TL;DR -- Danny stole a ton of money and vanished…read more
Longer write up:
Danny Baer, operating as "DB Structures" at the time, took on a contract with me to perform concrete flatwork for two structures.
The contract began fine - we started around August 13th. I paid a deposit. Within a couple of days, the first red flag came up, as Danny asked for additional deposit. Reluctantly I went ahead.
Danny would show up here and there over the next month, putting in just a couple of hours here and there. The project pace was extremely slow. Communication was pretty poor - I would have to reach out to find out when he was going to continue working on the projects constantly.
Around Sept 17th, Danny showed up with two helpers. Danny quickly left the job site and the helpers were not very clear on what needed done. I pulled out my engineering plans and was able to direct them through the necessary work on forms and rebar. Honestly, I might as well have gone to Home Depot and hired helpers myself at this point - the helpers told me that they didn't know Danny well, they weren't employees of his or anything.
Danny did not pay those day laborers - I ended up having to pay them. He also did not pay for the rebar, I ended up paying for that as well.
At this point, you're probably sensing all the red flags. Yes, they're piling up.
After that day, Danny just... totally stopped showing up, and did not reply to many, many attempts at contact. I was very busy dealing with personal things and let the projects just sit, especially while I tried to figure out how to afford someone else coming in to complete the work.
Finally, out of the blue, on Nov 7th, Danny responds to me. I don't feel like typing it all out, but, he made many assurances, and did not ask for another dime at this point, and insisted he would see the projects through, plus help with some of the other work after the concrete is placed and cured. Cool, I can work with that.
We were supposedly set to place and finish one of the two structure's concrete on Saturday Nov 22. Danny assured me, over and over again that entire week leading up to it that everything was set. Saturday morning (7:15am) he texts me that the line pump rental was not available at 9am as planned, but will be ready at 11am. I had a nagging, not good feeling starting to sink in. He also claimed he was "on the way" to the job site. Of note, as well, is that I had to reschedule other work that was supposed to take place on the 22nd for another job, so that I could be available and also not have the long driveway blocked, preventing access for concrete trucks.
At noon, I attempted to contact Danny asking for an update. Being the time of year, a late start doesn't leave a lot of sunlight left for the job, finishing it in 4-5 hours seemed unlikely. No concrete trucks have shown up, and no helpers/crew have shown up, either. Zero response to my contact.
Pretty sure I already knew the answer, but I called *every* local batch plant within an hour's drive from the job site asking if any had my name or address for the day. Not a single one did. This was a ~45 yard job, so it's not something you just get the day-of. Many weren't even open by this time.
1pm, another contact attempt. Still no response what so ever.
I spent the next several days attempting to contact Danny, but, you already know how that ended up for me.
Now, I had to contract with another company to complete the work. Several months behind schedule, and out the deposit (plus material and labor) money on top of the new bid. I also have had to cancel/delay other contractors and county inspections numerous times, which just makes me look like an idiot to all these other people.
I try to be very accommodating and understanding, which, unfortunately got entirely taken advantage of this time. Danny no longer has the LLC, as he Administratively Dissolved it on Nov 3rd 2025. From what I've been able to find, he never had license, bond, or insurance either. The LLC's UBI number was 605 571 868. His phone number is/was (360) 867-8437, but also may be (360) 505-0690. Email commonly used is/was dbstructures@icloud.com.
I am seeking legal avenues for this as well, due to the amount involved. Depending on that resolution (and frankly, my memory), I may come back and update this review.