Contractor sues owner of new Chili's over unpaid invoices
SCRANTON — A local construction firm is suing the owner of the recently opened Office-themed Chili's in Dickson City for over $100,000 in unpaid invoices.
But, in a formal response, Chili's owners say they did not request the additional work in question be done and they were billed at an inflated rate for that additional work.
Chili's Grill & Bar opened on April 7 at 3905 Commerce Blvd., shortly after completion of construction. The Texas-based casual dining chain's first Lackawanna County location drew a lot of interests from fans of 'The Office,' which repeatedly referenced the restaurant in its NBC mockumentary set in Scranton — even though there was never a Chili's in the real Scranton.
Brian Baumgartner, who played accountant Kevin Malone on 'The Office,' and Kate Flannery, who played Meredith Palmer, pose in front of the Chili's Scranton Branch chalk mural that will greet diners in Dickson City. (COURTESY OF CHILI'S)
Lawsuit filed
In a lawsuit filed on April 23 in Lackawanna County Court against Chili's owner MSP Properties of Pennsylvania, Don Scartelli Construction Services and General Contractors Inc. claims their firm did work beyond the initial proposal at the request of MSP Properties.
According to the lawsuit:
Scartelli Construction accepted numerous requests from MSP to do additional work through phone calls, texts and emails and it performed that work on weekends, during emergencies and in challenging winter weather conditions.
Scartelli submitted invoices for the additional work, by mutual agreement of both parties.
'The nature and kind of work that was finished by Scartelli Construction includes, but is not limited to, furnishing and installing silt socks, supply and installation of subbase, storm water pipe repairs, saw cutting . . and removal of old paving and subbase,' the suit states.
Owner Don Scartelli is requesting the court grant his company 'an amount in excess of $104,783, plus interest, attorneys' fees, costs and other relief as the court deems equitable and just.'
MSP Properties, however, tells a different story about the terms of the original proposal and of additional work performed.
MSP denies Scartelli made additional requests by phone, text or emails. It also denies Scartelli was granted 'carte blanche' when it came to additional labor and material costs.
In their legal response to Scartelli's lawsuit, MSP alleges Scartelli Construction completed work without MSP's approval or involvement and that Scartelli 'unilaterally performed and invoiced the defendant for services and at a grossly inflated rate.'
MSP also takes issue with Scartelli's assertion that work was performed on an emergency basis, on the weekend or in challenging winter weather conditions.
On the contrary, Scartelli wasn't authorized to perform work outside the scope of the original proposal unless both parties agreed to the work and its cost before invoices were issued, MSP alleged their official response.
MSP alleges Scartelli committed fraud by billing outside the scope of the original agreement at a 'grossly inflated rates.'
MSP claims it 'is justified in non payment of the fraudulent invoices.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Better High-Yield Stock: Energy Transfer or Enterprise Products Partners?
