ET Viewers got the best of both worlds when home renovation experts Alison Victoria and Donovan Eckhardt teamed up for the series premiere of the HGTV series Windy City Rehab. Former 'Windy City Rehab' host Donovan Eckhardt drops a zinger in feud with Alison Victoria In an affidavit filed last week, Eckhardt tucked six seemingly pointed words inside a parenthesis. Both hail from Chicago and had many mutual friends. From permit violations to stop-work orders to lawsuits alleging shoddy construction and fraud, the show has garnered plenty of controversy. Windy City Rehab premiered in January 2019, Daywatch: Mayor runoff begins with mutual attacks, Cactus League report: Cubs unveil their energizing defense and a pair of White Sox head out for the WBC. Two contractors from the first season of "Windy City Rehab" committed fraud by diverting money from other projects to help fund work done on the popular HGTV show, according to a lawsuit. I have zero knowledge of the Stratford or Orchard projects. 3 Donovan Eckhardt from Windy City Rehab has come under fire (seen here with co-star Alison Victoria) Credit: HGTV This time it came from the homeowners Shane Jones and Samantha Mostaccio, who also filed the lawsuit making similar claims about Donovan's negligent construction. Gramenos and Eckhardt ran into trouble with the city in the subsequent months. So, lets take a look at what happened to Donovan on Windy City Rehab. A two-unit house in Lincoln Square is renovated with uncertainty as to the reaction of a potential buyer. As per his LinkedIn page, the contactor is still running his own business, Greymark Development Group, which was been operating since 2013. Fans of Windy City Rehab know what a tough time Alison had with her former business partner Donovan Eckhardt. However, the new season has so far only focused on Alison, with no signs of Donovan. The season premieredon Tuesday, September 15 at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. central time). Her attorney did not immediately return a Tribune request for comment. Now the Wildcats need to regain some momentum after a 3rd straight loss. According to the outlet, he is suing HGTV parent company Discovery Inc. and Big Table Media, the production company being the hit show. Windy City Rehab is getting an extended second season. HGTV has not announced a premiere date for the second season. He is the founder of companies like VizCorp, Eckhardt properties, BE custom millwork, and Greymark development group. However, as soon as the show ended, many fans were shocked to learn that the duo got into some trouble with their clients soon after the season ended. Eckhardt and Pajazetovic worked on homes that were featured on the first season of Windy City Rehab, which follows Alison Victoria Gramenos as she flips Chicago homes. The defamation lawsuit is for $2.2 million and was filed this past January (via the Chicago Tribune). The third lawsuit might have hurt far worse than the other two as it came from Michael Ward Jr. who was a former friend of Donovan. HGTV'S reality show Windy City Rehab is back for a second season and things are not going well for Donovan Eckhardt, to say the least. It stars Alison Victoria, an interior designer who does home renovation projects in Chicago, Illinois, with contractor Donovan Eckhardt (season one and the early part of season 2). eventAction: 'render' Lawsuit questions Windy City Rehab episode showing falling out with her costar, Windy City Rehab co-host sues for $2.2M, says Alison Victoria, HGTV falsely paint him as villain on reality show, Couple looks to stop Windy City Rehabs Alison Victoria from selling her Bucktown home, Windy City Rehab stars defrauded us, says investors suit accusing them of siphoning cash, Windy City Rehab star wants lawsuit over $1.33M Bucktown home tossed out of court, Windy City Rehab sued again for fraud, this time over $1.3M home dubbed House of Horrors on HGTV show, Windy City Rehab host says her name was forged on documents that could cost her big bucks. ga('ads.send', { Batman is created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. (HGTV). There's nothing worse than having to face multiple lawsuits for claims of defective and shoddy work when you work in renovation, but both Alison and Donovan have. While it's clear that Victoria and Eckhardt are no longer friends or business partners, the suit does not mention Victoria by name. Donovans working relationship with Alison (real last name Gramenos) disintegrated during season 2 of HGTVs Windy City Rehab. During the season, Alison complained that Donovan was spending money recklessly and in one instance accused him of stealing money. Eckhardt and Victorias relationship seemingly breaks down in the new season under the strain of the lawsuits. Kristen Stewart Just Tried Out The Sheer Dress Trend, But Did It With Carefully Placed Pockets, See Michael B. Jordan Call Out Reporter (And Former Classmate) During Interview For Allegedly Calling Him Corny, Hayden Panettiere And Family Break Silence After Her Brother Jansen Panettieres Death At 28, NCIS Hits 450 Episodes This Week. "Windy City Rehab" partners Alison Victoria Gramenos and Donovan Eckhardt find themselves in legal trouble once again. Of Course, That Means The Showrunner Is Getting Asked About Mark Harmon's Gibbs Possibly Returning, Viral TikTok Shows Off Moment JLos Face Filter Fails And Some Of Her Wrinkles Are Exposed. Windy City Rehab has been a ratings success for HGTV, drawing more than 20 million viewers since its season two premiere. A judge in Cook County dismissed the lawsuit, according to the outlet, saying it is outside of her jurisdiction as Donovans contract is out of California. After taking a longer hiatus between seasons one and two to address multiple lawsuits, the second season has brought its fair share of drama. