Backyard dreams turn to financial nightmares for SWFL families after hiring local pool contractor

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — What started as the dream of a backyard oasis has turned into a financial disaster for multiple families across Lee, Collier, and Hendry counties who say a local pool contractor took tens of thousands of dollars before leaving them with unfinished excavations, property liens, and massive repair bills.

Nine unhappy customers have come forward to share identical stories about Screenworks Contractors of Southwest Florida and its owner, David Noe. WINK Investigates interviewed four of them on camera. Homeowners say they have been forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket to hire alternative contractors just to finish what was started.

Collier County teacher Antonio Masiello said he spent years saving for a backyard pool before hiring Screenworks. The company was licensed, recommended, and appeared completely legitimate.

Construction began quickly, Masiello said, but then abruptly ground to a halt. After paying roughly $60,000—about 80% of the contracted price—Masiello was left with little more than a concrete hole and protruding pipes.

"It’s heartbreaking to throw that money away," Masiello said. "It got to a point I had to leave my blinds closed because you could see the mess on my lanai. I paid for two pools."

After a series of delays, Masiello says the company stopped providing meaningful answers, blamed others for setbacks, and accused him of breaching his contract after he filed formal complaints, he was sent a cease and desist letter. He ultimately had to pay another contractor roughly $65,000 to complete the work.

Piling Costs and Stalled Timelines

Other families recount similar problems.

Janet and Mike Dockendorf said they dreamed of building a pool for their grandchildren. After paying for nearly the entire project, they discovered subcontractors allegedly had not been paid and were stunned to find a lien placed on their home. After hiring a replacement company to repair and finish the job, they estimate the project will ultimately cost them around $100,000.

"We did our homework; it didn’t help," Janet Dockendorf said. "We still don’t have a completed pool, and it’s a year and a half later."

In Hendry County, Tina and Bill Keeney tapped into their retirement savings for a pool they expected to enjoy in the summer of 2025. Originally slated to cost $82,000, they say they paid roughly $60,000 before work halted and then they learned much of the previous work had to be completely torn out and rebuilt.

With the pool finally finished by another company, the Keeney family says the total cost ballooned to roughly $140,000.

Chief WINK Investigates Reporter Chorus Nylander asked them how the swimming was out there in 2025.

Bill responded, "Pretty dry.”

“It was like the Beverly Hillbillys, it was a cement pond," Tina Keeney added.

Allegations of Altered Documents

Ralph Taylor, a former contractor himself, said he and his wife paid roughly $72,000 to Screenworks, only to shell out another $35,000 to finish the project after months of stalled work.

"We didn’t budget for a $35,000 shortfall, so I had to take it out of retirement, so I’m going to have to work longer," Taylor said.

Taylor also alleged that documents filed during his project contained altered information and signatures that were copied onto a refiled Notice of Commencement—a legal document acknowledging a construction project's start and scope.

"He then also extended the date of the Notice of Commencement to 7/9/2044," Taylor said. "I’ll be dead by then."

Taylor filed complaints with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and lodged a fraud report with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Like other victims, he continues to wait for resolution.

While DBPR acknowledged receiving complaints, multiple victims showed documentation indicating their cases have been consolidated as part of an ongoing, broader investigation. However, homeowners expressed frustration over sluggish bureaucratic responses. Tina Keeney noted that a complaint filed with the DBPR in October 2025 sat stagnant, with no communication until WINK Investigates made inquiries in May.

“I received a response no later than a week after you started your investigation,” Tina said.

WINK Investigates reached out repeatedly to David Noe for his side of the story. Initially contacted by phone, Noe offered "no comment” stating that he can’t speak to us because the matters are under investigation.

Then he followed up his statements with the following email:

“Mr. Nylander,

Thank you for your email and for the opportunity to respond.

As I indicated during our telephone conversation, I am not prepared to provide substantive comment at this time due to ongoing legal and regulatory matters. Accordingly, I respectfully decline your request for an on-camera interview at this time.

After receiving your email, I forwarded your inquiry to legal counsel for review. I subsequently followed up with my attorney's office and was advised that my attorney is currently out of the country and is expected to return on or about July 28, 2026.

Upon his return, I will confer with counsel at his earliest opportunity and then determine whether any further response is appropriate.

In the meantime, I respectfully request that any further communications regarding this matter be made in writing.

Thank you for your understanding.”

WINK Investigates had emailed a person we have since learned is now a former employee of Screenworks that was a point of contact for many customers, to see what knowledge they would have about the situation.

