Enterprise Construction, the contracting entity of RE/MAX Results Realty on Marco, announced it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Monday, bringing to a close a chapter in the firm’s life that was marked by public protests against the company by disgruntled clients.
And it opens a new chapter for the company, according to a press release issued by Dan Dufault Sr., the CEO of RE/MAX Results and Enterprise Construction.
While filing the Chapter 11 petition Oct. 4, the release stated, Enterprise also filed a motion requesting approval for a post-petition line of credit from Dufault.
“The new loan reflects our belief in the strength of the company and the quality of its product,” Dufault Sr. said in the release. “The Chapter 11 filing will allow the Company to maintain its operations, preserve the jobs of its employees, and emerge from bankruptcy as a leading home-builder on Marco Island.”
The press release listed Dufault Sr., as both CEO and president of Enterprise, though the company’s Web site lists his son, Dan Dufault Jr., as the company’s president.
Reached by phone Monday, Dufault Sr., said he is the president of the company, and that has always been the case.
File photo
Protesters gathered in front of Enterprise Construction and RE/MAX Results Realty in February to demonstrate over alleged breaches of contract and irresponsible dealings by Enterprise. Many of the property owners are now engaged in lawsuits with Enterprise.
However, a 2004 Eagle profile of Dufault Jr., stated he had taken over as president of Enterprise in 2003 after earning a degree in organizational management from the University of Miami.
While he was earning a four-year degree in just two-and-a-half years, Dufault Jr., had taken over management of Marco Island Services. The mortgage, title and insurance entity was part of his parents’ conglomeration, though the financial firm was “falling apart,” he said in the 2004 interview.
Dufault Sr., who referred any further comment to his attorney, stated in the release that the company filed for Chapter 11 because of two overwhelming factors in the local and statewide financial market.
“The Chapter 11 filing is an unfortunate result of the fact that the company is owed significant sums of money from a handful of customers and also reflects the current economic climate in Florida regarding what is generally an over-built residential market,” Dufault wrote.
Enterprise is currently locked in a series of civil disputes with island property owners. Some of the suits were filed by the owners — clients who say Enterprise failed to finish promised work and breached contracts. In each case, Enterprise filed countersuits seeking unpaid bills from clients who, court documents allege, did not make the payments to Enterprise that would allow the company to complete construction on their homes.
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Comments » 18
marco writes:
Son shines
By QUENTIN ROUX, Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
He bought his first condo at age 13, paying the $10,000 deposit with money he'd saved doing odd jobs.
Less than 10 years later, Dan Dufault Jr. heads a company he helped forge while still in college, and is building a home he values at around $2.2 million in Marco Island's Estates area for his young family.
On the way, he's resurrected an ailing mortgage and title company, hired and fired staff, and also been instrumental in bold future expansion plans for the RE/MAX Results Realty one-stop-shopping empire on Marco Island.
An empire owned, coincidentally, by his dad, Dan Sr., and mom, Denise.
It includes RE/MAX Results Realty, Enterprise Construction, Marco Island Vacation Properties and Marco Island Financial Services (which includes mortgage, title and insurance services).
But, says the younger Dufault, that doesn't mean he was born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth.
He worked his way through the ranks just like any other aspiring executive, he says, only much more quickly.
A year ago, Dufault was appointed president of Enterprise Construction, the company's prolific construction arm.
At the moment, Enterprise Construction has about 45 projects in various stages of completion, including about 30 homes
bchlvn83 writes:
Dan Dufault, Sr. has proved once again that he is oblivious to the truth. How can he say that past customers owed them money when these customers are listed as creditors on his petition for bankruptcy (available on public records)! People may also want to see that their creditors number well over 140 - including his past attorneys - they don't pay anyone.
The Dufaults should have spent their time and effort making sure that their customers' homes were completed in a timely manner instead of putting all their resources in their spec houses. Their priority certainly was not with their customers. If one were to check the public records, they would find approximately 18 lawsuits against Enterprise and the Dufaults for either breach of contract or indebtedness - looks like this is their mode of operation.
