A lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court was filed today, May 5, 2025, against Craig Bergmann Landscape Design, a self-proclaimed award-winning landscape and architectural design firm based in Lake Forest, alleging that its substandard work for an Evanston design company caused significant damage to a commercial terrace, delaying the property owner’s ability to showcase and utilize the space for business-related events.
The lawsuit alleges that the Defendant failed to maintain the required property damage insurance necessary to register to conduct business in the City of Evanston. To obtain such registration, a contractor must submit an original certificate of insurance or policy declaration verifying the mandated coverage.
Andrea Liss, owner and operator of 800 Greenwood LLC, a design company based in Evanston, hired the defendant to clean and maintain her bluestone terrace at 800 W. Greenwood Street in January 2024. However, the landscape company power-washed her property, permanently and irreparably damaging the stone.
Defendant assured Plaintiff that the damage would be corrected—consistent with the company’s own claims on its website of “quality workmanship” and “talented members” completing projects nationwide—but instead, the stone remains permanently damaged, and representatives of Craig Bergmann Landscape Design have not taken further action to remediate the property.
“This is a clear case of David versus Goliath,” said Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices. “Our firm will not tolerate when ‘the little guy’ is taken advantage of by companies who think they can collect full payment for a job that is not done according to the contract and as promised. This small property owner deserves to get what she paid for, and we will stand up for her rights in court to see that she does so.”
The Craig Bermann Landscape Design’s website touts its “personal touch” with a “team of Landscape Architects [who] specialize in transforming a client’s vision into a refined design that’s truly one of a kind.” It states it has been in business on Chicago’s north shore for over 30 years.
“Instead of creating a vision for this client, the defendant created a nightmare,” Clifford said.
For further information or to speak to Robert Clifford, contact Clifford Law Offices Communications Partner Pamela Sakowicz Menaker at 847-721-0909 (cell).