NFL cornerback Sauce Gardner says a real estate investment in Detroit turned into a $1.4 million nightmare.
Videos by FanBuzz
The Indianapolis Colts star has filed a lawsuit against Michigan-based Sanborn Construction and its CEO, Nicholas Sanborn, accusing them of misleading him about a property deal and refusing to return a $500,000 renovation deposit, according to TMZ.
Gardner reportedly met Sanborn through social media in March, and the two eventually discussed a historic apartment building for sale in Detroit.
According to the lawsuit, Gardner believed the investment was especially attractive after being told an adjacent property was also available. Gardner alleges that wasn't actually the case.
Still, he purchased the 102-year-old building for approximately $935,000 in May and hired Sanborn Construction to renovate it.
That's when Gardner says the problems really began.
He claims he wired more than $500,000 to cover the first phase of renovations, including work on the roof, windows, doors and framing. Gardner says he was told the project could be completed within months.
Instead, he alleges communication essentially stopped. Gardner says he received neither progress photos nor responses to his calls.
He also wasn't thrilled to discover that Sanborn had posted a YouTube video promoting the project and using Gardner's name without his permission.
By July, Gardner wanted out. He says he ordered the company to stop working and return his $500,000.
According to the lawsuit, the money wasn't returned. Gardner also alleges the company continued spending from it, including approximately $160,000 on materials at Home Depot more than two weeks later.
Gardner is suing for breach of contract, fraudulent inducement, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment.
He's seeking the return of his money along with additional damages.
