somehow get her back and front yards back to pristine condition.                     
Sunday, May 19, 2013
, Watertown, NY

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