Ardsley widow disputes home improvements contract

An elderly Ardsley widow who has filed for bankruptcy protection claims that she is a victim of a fraud perpetrated by her late daughter.

Joanna Verrino sued HDR Contracting Inc., Yonkers, on Aug. 6 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, seeking to nullify a $374,500 mechanic’s lien for a project she claims her daughter initiated without her knowledge.

But HDR president Hunter Roth says he was defrauded.

“For months and months the mother was right there, in every conversation and everything that went on,” he said. “I’m entitled to every penny.”

Johanna Verrino filed for bankruptcy protection on Feb. 26, declaring more than $1 million in assets and nearly $600,000 in liabilities. The petition states that she was the victim of an identity theft costing her $300,000, but gives no details.

Her lawsuit against HDR implicates her daughter, Allison Verrino, an events planner who, according to an obituary,  lived in her childhood home and died on Dec. 30 at age 47.

Joanna Verrino says she is the sole owner of the Ardsley home, yet her daughter obtained advances from a mortgage company that were secured by the home.

When Joanna made a deal to sell the home, a title search revealed the mechanic’s lien filed on Jan. 5 by HDR. The lien, according to her complaint against the contractor, was based on a September 2023 home renovations proposal signed by her daughter and her daughter’s husband, John Wiesse.

Joanna claims that she was unaware of the proposal and that Allison and her husband had no ownership interest in the property.

When her daughter died, she alleges, all work stopped and “the home was left in disrepair.”

She is asking bankruptcy court to nullify HDR’s lien because she owes no obligation to the contractor, the lien was filed when she was insolvent, the amount due is grossly inflated, and the home was not improved. She is also demanding $384,500 from HDR for the entire amount of the lien plus her estimated legal fees.

“I’m entitled to every penny,” Roth said. They breached the contract and gave me bounced checks. I have recorded conversations, texts, emails and everything and all the proof I’ll ever need.”