Noe, as the administrator of the companies email system, responded and sent us a message July 28th.

“Mr. Nylander,

I received notification of your email late last night. Upon reviewing the notification, I realized your message had been sent to [redacted] former Screenworks Contractors of SWFL, LLC company email account.

As the administrator of the company's email system, I reviewed the former company mailbox after discovering your message had not been forwarded as expected. I then forwarded it to my account for review.

For clarification, [redacted] employment with Screenworks Contractors of SWFL, LLC ended in December 2025. Although she responded to a limited number of residual company emails immediately following her separation solely as a professional courtesy, she is no longer employed by or affiliated with the company.

After speaking with [redacted] regarding your inquiry, she advised that she respectfully declines to participate in an on-camera interview and does not intend to provide any statement at this time.

As I previously advised, I will be discussing this matter with legal counsel. If, after legal counsel has had an opportunity to review the matter, counsel believes that any additional response is appropriate, it will be provided at that time.

Until then, please consider [redacted] decision to decline an on-camera interview to be final. I respectfully request that any further communications regarding [redacted] or this matter remain within this existing email thread for ease of review, continuity of communications, and coordination with legal counsel.

Thank you for your professionalism and understanding.”

Chorus Nylander responded saying, “Thank you for the response. Our report will air Thursday at 10 p.m., I respectfully request that any legal responses be sent to me prior to 2:30 p.m. Thursday to be included in our initial reporting. Without such responses, I am reflecting your previous statement of not being able to provide comment at this time within our reporting. The offer of an on-camera interview continues to stand at any point you decide it's something you want to do, even after our report airs. We are committed to fair and balanced reporting.”

WINK Investigates received the following email at 3:11 July 28th from David Noe:

“Thank you for your follow-up. As I previously indicated, I intend to confer with legal counsel regarding this matter. To assist counsel in understanding the scope of your upcoming report, would you please identify which homeowners are expected to be featured in the initial broadcast, whether through on-camera interviews, recorded statements, or other attributed statements?

If there are additional individuals whose allegations or statements are expected to be referenced in the initial broadcast, but who did not participate in an on-camera interview, I would appreciate knowing that as well so that counsel has a clear understanding of the scope of the matters being presented.”

Chorus Nylander responded with the following:

“Mr. Noe,

Again, our request for an on-camera interview remains open. The homeowners who shared their concerns with us about their projects with your company filed DBPR complaints as you know. Also, as you told us in your latest email, you are the administrator of your company's email system so you will see the homeowners who communicated with your company about their concerns. We hope you will agree to an on-camera interview with us to explain what happened with these projects and what your company proposes to do.”

Just after midnight July 30th Noe responded:

“Mr. Nylander,

Thank you for your follow-up.

Given that WINK News has declined to identify the homeowners whose complaints will be featured in its news report, Screenworks is unable to address the specific facts and circumstances of those matters in advance of publication.

Screenworks has successfully completed numerous construction projects throughout Southwest Florida and elsewhere in Florida, including swimming pools, aluminum and screen enclosures, concrete flatwork, windows and doors, shutters, and other residential and commercial construction work. The company's principal has more than 30 years of experience in the Florida construction industry.

Each customer executes a written contract establishing the rights and obligations of both parties, including payment schedules, contractual draw payments, and procedures for approving additional work through written change orders.

Like many construction companies, Screenworks has occasionally encountered contractual disputes involving payment obligations, requested changes to the scope of work, scheduling, or other project-related issues. Those disputes are uncommon, and each project involves its own unique facts and circumstances but the particular projects that may be claimed in the news article have not been identified by WINK News.

Without knowing which specific homeowners will be discussed in the news report, Screenworks cannot fairly respond to allegations that have not been identified or placed into their proper factual context. Screenworks remains committed to honoring its contractual obligations and expects homeowners to do the same.

While we appreciate WINK News' request for comment, Screenworks is unable to provide any further comment at this time. If the particular projects featured in the news report were identified Screenworks may provide further comment.”

WINK Investigates has made repeated requests to the DBPR for interviews and records tied to the complaints, but has received no response.

Many of the customers we spoke with, like the Kenney’s, say they believe the State is moving too slowly to find a resolution.

“He’s going to continue to abuse people if they can’t hold him accountable faster,” said Tina Kenney.

If you have a story you’d like WINK Investigates to look into, email us at winkinvestigates@winknews.com