Simonelli v. Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board

We reverse the award of $2223.40 made to Linda Simonelli by the Construction Industry Licensing Board (“the Board”), which administers the Florida Homeowner’s Construction Recovery Fund (“the Fund”) pursuant to section 489.143, Florida Statutes (2005). The circuit court awarded Simonelli $10,944.20 for damages she incurred when her contractor abandoned construction of her swimming pool. Simonelli then filed a claim with the Board, seeking a payment from the Fund equal to that judgment. The Board, however, took into consideration informal estimates provided by one of its members and concluded…