Attorney General Reportedly Investigating Work Comp Scofflaw

Wednesday, April 20, 2016 | 0

The Florida Attorney General's Office confirmed that it is investigating bid-rigging allegations against a Miami-area contractor who continued to win contracts under a new business name after state regulators ordered him to pay a $279,538.66 penalty for failing to provide workers' compensation coverage, Channel 10 News in Miami reported.

Managers of The Beach Club condominium complex contracted with D&T Contracting, owned by David B. Taylor, two months after the Department of Financial Services issued a stop-work order against another business owned by Taylor, Taylor Contracting and Roofing. DFS told Channel 10 that if Taylor had started a new company, it would issue a stop-work order against that company as well.

However, the department approved Taylor to work as a "qualifier" — meaning a person holding a required contracting license — for a company called Icon Contracting Services, which Channel 10 said has the same business address as Taylor's former firm. Taylor's attorneys told the television station that the Department of Business and Professional Regulation approved Taylor's involvement with the new company.

Channel 10 previously reported that all three bids submitted for the $5.5 million contract to reroof The Beach Club were made by companies associated with Taylor. The winning bid consisted only of a few bullet points with little documentation, the television station said.