Energy Transfer and Enterprise Products Partners are two top high-yield midstream stocks for investors to consider. Enterprise has a strong record and is likely the safer choice. However, Energy Transfer offers more potential upside. 10 stocks we like better than Energy Transfer › If you're an income-oriented investor, you've undoubtedly come across Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) and Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD), two high-yielding midstream stocks. The question on many investors' minds is: Which is the better stock to own right now? I think Energy Transfer is the better stock to own, but I own both stocks, and the answer to the question is a bit more nuanced depending on your own situation. Both stocks have attractive yields, with Energy Transfer carrying around a 7.2% yield and Enterprise at 6.8%, as of this writing. However, I think Energy Transfer is the better stock to own right now because it offers more potential upside. That said, for investors who care more about downside protection than upside potential, Enterprise is probably the better option for you. Energy Transfer and Enterprise have a lot of similarities. They are both structured as master limited partnerships (MLPs) and own two of the largest midstream systems in the U.S. Both companies have tightly integrated systems that can gather, process, store, transport, and export hydrocarbons. They also have strong presences in the Permian Basin and along the Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana. Now, there are differences in their systems. Energy Transfer has more geographic breadth across the country, while Enterprise is more concentrated along the Gulf Coast and Texas. Energy Transfer, meanwhile, operates one of the largest natural gas pipeline systems in the country, while Enterprise is the dominant player in natural gas liquids (NGLs). Both companies lean heavily into fee-based activities, which protects their cash flows from fluctuations in energy prices and commodity spreads. However, neither is afraid to take advantage of arbitrage opportunities. They also like to structure their contracts with take-or-pay provisions, which means they get paid whether or not a customer uses their services, as well as inflation escalators. This all helps provide visibility to their cash-flow streams. Historically, Enterprise has been the much more conservative of the two companies. It likes to keep its leverage low and support its distribution with a high coverage ratio. This has helped the company increase its distribution every year for the past 26 years, including through some very tough economic and energy price periods. Admittedly, Energy Transfer has not been as good on this front. It had to slash its distribution in half during the pandemic after it got a bit over its skis with its leverage. However, the strength of its operations allowed it to quickly deleverage and restore its distribution to pre-pandemic levels within two and a half years. Today, the company's distribution is the highest it's ever been (split adjusted), and management recently said the company was in the best financial shape in its history. Both companies are also seeing strong growth project demand at the moment. After reducing its growth capital expenditure (capex) to just $1.6 billion in the wake of the pandemic, Enterprise plans to spend between $4 billion to $4.5 billion this year, up from $3.9 billion last year. The company also has $6 billion in projects slated to come online this year, which should help boost growth. Much of this is centered around the NGL value chain and the Permian. However, Energy Transfer has historically been the more aggressive company when it comes to pursuing growth projects, and it raised its growth capex budget from $3 billion last year to $5 billion this year. Much of its efforts will also be around the Permian. One of its largest projects is a pipeline that will take associated gas away from the Permian to support growing natural gas demand in Texas. It is the company's expansive natural pipeline system, meanwhile, that is helping the company see increasing interest in projects related to artificial intelligence (AI). It signed its first AI-related deal with data center developer Cloudburst to directly provide natural gas to its newest data center development in Texas. Meanwhile, it has been getting a lot of inbound interest from data center operators and power companies to provide new connections to support growing energy demand stemming from AI. Given its more robust natural gas pipeline system, Energy Transfer should have more AI-related opportunities in front of it compared to Enterprise. In addition to having more growth opportunities ahead, Energy Transfer is also the cheaper stock and carries a higher yield. From a valuation standpoint, Energy Transfer trades at a forward enterprise value (EV)-to-EBITDA multiple of just 8.2 times compared to 9.9 times for Enterprise. Both of those multiples are below historic MLP valuations, as the group had an average EV-to-EBITDA ratio of 13.7 times between 2011 to 2016. Energy Transfer also carries the slightly higher yield, and both stocks look poised to grow their distribution in the 3% to 5% range moving forward. While Enterprise has historically had the higher distribution coverage ratio, based on distributable cash flow (operating cash flow minus maintenance capex), that is no longer the case today. Last quarter, it had a coverage ratio of over 2, while Enterprise's was at 1.7. However, Enterprise's leverage does remain lower. Taken altogether, given its track record, I think Enterprise is the safer stock, but I think, given the valuation difference and more growth opportunities in front of it, Energy Transfer is the better stock to own with more upside potential. Before you buy stock in Energy Transfer, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Energy Transfer wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $659,171!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $891,722!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 995% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Geoffrey Seiler has positions in Energy Transfer and Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool recommends Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Better High-Yield Stock: Energy Transfer or Enterprise Products Partners? was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Construction pro flies high in aviation sector
