Lucas Lagoons Construction, LLC filed the lawsuit. It was not sued by a customer. The company sued a former contractor, Jess V. Stevenson, in Sarasota County Circuit Court on June 26, 2024 (Case No. 2024-CA-003346-NC). The complaint raised three claims: breach of contract, breach of duty of loyalty, and deceptive and unfair trade practices. Lucas Lagoons sought damages above $50,000 plus injunctive relief. Court records show the parties reached an agreed judgment on October 22, 2024, and the court recorded a judgment and permanent injunction the next day.
Key Facts
| Detail | Record |
|---|---|
| Case number | 2024-CA-003346-NC |
| Court | Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Sarasota County, Florida |
| Plaintiff | Lucas Lagoons Construction, LLC |
| Defendant | Jess V. Stevenson (also named Jess Vernon Stevenson, Jesse V. Stevenson) |
| Filing date | June 26, 2024 |
| Service date | July 10, 2024 |
| Claims | Breach of contract; breach of duty of loyalty; deceptive and unfair trade practices |
| Damages sought | In excess of $50,000, plus injunctive relief |
| Plaintiff’s counsel | Jason Gaskill |
| Defense counsel | Steele Williams |
| Resolution | Stipulation for agreed judgment, October 22, 2024 |
| Final record | Judgment and permanent injunction recorded, October 23, 2024 |
A note on the roles here matters. Several sites that cover this case list a homeowner as the plaintiff and Lucas Lagoons as the defendant. The court docket does not support that. Lucas Lagoons Construction, LLC is the party that filed the complaint. Jess V. Stevenson is the named defendant.
Who Is Lucas Lagoons?
Lucas Lagoons Construction, LLC is a custom pool builder based in Nokomis, Florida, with a design studio at 605 Suncrest Drive and a construction office at 520 Colonia Lane East, both in Nokomis. Founder Lucas Congdon moved to Florida in 1999 and built a reputation for resort-style backyard pools, natural stone waterfalls, and grotto designs. Congdon won a Gold Award for residential pool restoration in 2003, a milestone that led him to formalize the company under the Lucas Lagoons name.
The brand reached a national audience through the television series Insane Pools: Off the Deep End, now in multiple seasons, where Congdon and his crew transform standard backyards into elaborate water features. The company holds Florida contractor license number CPC1459096 and serves clients across Central and South Florida, plus out-of-state commercial projects.
That television profile explains why any legal filing tied to the company draws search interest fast. It also raises the stakes for accuracy: a company this visible attracts speculation, and speculation spreads faster than court records do.
The Lawsuit, Explained
What Lucas Lagoons Alleged
The complaint names three causes of action against Jess V. Stevenson:
- Breach of contract. Lucas Lagoons alleged Stevenson failed to meet obligations set out in an agreement between the two parties.
- Breach of duty of loyalty. This claim typically applies when someone in a position of trust, such as a contractor, employee, or business partner, acts against the interests of the party that relied on them.
- Deceptive and unfair trade practices. Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) allows a business to pursue a claim when another party engages in conduct the statute treats as unfair or misleading in trade or commerce.
Public case summaries from legal-tracking sites describe the underlying dispute as centered on Stevenson’s stated qualifications and the quality of completed work, with Lucas Lagoons reportedly covering added costs to correct deficiencies. That characterization comes from secondary sources that reviewed the filing, not from the full complaint text itself, so readers should treat the specific factual narrative as reported rather than court-confirmed. The three legal claims above and the case number, filing date, and party names come directly from the Sarasota County docket and carry a higher confidence level.
Timeline of the Case
- June 26, 2024 — Lucas Lagoons Construction, LLC files the complaint in Sarasota County Circuit Court.
- July 4, 2024 — The court enters a general case designation and civil case management report.
- July 10, 2024 — Stevenson is served under the names Jess V. Stevenson, Jess Vernon Stevenson, and Jesse V. Stevenson.
- October 22, 2024 — The parties file a stipulation for entry of an agreed judgment.
- October 23, 2024 — The court records a judgment and a permanent injunction (Official Records reference 2024140065).
The gap between filing and resolution runs about four months, a relatively fast timeline for a civil contract dispute. An agreed judgment means both sides consented to the terms rather than a trial reaching a verdict.
Correcting the Public Record
A search for this case surfaces several articles that swap the parties. One widely shared version describes a homeowner who received a pool that did not match the approved design, then sued Lucas Lagoons for breach of contract and negligence. No public court record supports that version under case number 2024-CA-003346-NC. The docket for that case lists Lucas Lagoons Construction, LLC as plaintiff and Jess V. Stevenson as defendant, full stop.
Two things can stand at once. First, homeowner disputes over custom pool projects occur across the industry, and a search for “Lucas Lagoons complaints” may turn up unrelated consumer feedback unrelated to this specific court filing. Second, the only lawsuit tied to case number 2024-CA-003346-NC shows the company as plaintiff, not defendant. Readers who want the accurate picture should treat the docket itself, not a paraphrase of the docket, as the source of truth.
What This Means If You’re Hiring a Contractor
A lawsuit like this offers a practical lesson beyond the Lucas Lagoons name. Contractor-versus-subcontractor disputes over qualifications and workmanship are common in high-end residential construction. A few takeaways apply broadly:
- Verify credentials in writing before work starts. A written scope tied to stated qualifications gives a stronger basis for a breach claim if the work falls short.
- Document deficiencies as they happen. Photos, written change orders, and dated correspondence support both sides of a dispute if it reaches court.
- An agreed judgment is not an admission of wrongdoing by either side. Parties often settle to avoid the cost and time of trial, and the terms of that settlement stay private unless the record says otherwise.
- A license number and court history are both public. Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation lets consumers check a contractor’s license status directly, a useful step before signing any high-value contract.
FAQs
Did Lucas Lagoons get sued by a customer?
No confirmed public record supports that claim for case 2024-CA-003346-NC. In that case, Lucas Lagoons Construction, LLC is the plaintiff, not the defendant.
Who did Lucas Lagoons sue?
Jess V. Stevenson, also listed as Jess Vernon Stevenson and Jesse V. Stevenson.
What court handled the case?
The Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court in and for Sarasota County, Florida.
What claims did Lucas Lagoons bring?
Breach of contract, breach of duty of loyalty, and deceptive and unfair trade practices under Florida law.
How much did Lucas Lagoons seek in damages?
The complaint sought damages in excess of $50,000, along with injunctive relief.
How did the case end?
The parties filed a stipulation for an agreed judgment on October 22, 2024. The court recorded a judgment and a permanent injunction on October 23, 2024.
Is Lucas Lagoons still in business?
Yes. The company continues to operate as a custom pool builder in Nokomis, Florida, and remains tied to the television series Insane Pools: Off the Deep End.
Musarat Bano is a content writer for JudicialOcean.com who covers lawsuits, legal news, and general legal topics. Her work focuses on research-based, informational content developed from publicly available sources and is intended to support public awareness. She does not provide legal advice or professional legal services.
