TERMINIX/RENTOKIL ACCUSED OF BREACHING CONTRACT TO PROVIDE TERMITE DAMAGE REMEDIATION FOR ELDERLY PALM BEACH COUPLE; ARBITRATION COMPLAINT ALLEGES SIX-YEAR DELAY IN REBUILDING THEIR LOGGIA DINING ROOM
PALM BEACH, FL, June 26, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ — John A. and Bonnie W. Stepan, longtime residents of Palm Beach, have filed a Demand for Arbitration against Terminix/Rentokil arising from a service agreement under which the company agreed to remediate termite damage to the loggia dining room of their home. According to the arbitration complaint, the Stepans first reported the damage in 2020, and the work remains incomplete.
According to the complaint, the Stepans have been unable to use their dining room for approximately six years.
The arbitration complaint seeks damages for alleged breach of contract, systemic fraud, intentional infliction of mental distress, and violations of Florida consumer protection and elder abuse statutes. Mrs. Stepan is 79 years old and Mr. Stepan is 80.
The complaint also requests punitive damages exceeding $13,000,000, alleging the defendants engaged in a pattern of conduct that harmed vulnerable elderly customers.
According to the complaint, the Stepans reported termite damage to their loggia dining room in 2020. As of the filing of the arbitration, they allege the repairs remain incomplete. The complaint further alleges that by 2025 Terminix/Rentokil had retained and later dismissed two previous contractors before work was completed.
The complaint alleges that Terminix/Rentokil later hired One Stop Inc., a Coral Gables contractor, to perform the remediation. According to the arbitration filing, One Stop performed defective work, used improper materials, violated electrical code requirements, and failed to address additional termite damage discovered during the project. The complaint further alleges that official communications from the Town of Palm Beach were sent to a former Terminix/Rentokil contractor and were not acted upon.
The arbitration complaint also alleges that One Stop attempted to conceal termite damage that developed during the extended delay and sought additional payment to repair a damaged lattice screen that the Stepans contend was already included within the scope of work.
“This company has tortured the Stepan family for years,” said attorney William D. McCann, who represents the Stepans. “Mr. Stepan made literally hundreds of calls to various Terminix/Rentokil personnel, only to experience no callbacks, untruthful excuses, and repeated delays regarding completion of the work.”
McCann further alleges that after the Stepans retained legal counsel, Terminix/Rentokil agreed to pay for complete remediation but later conditioned payment on the execution of a general release. According to the arbitration complaint, this continued a longstanding pattern of alleged bad faith. The complaint also references another arbitration involving retired Alabama school teachers who reportedly received a $2.8 million arbitration award after alleging similar conduct by Terminix.
The arbitration remains pending, and the allegations contained in the complaint have not been adjudicated.
MEDIA CONTACT
M. Deng Xiao Mei
VPA to William D. McCann Esq.
800 Village Square Crossing Suite 202
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
mdengxiaomei@gmail.com
(925) 998-8099
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