This story was originally published on Construction Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter. This article is one in a series of conversations with women leaders in the construction industry. Click here for past discussions. As a first-generation college student, Patricia Solorzano dreamed of becoming an architect. After a year studying architecture at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, Solorzano was introduced to the school's construction program, leading her to realize that she wanted a more hands-on role in the creation of buildings. She decided to make the switch to construction management where she was one of seven women in her 2006 graduating class. Since then, she has become an expert in the aviation industry and has worked on projects in premier airports across the country as well as mixed-use development and hospitality jobs. Here, Solorzano talks with Construction Dive about her passion for airport projects as well as the importance of mentors. This article has been edited for brevity and clarity. CONSTRUCTION DIVE: What do you do in your current job and where are you located? PATRICIA SOLORZANO: As a vice president and project executive at Suffolk in Dallas, I lead project teams and oversee our field operations. I also help build our client relationships and stay engaged in our upcoming project pursuits. Since joining Suffolk in 2023, my focus has been helping grow and manage our aviation portfolio. Most recently, I have overseen our third project at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, including the construction of the new Electric Central Utility Plant (eCUP), which will transition to zero-emission electricity for heating to become the first carbon-neutral central plant in the Americas. Next up, I have the opportunity to manage the construction of a large mixed-use project in the heart of Dallas that will include a below-grade garage and three high-rise towers. Aviation construction offers complexity and scale that continuously challenges me professionally. These projects have a wide impact on millions of travelers and require sophisticated coordination and technical expertise. Working on premier airports earlier in my career like Los Angeles International, San Diego International, Sacramento International and now Dallas Fort Worth International has allowed me to tackle large-scale infrastructure that transforms how people experience travel. Earlier in my career, I had the opportunity to contribute to major aviation projects like the LAX Bradley West International Terminal and the American Airlines Trinity Complex. These experiences helped shape my leadership and communication skills. Most recently, I'm especially proud to have been working on the DFW eCUP project because it represents a step forward in building sustainable aviation infrastructure. It's exciting to help deliver a project that not only serves immediate operational needs but also sets a new standard for how airports can meet the challenges of climate variability. Construction offers incredible opportunities to create tangible and lasting impact to communities. The industry provides both professional growth and personal satisfaction as you watch projects progress from concept to completion. Throughout my career, I've personally enjoyed the variety of working across different states and sectors, from hospitality to aviation. I've also valued fostering relationships with clients, trade partners and colleagues to create a supportive network to help us all succeed. Don't be intimidated by being in the minority and instead use it as motivation to excel. Build a strong technical foundation and continually seek opportunities that challenge you, even if it means relocating or stepping outside your comfort zone. Find mentors who believe in your potential, as I was fortunate to have supportive leaders who encouraged me to take on increasingly complex projects. Finally, as you advance, make time to mentor others, regardless of whether they're on your team or even at your company. At Suffolk, we have a saying that we don't build buildings, we build people. I believe that investing in and mentoring the next generation of women in construction can help shift the mentality of the industry so that women are seen as expert builders, not just successful women in construction. Recommended Reading Project engineer follows in her father's footsteps Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Here is Why enCore Energy (EU) Jumped This Week
The share price of enCore Energy Corp. (NASDAQ:EU) surged by 15.64% between June 11 and June 18, 2025, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Gained the Most This Week. An aerial shot of the uranium mines, demonstrating the company's vast mineral resources. enCore Energy Corp. (NASDAQ:EU) engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of uranium resource properties in the United States. The company utilizes ISR technology at its South Texas production facilities, resulting in a lower-cost and environmentally friendly method of uranium extraction. enCore Energy Corp. (NASDAQ:EU) shot up recently following a boost in the global price of uranium, which surged by more than 7% over the last week. The uptick comes as investors reacted to an announcement by the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust that it would buy around $200 million worth of physical uranium, twice the amount it initially signaled in its agreement with Canaccord Genuity. Moreover, enCore Energy Corp. (NASDAQ:EU) announced in May that it had received regulatory approval to include the Upper Spring Creek ISR Uranium Project in its existing Radioactive Materials License. The approval marks enCore's third permitted facility in Texas, and the company revealed that drilling operations began immediately after the license was granted. The share price of enCore Energy Corp. (NASDAQ:EU) has surged by more than 52% over the last month. While we acknowledge the potential of EU as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Best Nuclear Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now and Disclosure: None. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