As far as "Jr." is concerned, has there ever been a more arrogant, no talent person ever created???? When he took over as "president" - it was downhill from there. Not only did the company defraud the homeowners, they put the screws to their subcontractors as well (they are also listed as being owed money by this company).
The public needs to be aware of just how dishonest these people are.
marcomarc writes:
Until the island truly wakes up and smells the coffee, this mess will never be fixed. The defaults are just dishonet people. But yet people are still listing their homes with Remax. People are still doing business with their mortgage, title and rental companies, not to mention the construction company. The people on this island need to boycott ALL THEIR BUSINESS'S so they are not enriched for their bad behavior. Everyone should have seen the bankruptcy filing coming. Its an old contractor trick to get rid of lawsuits, and unpaid bills. Its what dishonest people do.
The island must boycott these people and their business's. Only then will it ever get better. When they have no work, they will shut the doors and leave town with their tail between their legs like most rats do.
Thats the only solution!!!!
captnjimbo writes:
One way to avoid damages in a suit is declare and settle at pennies on the dollar.
Mercedes writes:
Perfect. Let's all make the Dufaults richer and settle for pennies on the dollar. Tell me why someone has not gone after this creeps license, why are vendors still willing to work with Enterprise, and why arrogant Bible bangers like them can call themselves religious people. The word Marter comes to mind.
bchlvn83 writes:
I have been told that there are at least 8 official complaints that have been filed with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations. Unfortunately, the website does not list complaints that are in the investigation phase - only after an action has been taken. Seems to me they should give the consumer a "heads-up" when someone is being investigated.
happy34145 writes:
There is only way to vote. Know the names and spread the word:
JOE BATTE - JOE BATTE - JOE BATTE - JOE BATTE
BUTCH NEYLON - BUTCH NEYLON - BUTCH NEYLON
ROGER HALL - ROGER HALL - ROGER HALL - ROGER HALL
They have already proven themselves - they care about this community and its people. Do not get fooled again!!!!!
26yearsonmarco writes:
As the Good (Legal) Book says in Chapter 11, Verse 7, screw thy Neighbor as you would screw your Sub Contractors.
But don't worry folks, religion #3 is on the way.
Your wounds will be healed, your gold and silver will be returned and you will be saved by the grace of: "Screw'um, Blue'em and Tatoo'em.
If you believe it, sip some more Kool Aide.
Word has Remax is about to pull the Holy Man's franchise.
IHeartMarcoIsland writes:
Most of the above comments are from people that do not know (and never have known) the Dufaults. I know the Dufault family personally and “Fraud”, “Arrogant” and “Hypocrite” are not words that I would use to describe ANY of them.
It is unfortunate that they are in the financial predicament that they are in. Having to resort to filing bankruptcy is an embarrassing and ego-deflating process. To insinuate that anyone – especially the Dufaults – would resort to such a drastic step unless it was absolutely necessary is ridiculous.
I find that people that use online websites under “anonymous” names to degrade, embarrass and humiliate others are pathetic and pusillanimous. The irony in the postings is that many of you are attacking the Dufaults’ Christian beliefs – but if you were practicing what you preach, you would realize that the only being charged with the ability to judge someone’s genuine Christianity is God himself. Last time I checked, none of you are Him.
applesuntold writes:
The DeFaults have the same commonality as all criminals. They are innocent. Only we who have dealt with them, know that this is not true and they do too. Only their poor sub-contractors who they lured into their trap know better. They know what they have done to so many people they have harmed.
They filed for bankruptcy for one reason and one reason only. They care about no one but themselves. That is why their spec homes came first, their family and the building of the empire came before a legal contract, and their acquiring as much as they could during the bubble years using the money of those whose homes they promised to build got them into all of this trouble.
The Bankruptcy Court needs to follow the money trail from 2003 until today. The Attorney General's Office needs to look at these people too. When their greed took over they became crooked, lawless and deceitful.
Mercedes writes:
IHEARTMARCOISLAND or should I call you HEAD IN THE SAND? You must be related to, married to, or on the take with one or more of the Dufaults. There isn't enough embarrassment to let the air out of their over-inflated egos. They should be ashamed and so should you. It seems that you are one of those "anonymous" names on the website as well, so what about practicing what YOU preach?
