F&D Honored as Firm of the Year for Protecting Marine Corps Widow from Fraudulent Renovation Scam

Ford & Diulio was honored to be named Firm of the Year by the Veterans Legal Institute. We collaborated with the Veterans Legal Institute to assist the widow of a Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran in overcoming a deceptive home renovation scam.

In 2018, our client, an elderly widow relying on her late husband’s death benefits and social security, was targeted by a construction company promising “free” government-backed home renovations. Instead, the contractor imposed unauthorized, costly additions using fraudulent documents, leading to significant liens, inflated tax bills, and the threat of foreclosure.

F&D and VLI pursued legal action against the contractors, the program administrator, the taxing authority, and the responsible government entity. After two years of litigation and mediation, we achieved complete vindication for our client. All loans and liens were canceled, additional property taxes were paid on her behalf, and her property taxes were restored to previous levels. Additionally, the contractors and program administrators provided a substantial cash settlement.

Our unwavering commitment earned us this prestigious honor, recognizing the hundreds of hours dedicated to preventing our client from homelessness. In a memorable moment, Partner Brendan Ford delivered an unforgettable rendition of the national anthem to an audience of 500 attendees.