Sauce Gardner contractor lawsuit alleges $500,000 renovation payment was not returned
Sauce Gardner’s reported lawsuit alleges a Detroit contractor failed to return a renovation payment after an apartment-building deal.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
Sauce Gardner’s contractor lawsuit centers on a reported $500,000-plus payment for renovations to a historic Detroit apartment building. TMZ reported that the NFL defensive back has sued Sanborn Construction and its chief executive, Nicholas Sanborn, in Wayne County, Michigan.
The claims have not been proven in court. TMZ said it contacted the defendants for comment and had not received a response when it published its report.
Gardner alleges that he connected with Sanborn on social media in March, before the pair discussed a 102-year-old apartment building in Detroit. According to TMZ’s account of the complaint, Gardner bought the building in May for more than $900,000, described elsewhere in the report as a $935,000 purchase.
The lawsuit also alleges Gardner was told a neighboring property was available for purchase, though he claims it was not actually for sale. After buying the building, Gardner hired Sanborn as the general contractor for the planned renovation, TMZ reported.
What does Sauce Gardner allege in the contractor lawsuit?
Gardner says he sent Sanborn Construction more than $500,000 for the first stage of the project, covering windows, roofing, doors and framing. He alleges he was told the work would be completed within a few months, but did not receive calls or progress photographs.
By July, Gardner directed the company to stop working and return the money, according to TMZ. The complaint alleges the company later spent $160,000 at Home Depot on materials, 16 days after that direction was given.
Gardner also alleges his name was used without permission in a YouTube video about restoring the building. TMZ reported that the video’s title referred to work on an abandoned 102-year-old historic apartment building with Gardner.
Why is the dispute described as involving about $1.4 million?
The approximate $1.4 million figure appears to combine the reported $935,000 building purchase with the more than $500,000 renovation payment. TMZ did not report that Gardner is demanding a fixed $1.4 million damages award.
Instead, the report says Gardner is seeking the return of his money as well as additional damages tied to the transaction. The lawsuit lists breach of contract, unjust enrichment, fraudulent inducement, fraudulent concealment and negligent misrepresentation as its claims.
A lawsuit is an allegation and starts a court process; it does not establish that the accused parties committed the conduct alleged. No response from Sanborn Construction or Sanborn was included in TMZ’s report.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.