The Armon Hotel + Conference center in Stamford quickly contracted for emergency restoration and structural services after a destructive garage fire in 2023, but since then the owner has allegedly refused to pay for the work.
Bowerman Cleaning and Restoration, of White Plains, and Environmental Appraisers and Builders, of Harrison, are seeking nearly $400,000 for their services.
Their work, according to lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court on Aug. 1 and Westchester Supreme Court on Aug. 20, enabled the hotel to reopen the garage and “monetize the property as” – in the words of the hotel’s marketing materials – ‘a deluxe getaway hotel befitting celebratory events, weekend conventions, mid-week getaways, and business gatherings.'”
The fire broke out in the hotel garage around 5 a.m. on April 13, 2023 and ignited eight cars. As Stamford firefighters poured water and foam on the cars, according to the lawsuits, a safety officer noticed that the structure had become comprised.
Hotel guests were told to evacuate. Firefighters were ordered to leave the open-sided garage, and they continued extinguishing the fire from outside.
The fire was brought under control in about 40 minutes, according to the fire department, and by 10:30 a.m. most guests were allowed to return to their rooms.
On the same day, the hotel hired Bowerman to provide emergency restoration and cleaning services and Environmental Appraisers to provide emergency shoring, according to their lawsuits.
Bowerman worked at the hotel for five days and charged $314,166. Environmental Appraisers worked for more than two months and charged $84,763.
Both contractors have yet to receive any payments, Manhattan attorney Anthony C. Varbero stated in both complaints.
They accused the hotel of breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment, conversion of assets, and diversion of trust funds.
Rosdev Hotel Management Services of Montreal, Quebec owns the hotel, according to the federal lawsuit. Neither the hotel nor Rosdev responded to messages asking for their responses to the allegations.
