Former Major League Baseball All-Star Gary Sheffield is countersuing a contractor for completing nearly a half million dollars in unauthorized work on the home he owns with wife, Deleon.
They also allege LYH Custom Building and Remodeling Inc. of misappropriating funds to co-owner Donald Gelsinger for self-payments.
The Sheffields purchased a home in Tampa located at 932 Anchorage Road in 2013 for $1.975 million. So far more than $2 million worth of work has been completed in renovating the home.
In the countersuit, Sheffield argues the work has left the couple with “a shell of a home” that still needs about $600,000 worth of improvements. The couple argues an example – appliances allegedly purchased for the home using the couple’s funds were not purchased or installed.
They even cite an email from March 18 in which Gelsinger admits the couple was charged $487,000 in unapproved expenditures. A copy of that email was submitted with the lawsuit.
The couple also alleges that in subsequent meetings with Gelsinger, he apologized and said he improperly took money because he owed it to third parties.
Sheffield is asking he and his wife be awarded damages for breach of contract including losses associated with delays, loss of use of the property, costs to cover the completion of the project and damages relating to the misappropriated funds. They are also asking that their attorney’s fees be paid.
The lawsuit is in response to one filed against the Sheffields by LYH earlier this month.
According to LYH, more than $2 million in labor and materials have been used in the remodeling project on the 9,234-square-foot home and that construction is 90 percent complete.
LYH alleges the Sheffields began refusing to pay invoices and demanded discounts for already-rendered services and on materials already purchased and used. LYH also says they continue to be financially liable to subcontractors for services rendered.
According to lawsuit documents, the Sheffields owe $155,478 to LYH in unpaid invoices.
The property is located near another home the couple owns located at 922 Anchorage Road.
The couple has not filed for homestead exemption on either property and it’s unclear whether they plan to live in the home being renovated.
Gary Sheffield played outfield and occasionally first base, third base and short stop from 1988 until 2009. He played for eight Major League Baseball teams including the Florida Marlins, the New York Yankees and Mets, the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sheffield attended Hillsborough High School.
Sheffield also once owned a home in the St. Pete’s Pinellas Point neighborhood. During Sheffield’s career it was known as the party mansion and was later used in the movie Spring Breakers. That home was sold by a subsequent owner for $2.6 million in 2013.