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Donovan " alleged he was falsely portrayed as the series' villain and blamed for crimes he didn't commit. Column: March Madness is here for Northwestern. Season 1. It seems Eckhardt will not be back after he and Gramenos had a falling out. The couple brought a lawsuit against Alison and Donovan and they werent the only ones to do so. "Despite costly structural damage, permit delays, failed inspections and other challenges, Alison is determined to create gorgeous homes and earn top profit," declared HGTV's press release. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. An 11-episode first season premiered on Jan 1, 2019. Gramenos raised questions about project budgets and the amount of money Eckhardts company received, but Eckhardt said in his suit Gramenos was intimately involved in the creation of every budget and the procurement of every loan., Statements suggesting Donovan misappropriated, embezzled or wrongfully derived money from past projects are false, according to the suit. Windy City Rehab Season 2, which premiered in September 2020, followed the breakdown in the relationship between Gramenos and Eckhardt over five episodes. Eckhardt said in his suit an executive producer of the show told him the following day that Big Table Media would no longer film with him. Thats when Alison discovered that the majority of their renovation budget for an unfinished project hundreds of thousands of dollars had apparently been paid out to Donovans company without her knowledge. Alison also appeared to blame Donovan for a lot of the issues. : to steal (money or property) despite being entrusted to take care of it The banker embezzled money from his customers. A lawsuit over the home's renovation was filed in April 2020 and dropped in December 2020 after a settlement was reached. TRD Staff. Judging by IG, Donovan appears to be doing well. Sign up for our Eat. The last home to remain on the market sold Monday for far less than the original asking price. The reality television show stars interior designer Alison Victoria and famous contractor Donovan Eckhardt. But state prison time of 16 months, 2, or 3 years is also possible for felony grand theft. While it's clear that Victoria and Eckhardt are no longer friends or business partners, the suit does not mention Victoria by name. A hearing is scheduled for May 21. However, he had failed to deliver to any of these promises. Know All About the lead actor in Netflix's 'Cuties'. Donovan is not backing down and hes filed a second defamation lawsuit in California, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. There was a problem. Unlike many HGTV programs, the projects are all city-based, including town homes and apartments. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. Eckhardt categorically disputed allegations of financial mismanagement and theft from the firm. }); "Windy City Rehab" co-star Donovan Eckhardt is not backing down in his defamation lawsuit against the show. ga('ads.send', { Genres Unscripted, Documentary . He said Greymark lost substantial revenue last year compared to the prior year. ADVERTISEMENT Renovation of the building is the focus of a lawsuit filed in April 2020 in Cook County court. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The property at 612 W. Stratford Pl. The pairs ability to file new permit applications and Greymarks general contractor license were temporarily suspended after the buildings department said it identified multiple violations at various work sites. Fans of the reality show Windy City Rehab were shocked when clients from the show filed multiple lawsuits against its hosts. Space Builders owned by Ermin Pajazetovic sued Donovan Eckhardt, his Greymark Development Group, 612 West Stratford LLC and Lakeside Bank in December 2019 over $108,500 he says he was owed for work he performed and materials he provided during renovation of 612 W. Stratford Pl. Show host Alison Victoria Gramenos, Eckhardts former business partner, is not named as a defendant in the suit. Catch new episodes of Windy City Rehab Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST on HGTV. New York, In December 2019, Anna and . He's filed a second lawsuit in California. The property at 612 W. Stratford Pl. HGTVsWindy City Rehabrevolves around home renovation projects in Chicago. The duo behind the popular HGTV show owe a pair of suburban Chicago lenders more than $170,000, according to a lawsuit filed in Cook County court this week. Two contractors from the first season of Windy City Rehab committed fraud by diverting money from other projects to help fund work done on the popular HGTV show, according to a lawsuit filed last week in Cook County court. Windy City Rehab, HGTVs popular show featuring remodels of Chicago homes, feels more like a legal drama these days. A post shared by Windy City Rehab (@windycityrehabchi) on Sep 22, 2020 at 10:19am PDT, Read |Who is Donovan on Windy City Rehab? } The suit states that Chicago contractor Donovan Eckhardt has suffered from depression, sleeplessness, loss of appetite and has undergone counseling for the embarrassing, traumatic and humiliating experience. } Donovans California-based attorney Ognian Gavrilov said via the Chicago Sun-Times,The facts, as I see them, are very strong. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Throughout Season 2, both Alison and lead contractor Donovan Eckhardt dealt with multiple lawsuits related to the projects that were featured on Season 1, which caused a fall-out between the former coworkers. An inspector also found that nearly every window had been improperly installed. Windy City Rehab 2019 3.9 star 7 reviews TV-PG Rating family_home Eligible info Season 1 arrow_drop_down $14.99 Buy full season HD info Watch in a web browser or on supported devices Learn. Former 'Windy City Rehab' co-host Donovan Eckhardt, right, is suing HGTV's parent company Discovery Inc. and a production company for defamation over his portrayal before his exit in Season. It was back in January 2021 that Donovan Eckhardt, who was fired from Windy City Rehab in the spring of 2019, filed a lawsuit against Big Table Media (the show's production company) and. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, In an exclusive first look at season three of Windy City Rehab, set to premiere on April 21 on HGTV and Discovery+, the designer opens up about her tumultuous two years, including the loss of. eventAction: 'view' On her part, Alison sued Donovan against HGTV. hitType: 'event', In December 2019, Greymark had revenue near $1.5 million, the Chicago Sun-Times. I dont know what to believe anymore because for so long I was letting him run all the budgets, do the bank draws, deal with the bank accounts, and I just was designing, she said in the episode, via the Chicago Sun-Times. Before Windy City Rehab ever existed, Alison Victoria was the host of a show called Kitchen Crashers. Many of the houses are more than 100 years old, and some are designated as landmarked buildings, adding challenges to the design and construction work. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { ga('ads.send', { Eckhardts attorney declined to comment beyond the suit. },false) With a sharp business skill and a deep knowledge of how the market works, she waves her magic wand to make anything a stellar-looking piece. 2530 N. Orchard St. in the Park West neighborhood is photographed on July 5, 2019. The co-stars of "Windy City Rehab" have encountered numerous difficulties since their show first aired in January 2019. Inside you'll find Pizza parlors Computer dates Concert reviews Dance crazes* Women's Year The campaign game A bicentennial sellout A year in the life of Flush Bizbo A day in the life of a University An NCAA title for Illinois Spoking fun at bicyclists Champaign after dark The Herpes invasion A C-U tennis racket Pulling an All-Niter The Fighting Illini Famous alumns And more. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Judge Patricia O'Brien Sheahan. This was because of alleged emotional distress he says he suffered after the show made it look, in Season 2, like "Donovan misappropriated, embezzled or wrongfully derived money from past projects," and showed Alison Victoria as the "unknowing, innocent victim.". Despite the three perilous lawsuits, audiences did get to see Windy City Rehab season 2. To prove embezzlement, a prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt to a moral certainty that the defendant had a specific intent to defraud the victim of property entrusted to the defendant through the fiduciary relationship. [7], Alison Victoria and Donovan Eckhardt along with their companies and contractors were sued for shoddy work in relation to two homes rehabbed on the show.[8]. Hes still based in Chicago and writes in his Instagram bio: Dad, Husband, Son, Brother, Family business man, with a passion for building things. He helped her revamp the residences into beautiful spaces. However, since filming wrapped, we have learned more about the cases. In March 2019, the Morrisseys bought a 4,000 square foot home at 2308 West Giddings Street in Lincoln Square for $1.36 million. [4] Six episodes were broadcast between September 15, 2020 and October 20, 2020. While season 1 of the show received good reviews from the fans, it whipped up a lot of controversies after its end. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Here's everything that we know. Additionally, the lawsuit states that Donovan has suffered emotional injuries including anxiety, depression, diminished self-esteem, loss of sleep, loss of appetite, inability to concentrate and embarrassment, and has been undergoing continuous counseling and behavioral treatment, per Deadline. hitType: 'event', Obviously, both stars of Windy City Rehab have seen several setbacks when it comes to the show and all of the legal drama surrounding it for the past two years. Season 2 premiered with those lawsuits front and center clients from previous episodes were suing the team for defective work, with one even noting that a few days after closing, their upstairs bathroom flooded into their kitchen (via Republic World). During the rehab, she saves one-of-a-kind architectural features while updating the design with her usable luxurious style. Greymarks permit application suspension took effect May 29, 2019, according to building department records. Renovation of an old home comes with many unexpected construction problems. 'Rock the Block': Twins Leslie and Lyndsay win home revamp challenge, 'Fix My Flip': Page Turner turns cozy lake cabin into a luxury stay. Victoria and Eckhardt's company bought a Gold Coast condo that was renovated on a Season 2 episode of Windy City Rehab which aired in October 2020, and the suit claims that the loans were. Her attorney, Daniel Lynch, said in a statement that Eckhardt and his companies are not involved as general contractor or in any other construction capacity on any of the projects for Season 2. Gramenos appears to still be working with Pajazetovic. Interior designer Alison Victoria buys and restores historic Chicago homes. Season 1; Season 2; Season 3 (101) 2017 ALL. Our work isnt just business; its a relationship.. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { The property owners say they paid more than $380,000 to finish the Stratford renovation and more than $850,000 to complete the Orchard renovation. Donovan Eckhardt, a 40-year-old Chicago-based contractor, gained popularity with his appearance in the show 'Windy City Rehab' Season 1, which aired in January 2019. Gramenos is not named in the original lawsuit or the counterclaim. Read on to find out everything about Windy City Rehab lawsuit drama. With Victoria designing the homes and Eckhardt bringing those visions to life, both stars gained a pretty big following after Season 1 wrapped. }); A lawyer for Donovan Eckhardt, Daniel Hogan, tried to argue that moving the venue from Illinois to California would be too much of a burden for witnesses in the defamation case. 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