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But, “Dong did not at any time intend to pay for the construction of a new residence on the Property,” Li’s suit alleges. “Rather, he intended as he did to stop paying after demolition of the Residence was completed and thereby to bring construction of the new house to a halt and to paralyze the Property and thereby to compel Ms. Li to sell the Property which she in fact has to do without Dong’s financial support.”

Li was in China when the house was demolished and claims she has been forced to sell for a greatly reduced price. The only work completed on the new house was the construction of a new foundation; those involved in the project say they were told Dong was having trouble bringing money over from China.

Photo by Billard Architecture

Photo by Billard Architecture

The suit alleges that Dong hired contractor Zichun Zhao to act as an owner’s representative, and through him funnelled payments for the architectural design, building permits, demolition and construction. Li claims Dong used Zhao as a front to conceal the money he was spending on the project.

Zhao and Pro Design Co. Ltd., the building firm he operates with his son Scott, are also named as defendants.

Both Scott and Zichun Zhao were alarmed when they were informed about the lawsuit by a reporter Thursday, and said they would never risk their company’s reputation by getting involved with a project they thought the owner hadn’t approved.

Zichun Zhao doesn’t speak much English, but his wife told Postmedia that he has saved text messages from Li discussing the electrical aspects of the project. His contract, however, was with Dong.