IHeartMarcoIsland writes:
MERCEDES -- I am not related, married or "on the take" (whatever that means) with the Dufaults -- and I have nothing to be ashamed about.
I’m not really sure who you are and what qualifies to speak about them as if YOU know them well enough to be related to them… but my suggestion is that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
You and several of the other bloggers have posted untrue and malicious comments about people that you don’t even know. As I said before…. I find that people that use online websites under “anonymous” names to DEGRADE, EMBARRESS and HUMILIATE others are pathetic and pusillanimous.
And for the record, I am practicing what I preach and am NOT using this forum to degrade or embarrass anyone. So, how is that hypocritical?
SarahHerrin writes:
Wikipedia Definition: Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
When a troubled business is unable to service its debt or pay its creditors, it or its creditors can file with a federal bankruptcy court for protection under either chapter 7 or chapter 11. In chapter 7, the business ceases operations and a trustee sells all of its assets and distributes the proceeds to its creditors. This is done in accordance with statutory defined priorities.
A chapter 11 filing, on the other hand, is usually an attempt to stay in business while a bankruptcy court supervises the "reorganization" of the company's contractual and debt obligations. The court can grant complete or partial relief from most of the company's debts and its contracts, so that the company can make a fresh start. Often, if the company's debts exceed its assets, then at the completion of bankruptcy the company's owners (stockholders) all end up with nothing; all their rights and interests are terminated and the company's creditors end up with ownership of the newly reorganized company.
In this way, jobs may be saved, the engine of profitability which is the business is maintained rather than being dismantled, and, as a proponent of a chapter 11 plan is required to demonstrate as a precursor to plan confirmation, the business's CREDITORS END UP WITH MORE MONEY THAN THEY WOULD IN A CHAPTER 7 LIQUIDATION.
Norm_Peterson writes:
Good. What goes around, comes around.
robertmacguffie writes:
I, like IHEARTHMARCOISLAND, find it to a good judge of character when people slander others on the internet, anonymously. It's silly, it's childish and it show that most people are just using ad hominem arguments that have no real merit.
Also, questioning a persons beliefs and religious convictions, especially anonymously, is unneeded, rude and altogether despicable.
I find it sad that adults would stoop to the level of high school gossipers. It truly is unfortunate. It shows your level of intelligence, or possibly lack-there-of.
One must question the motives of an anonymous person with so much to say, yet so little testicular fortitude.
I for one personally know the Dufaults, the whole lot of them, worked for them in multiple capacities for several years, until recently, and would call them kind, caring and considerate people. Sure they are shrewd business-people, but honestly, it's a competitive world, and I wouldn't expect anything else.
In parting I would say that most of you people need to grow up or be open about who you are when you choose to badmouth someone.
NotFooled writes:
At the end of the day the underlying concept of any religious belief is a higher regard for the welfare of the Lord and all of his children rather than one's own self interests. A religious person demonstrates their belief in God through their good works everyday. When you are frequently off to the Bahamas or up to Maine or squandering resourses on boat fuel instead of making sure that hapless, small, sub-contractors get paid what they have earned so that their kids can eat and have shoes to wear to school, you are in no one's definition, religious. I don't know which is the greater Sin; the shameless way they portray themselves as "religious" people as a marketing strategy or the self-centered way they live their lives.
marcohomeowner writes:
is everyone aware that "Robertmaguffie" post is Dufault Jr brother in law ?? Guess your gravy train is coming to an end !!!
marcokat writes:
These articles appeared so long ago that I can only speculate as to what may have happened since they were first reported.
I thoroughly enjoyed hearing of the Dufaults fall from grace. Having been employed as a member of their team for years and watching their greed attain phenomenal heights (I was once told by Denise that if I didn't close more deals in the coming year, how was she supposed to pay for the construction of her new house? I had better get on it because it didn't matter how long someone had worked for them, heads were gonna roll if their goals were not reached. - This after I had taken a pay cut so they could hire another buyer agent, who then quit within a few weeks and although my production never faltered, my pay was not returned to its previous percentage.
Oh I could go on forever. So glad to be off that island I once loved so much and living in the stressfree mountains of NC!
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