'I can't sleep': Apollo Beach woman couldn't reach roofer after signing over insurance check

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) —Sim Powell has been fighting since Hurricane Ian in September 2022 to get a new roof.

In early December, Powell says she settled with her insurance company and turned over a $26,000 settlement to the roofing company she hired, Nationwide Roofing, based in Orlando.

She says a representative showed up at her home at 9:30 p.m. to pick up the check but then stopped returning her calls. Calls and messages to the main number were unreturned as well, she said.

"I'm upset," she said. "I can't sleep."

She reached out to Better Call Behnken, and Consumer Investigator Shannon Behnken called the company. CEO John Dorosh called back and said the it was always his intention to finish Ms. Powell's job. He said he's winding down the company and blamed financial troubles on recent changes to insurance laws.

Dorosh said his company is a "catastrophic business failure," as a result of legislative changes. He said he vows to make things right for customers and said he had about 450 outstanding jobs six months ago and only about 10 now. He said he's getting out of the roofing business.

"I don't have it in me to be a contractor in Florida anymore," he told Behnken. "I've had a lot. I've had a little. I don't want to be a thief."