John Bilodeau and Hope Bilodeau v. Six Rivers Construction, LLC and Byron Bouchard

CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Maine
DecidedMay 29, 2026
Docket25-02001
StatusUnknown

This text of John Bilodeau and Hope Bilodeau v. Six Rivers Construction, LLC and Byron Bouchard (John Bilodeau and Hope Bilodeau v. Six Rivers Construction, LLC and Byron Bouchard) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
John Bilodeau and Hope Bilodeau v. Six Rivers Construction, LLC and Byron Bouchard, (Me. 2026).

Opinion

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF MAINE

In Re: Chapter 11 SIX RIVERS CONSTRUCTION, LLC, Case No. 24-20164

Debtor.

JOHN BILODEAU and HOPE BILODEAU,

Plaintiffs and Counter- Defendants, Adv. Pro. No. 25-02001

v.

SIX RIVERS CONSTRUCTION, LLC,

Defendant and Counter- Plaintiff,

and

BYRON BOUCHARD,

Defendant.

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

John and Hope Bilodeau seek judgment on their February 5, 2025 Amended Complaint against Six Rivers Construction, LLC (“Six Rivers”) for breach of contract (Count II) and nondischargeability pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A)) (Count VI), and against both Six Rivers and Byron Bouchard for unjust enrichment (Count III) and intentional misrepresentation (Count IV).1 Six Rivers asserts counterclaims for breach of contract (Counterclaim I) and

1 The Bilodeaus also asserted claims of conversion (Count I) and fraud (Count V) against both Six Rivers and Mr. Bouchard in their Amended Complaint but subsequently decided not to press them. declaratory judgment (Counterclaim II). The parties appeared before the Court at an evidentiary hearing on January 21, 2026. At that hearing, counsel for Six Rivers unsuccessfully moved for judgment as a matter of law on Count VI (nondischargeability). For the reasons set forth below, judgment will enter in favor of Six Rivers and Mr.

Bouchard on all counts alleged by the Bilodeaus. Judgment will enter in favor of the Bilodeaus on Counterclaim I. On Counterclaim II, judgment will enter in favor of Six Rivers to the extent of $75,364.90. The Bilodeaus are entitled to an allowed unsecured claim against Six Rivers in the amount of $76,557.10. I. Factual Background Six Rivers is a construction company wholly owned by Mr. Bouchard. In November of 2023, the Bilodeaus approached Ryan Kenney (“Mr. Kenney”), then a Project Manager for Six Rivers, to discuss constructing an addition to their existing home, located in Brunswick, Maine (the “Project”). That initial inquiry eventually led to a March 2024 meeting between the Bilodeaus, Mr. Kenney, and Mr. Bouchard at the Bilodeaus’ home to discuss the scope of the

Project. During that meeting, the Bilodeaus explained that the Project needed to be completed by October 2024 to accommodate the arrival of a newborn baby. Mr. Bouchard said that Six Rivers could meet that deadline if the Bilodeaus moved quickly to sign a construction contract. Following that meeting, the Bilodeaus contracted with a third party, Distinctive Design, to develop plans for the Project. On April 17, 2024, Six Rivers provided the Bilodeaus with a proposal listing costs for various phases of the Project (the “Proposal”). Those costs totaled $455,766 (the “Construction Price”) which included a “15% Overhead and Markup”. The Proposal required a 33% deposit (the “Deposit”) and provided for monthly invoicing as the Project commenced. The Proposal established a spring 2024 start date but did not include a deadline for completion. The next day, on April 18, 2024, the Bilodeaus signed the Construction Agreement (the “Contract”) and paid the Deposit in the amount of $151,922.00. The Contract provided that Six

