A Connecticut Superior Court judge has ruled that a contractor performed shoddy work on a North Stonington man’s home and has ordered the contractor to pay a $100,173 judgment. The judge also found that the contractor violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, or CUTPA, and, because of that, must pay the homeowner an additional $100,000 in attorney fees.

In his Aug. 21 ruling, New London Superior Court Judge Matthew Frechette sided with Lee Winakor who claimed Vincent Savalle violated breach of contract, two provisions within the Home Improvement Act of the Connecticut General Statutes; and violated CUTPA. Winakor claimed the numerous improprieties with the work done on his property ranged from Savalle apparently using large rocks and boulders instead of dirt to support the foundation to improperly installing the septic system because it was backfilled with rocks instead of sand and was too close to the surface, making it more likely it could be crushed—which, in fact, occurred.