Donovans working relationship with Alison (real last name Gramenos) disintegrated during season 2 of HGTVs Windy City Rehab. During the season, Alison complained that Donovan was spending money recklessly and in one instance accused him of stealing money. Here's why he is facing multiple lawsuits. Their lawsuit named Alison. A couple that had tasked Alison and Donovo with the work of getting their luxury home renovated, was not quite happy when an upstairs bathroom started leaking gallons of water into the kitchen below it. ADVERTISEMENT Donovan has around 5.6K followers on IG @donobro. February 1 50 Brilliant Upcycling Projects From HGTV Stars 51 Photos By: Lauren Oster But construction projects don't always go as planned, and a lawsuit filed in Cook County on December 30 alleges that the Windy City Rehab team defrauded James and Anna Morrissey. During the season, the duo undertook different projects with the most famous one being the renovation of a 4,000-square-foot luxury home in Lincoln Square. Hes in counseling and seeking more than $2 million in damages, the outlet reported. It was back in January 2021 that Donovan Eckhardt, who was fired from Windy City Rehab in the spring of 2019, filed a lawsuit against Big Table Media (the show's production company) and. I have zero knowledge of the Stratford or Orchard projects. With Victoria designing the homes and Eckhardt bringing those visions to life, both stars gained a pretty big following after Season 1 wrapped. A judge in Cook County dismissed the lawsuit, according to the outlet, saying it is outside of her jurisdiction as Donovans contract is out of California. }); "Despite costly structural damage, permit delays, failed inspections and other challenges, Alison is determined to create gorgeous homes and earn top profit," declared HGTV's press release. Gramenos is not named in the original lawsuit or the counterclaim. For more to watch in the meantime, check out our 2021 summer TV schedule and 2021 fall TV premiere dates! 'Rock the Block': Twins Leslie and Lyndsay win home revamp challenge, 'Fix My Flip': Page Turner turns cozy lake cabin into a luxury stay. According to Deadline, the 2nd season of "Windy City Rehab" had a heavy focus on the lawsuits, with Alison Victoria often dropping Donovan Eckhardt's name as the reason for her troubles. It was back in January 2021 that Donovan Eckhardt, who was fired from Windy City Rehab in the spring of 2019, filed a lawsuit against Big Table Media (the show's production company) and Discovery (HGTV's parent company) for $2.2 million. Unlike many HGTV programs, the projects are all city-based, including town homes and apartments. Windy City Rehab: With Alison Victoria, Donovan Eckhardt, Ari Smejkal, Kristy Yarbrough. } What happened to [] eventAction: 'click_adunit' Genres Unscripted, Documentary . While season 1 of the show received good reviews from the fans, it whipped up a lot of controversies after its end. Yennefer's apprentice, Gilmore Girl; will Vulcan nerve pinch pretty much anyone if prompted with cheeseYes, even Jamie Fraser. In addition to being portrayed as the villain on the show, Eckhardt also notes that he suffered emotional trauma, from anxiety to loss of sleep and appetite, following the lawsuits. While the first lawsuit had dealt a heavy blow to Alison and Donovan, a second one followed within a few days. Getty In December 2019, Anna and . There have been a shocking number of lawsuits filed against the former business partners, with Eckhardt filing his own defamation and emotional distress suit against the production company behind Windy City Rehab and HGTV's parent company. It stars Alison Victoria, an interior designer who does home renovation projects in Chicago, Illinois, with contractor Donovan Eckhardt (season one and the early part of season 2). Another couple experienced similar issues with their Chicago home and also brought a lawsuit against the Windy City Rehab hosts. ga('ads.send', { Read |Who is Alison on Windy City Rehab? The report states that he now has an 0-2 record at trying to legally wrest $2 million from the companies behind the hit HGTV show.. in Lakeview is photographed on March 3, 2020. On her part, Alison sued Donovan against HGTV. Eckhardt said in his suit an executive producer of the show told him the following day that Big Table Media would no longer film with him. The "Windy City Rehab" star Alison Victoria is now selling her Chicago home for $2,295,000, People magazine reported. Windy City Rehab. WICKER PARK In a Monday ruling, the city's Department of Buildings upheld its decision to strip "Windy City Rehab" co-stars Alison V. Gramenos and Donovan Eckhardt of their building privileges in Chicago. I Wrecked My House. As matters got out of hand, the wealthy couple dragged Alison, the shows chief interior designer and her contractor partner Donovan to court, by filing a lawsuit. However, as soon as the show ended, many fans were shocked to learn that the duo got into some trouble with their clients soon after the season ended. The best omakase restaurants in Chicago,Sit back, relax and treat yourself to dinner at an omakase experience in Chicago, where chefs dish out delicious sushi, cocktails and more. The duo behind the popular HGTV show owe a pair of suburban Chicago. