Demolition consultant goes to trial in billing case.
The trial began yesterday for a state demolition contractor accused of pressuring an employee to falsify time sheets as part of an effort to overbill the Detroit Land Bank Authority for more than 100 hours of work that was not performed.
The case hinges on invoices submitted to the Detroit Land Bank by Barry Ellentuck, president of ADR Consultants, a West Bloomfield company that performed asbestos inspections and other services for Detroit’s ambitious demolition program.
Assistant Attorney General Paul Cusick told jurors in Oakland County Circuit Judge Wendy Potts’ courtroom the case against Ellentuck is a straightforward instance of a contractor turning in a false bill in October 2014.
But Joseph Lavigne, Ellentuck’s defense attorney, said there was no deception. The charge against Ellentuck stems from allegations from a disgruntled employee, Lavigne said. Furthermore, Ellentuck revised the invoice to the Land Bank in January 2015 with fewer hours.
“There was no mystery about what was going on,” Lavigne said. “There were no shenanigans.”
Ellentuck is charged with one count of attempted false pretenses with intent to defraud of between $1,000 and $20,000, a felony.
