Former Cary firefighter sues couple over home repair fraud claims

A former Cary firefighter suspended from the job three years ago after he was charged with home repair fraud filed a $1 million lawsuit Wednesday against his accusers, claiming they damaged his reputation and career prospects.

The suit, filed in McHenry County circuit court, claims Fox River Grove residents J. Peter Doyle and Debora Doyle altered documents and made false criminal accusations against Brandon Donatelli because of a billing dispute for work on their home.

Among other allegations, the suit accuses J. Peter Doyle of calling Cary Fire District Chief Jeffrey Macko, Donatelli's boss at the time, and falsely stating the part-time firefighter had scammed them.

"(Doyle) stated that the plaintiff was a thief and should be fired from the department," the suit states. Doyle, according to the suit, also phoned another Donatelli employer with similar accusations.

A phone call to the Doyles seeking comment was not returned Wednesday.

Donatelli, of Cary, was indicted in 2005 on three counts each of felony theft and home repair fraud alleging he accepted more than $40,000 from the Doyles for work on a second-floor addition to their home, and then performed very little work on the project.

The lawsuit disputes those claims, saying Donatelli performed work in a "good, workmanlike manner."

As a result of the accusations, Donatelli was suspended from the fire department.

A judge dismissed the indictment a year later, calling the issue a civil contract dispute, not a criminal matter. Donatelli was reinstated to the fire department in September 2006, but left on his own about three months later.

The suit is scheduled to make its first court appearance Jan. 20 before Judge Michael Caldwell.