Rivers would invoice the Bilodeaus monthly for work that had been completed and for materials stored on site. It did not establish a specific start or end date; merely that work would commence and finish in accordance with the “Substantial Completion and Final Completion date” identified in the “Project Schedule”. 2 Pursuant to the terms of the Contract, Six Rivers was not responsible for delays beyond its reasonable control. With respect to termination, the Contract provided the following: 16. Termination: a. For Cause: Either party may terminate this Agreement by written notice to the other party if the other party materially breaches the terms of this Agreement and fails to cure said breach within seven (7) days of receipt of notice of the claimed breach, unless the amount of time reasonably required to cure the claimed breach is more than seven (7) days and the breaching party commenced the cure within said seven (7) day period and pursues the cure diligently thereafter. b. For Convenience: The Owner may terminate this Agreement for convenience by written notice to the Contractor, in which even [sic] the Contractor shall be entitled to payment for the Work completed prior to the date of termination, all other costs incurred as a result of the termination, together with reasonable profit and overhead for the Work that remains to be done. Finally, the Contract granted Six Rivers sole responsibility—and, therefore, sole authority—to hire subcontractors necessary to complete the Project.

2 The Contract indicated that a project schedule was attached to it as Exhibit C. It also provided that Six Rivers would commence and complete the Project in accordance with that schedule. However, Exhibit C attached to the Contract was a schedule of values. Neither party submitted into evidence a document entitled “Project Schedule.” The only document referencing any type of schedule was the Proposal which simply stated, “Schedule: Spring 2024 Start”. On April 25, 2024, Distinctive Design e-mailed a “construction copy” of the plans to the Bilodeaus, Mr. Kenney and Mr. Bouchard for use in obtaining the necessary permits from the Town of Brunswick (the “Town”). Though Mr. Kenney submitted the building permit application on April 26, 2024, the Town did not promptly approve the permit. On June 17, 2024,

Mr. Bilodeau asked Six Rivers whether he should follow up with the Town. Mr. Kenney encouraged him to do so. The Town issued the permit on or around June 25, 2026 and Mr. Kenney indicated to the Bilodeaus that he was working on scheduling the Project. As of July 12, 2024, work still had not commenced. The Bilodeaus requested a meeting to discuss scheduling. At 4:00 p.m. that day, Mr. Bouchard met with the Bilodeaus at the Six Rivers offices (the “First Meeting”). During that meeting, Mr. Bouchard informed the Bilodeaus that Six Rivers would be filing a petition for relief under Subchapter V of the United States Bankruptcy Code. The Bilodeaus allege that Mr. Bouchard also told them during the First Meeting that: (a) Six Rivers would be relying more heavily on subcontractors as it reduced its workforce and sold off equipment; and (b) they would need to pay vendors directly,

notwithstanding the terms of the Contract. Mr. Bouchard concedes that he told the Bilodeaus that he had lost some employees but denies that he told them that Six Rivers was incapable of completing the Project unless they paid vendors directly. The Bilodeaus left the meeting to discuss the new information among themselves and to consult with family members. Following those discussions, they went back to Six Rivers’ offices later the same day with the intention of terminating the contract. A second meeting ensued (the “Second Meeting”), which Mr. Bilodeau recorded. During this meeting, the Bilodeaus asked Mr. Bouchard to return the Deposit but Mr. Bouchard informed them that those funds had been used for Six Rivers’ operational expenses. The Bilodeaus asked Mr. Bouchard how Six Rivers could complete the Project if the Deposit was no longer available to purchase materials and pay subcontractors. Mr. Bouchard reassured them that Six Rivers could still finish the Project by October 2024 because there was enough money remaining due from them under the Contract to pay those costs. He offered to sit down with them and show them how the Project would be

completed. Mr. Bouchard can be heard in the recording of the Second Meeting discussing an “open book” going forward. The recorded conversation is difficult to follow in places, but it was a continuation of the discussion from the First Meeting. At one point, Mr.

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John Bilodeau and Hope Bilodeau v. Six Rivers Construction, LLC and Byron Bouchard, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/john-bilodeau-and-hope-bilodeau-v-six-rivers-construction-llc-and-byron-meb-2026.