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. Alison and Donovan take on a penthouse with potential for a serious profit. In each episode, a candidate house is visited by Alison and Donovan, who discuss its potential for redesign and resale value (houses are purchased without a client in mind). Eckhardt said he was painted as the villain, while Gramenos was portrayed as the unknowing, innocent victim.. Donovan filed a lawsuit against HGTV parent company Discovery and Windy City Rehab producers Big Table Media. Unlike many HGTV programs, the projects are all city-based, including town homes and apartments. A post shared by Windy City Rehab (@windycityrehabchi) on Sep 22, 2020 at 10:19am PDT, Read |Who is Donovan on Windy City Rehab? Gramenos and Eckhardt ran into trouble with the city in the subsequent months. Hes also been cut off from the $3,500 per episode he made on Windy City Rehab, according to the outlet. Former Windy City Rehab contractor Donovan Eckhardt said he experienced anxiety and depression after being falsely accused of misappropriating money and subjected to social media attacks from fans of the popular HGTV show, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in Cook County court. A report also mentioned that a former friend of Donovan claimed that he and his family had invested millions of dollars in the projects that featured on the show but later understood that Donovans claim of expertise in building in Chicago was deceit. By Mitch Dudek Jun 9, 2021, 3:20pm PST Former 'Windy City Rehab' host Donovan Eckhardt drops a zinger in feud with Alison Victoria Pocket Flipboard Another landmarked house is renovated in the Wicker Park neighborhood. Windy City Rehab controversies. At this point, it would be fair to call Windy City Rehab an embattled production. Windy City Rehab has had its share of lawsuits since it first aired. In Season 1 and 2, Alison was assisted by famous Chicago-based contractor, Donovan Eckhardt. hitType: 'event', The property at 612 W. Stratford Pl. Fans of the reality show Windy City Rehab were shocked when clients from the show filed multiple lawsuits against its hosts. As the stars of HGTV's Windy City Rehab, Alison Victoria and Donovan Eckhardt spend a lot of time together. The duo behind the popular HGTV show owe a pair of suburban Chicago lenders more than $170,000, according to a lawsuit filed in Cook County court this week. An 80s-style penthouse apartment presents design and construction challenges, including conflicts with the construction manager. One example of embezzlement would be if a store clerk took money from transactions.In this case, the money would be the property of the business, but the clerk opted to take the money to use for . His original lawsuit in Cook County said, Nothing in this carefully scripted, choreographed, and edited scene is true, the outlet reported. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ They dont understand theres a distinction between reality and TV, even when the TV show represents itself as reality.. eventAction: 'load' July 13, 2021 01:51 PM. Donovans lawsuit filed in California reveals that his business, Greymark Development Group, has taken a big hit. So, lets take a look at what happened to Donovan on Windy City Rehab. Eckhardt and Pajazetovic worked on homes that were featured on the first season of Windy City Rehab, which follows Alison Victoria Gramenos as she flips Chicago homes. Donovans lawsuit stated that he spoke with Alison several times a day and she was intimately involved in the creation of every budget., A post shared by Donovan Eckhardt (@donobro). hitType: 'event', The Tribune also notes that Eckhardt's general contractor license was recently expired and has not been renewed. Embezzlement is a Class A misdemeanor if the amount stolen is $500 to $1,500; the punishment is a fine of up to $4,000 and a jail sentence of up to one year. Eckhardt is suing HGTVs parent company and Big Table Media, which produces Windy City Rehab, for at least $2.2 million for defamation and emotional distress. A buildings department representative told the Tribune last year Greymarks license expired in March 2020 and was not renewed. 612 West Stratford LLC and 2530 North Orchard LLC are countersuing Pajazetovic and Space Builders, alleging that Pajazetovic overcharged and conspired with others to overcharge them for renovation of 612 W. Stratford in Lakeview East and 2530 N. Orchard St. in Park West, according to paperwork filed April 22. The suit states that Chicago contractor Donovan Eckhardt has suffered from depression, sleeplessness, loss of appetite and has undergone counseling for the embarrassing, traumatic and humiliating experience. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { The reno show gained a lot of popularity owing to the cast's dreary past. Alison Victoria of "Windy City Rehab" is being sued by former partner Donovan Eckhardt. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { Donovan left Windy City Rehab in the middle of season two. However, one day after they closed on the house things went south. 3 Donovan Eckhardt from Windy City Rehab has come under fire (seen here with co-star Alison Victoria) Credit: HGTV What evidence is needed for embezzlement? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 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