CMJ Properties Corp

I am writing in an effort to bring attention to one of the Firefighters on the Braintree Fire Department, Michael Joyce and the business experience I had with him through his company; “CMJ Properties, Inc., Incorporated.” In an effort to provide a more suitable and accommodating home for our three year old daughter who was born deaf-blind, we took on a large project to renovate an existing home. Being inexperienced in the field of home renovation, we relied on advice from family, friends, and some great contractors. Unfortunately, I was introduced to Michael Joyce by a well-meaning contractor. Had we done our own research we clearly would not have contacted him based on the reported issue with the Braintree Fire Department in 2009 as reported in the Boston Globe on July 30th of that year. I called Michael Joyce on the recommendation from the builder of our home. Through Email correspondence I provided Michael Joyce the drawings for the home that showed all equipment, layout, and elevations. He provided me with a preliminary price for the project. Two days before the boarding was to begin, Mr. Joyce toured the home and provided us with a price of $10,500 to board and plaster the first and second floor of the home. I specifically asked Michael Joyce, unfortunately through text message, if the $10,500 price included the new location of the tub in the upstairs bathroom to which he replied positively that it did. The price was identical to the other two plastering contractors that provided pricing for the job at that same time. Given that Michael Joyce is a firefighter in the Town of Braintree where we live and is a local Braintree contractor, I hired him through a verbal agreement. Trusting Michael Joyce and not getting the price in writing was a huge error in judgment on my part. I provided Mr. Joyce with a down payment of $5,000 and he had materials delivered to the site. I subsequently asked him for a price to board and plaster the basement as we were contemplating finishing it as a therapy room for my daughter. He told me finishing the basement would be $2,800. I let him know this was double the estimate from the other plastering contractors and I told him not to board and plaster the basement. He stated that he would not allow me to separate the basement and stated that the project was going to cost an extra $2,800. I then told Mr. Joyce that if he was not willing to do the job as originally intended (i.e. not the basement) for the amount agreed upon, then he was off the job. He had many colorful words for me over the phone and we parted ways with the understanding that the balance between the materials delivered to our home and the $5,000 down payment would be provided within a few days. That same day, myself and two other individuals took independent inventory of the materials that Mr. Joyce had delivered to site in an effort to ensure the proper monetary balance would be returned. Mr. Joyce did not provide me with the difference between the $5,000 down payment and the materials within the discussed timeline nor did he provide me with the original field invoice as requested multiple times. After three weeks of no response from Mr. Joyce I hired a lawyer and sent a 93A Demand Letter requesting the money he owed us. Two months later after several requests for extension by Mr. Joyce, he provided us with a check and an invoice from the drywall material supplier. The “reprint” invoice overstated the amount of material that was delivered to our home. What was reflected on the invoice and what we inventoried represented a discrepancy of approximately $800. I subsequently had notarized affidavits signed by the individuals who took inventory of the materials independently and sent Mr. Joyce a letter requesting the remaining money be paid to us or I would be forced to pursue the matter through legal means. I did not receive a response for another month and I filed my claim at Quincy District Court. Presumably due to the lack of a signed contract and no hard evidence of materials delivered outside of the notarized affidavits, the magistrate found in Mr. Joyce’s favor and I will not recover the remaining $800. This may not be a lot of money for Mr. Joyce, but it means something significant to me and my family. This letter is simply intended to inform you of the business experience I had with Mr. Joyce. Thank you for your time.