22 hours Ago By Sam Tabachnik
Tyler and Nicole Kirby used their life savings to buy a lot in Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood, with the goal of building a new house from scratch.Their plans included an accessory dwelling unit above the garage so Nicole’s parents could live with them as they aged.“This is the first time we’ve ever done this,” Nicole Kirby said.
“We were so excited.”So in June 2023, the Kirbys enlisted Castle Rock-based Adamo Building Company — which does business as Adamo Homes — to make their dreams a reality. The couple put down a $50,000 deposit and another $7,500 to complete the architecture plans.
The house never got built. Adamo, through its owner Carl Dean Amann, stopped returning their messages. The Kirbys’ architect told them the company had gone out of business and absconded with their money, they said.
Contractors who hadn’t been paid by Adamo placed a lien on their property.“They just dropped off the face of the Earth,” Tyler Kirby said of Amann and his company.The Kirbys are among dozens of people in Colorado who allege they’ve been scammed by Adamo Homes.
The company has been sued nearly 40 times since last year, racking up allegations of theft and fraud from jilted banks, contractors and property owners.The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Amann is one of the subjects of a criminal investigation looking into the bankruptcy of a construction company based in the county, though a spokesperson wouldn’t say which one.Amann and other company representatives could not be reached for comment.
The firm’s website is no longer active and phone numbers for the business have been turned off. The homebuilder’s listings on Google and Yelp say “permanently closed.”The cascade of lawsuits began last May and continued through this month.
One Texas couple sued Adamo in July, alleging they paid the builders nearly $500,000 to construct a home in Parker. In September 2023, they broke ground on the residence, but the couple later learned Adamo had failed to pay its subcontractors and suppliers, the complaint alleges. Numerous mechanic’s liens were placed on the property.
The company submitted false and inaccurate invoices, the couple said in their lawsuit, and allegedly charged the family for materials the homeowners never ordered. In April, the company abandoned the project.The home, as of the lawsuit’s filing, had not been completed.
Numerous subcontractors have also sued Adamo over nonpayment. Alpine Lumber Company alleges the company owes it more than $46,000 for labor, materials, equipment and goods. Peak View Roofing says the business owes it nearly $40,000.
A Castle Rock landlord sued Adamo over more than $30,000 in unpaid rent.An archived version of Adamo’s website advertises the company’s homes as being “built true.”“Adamo stands behind character, craftsmanship and positive relationships,” the business stated.
“As builders, we built our company with you in mind.”Tyler and Nicole Kirby inside their home under construction in the Berkeley neighborhood in Denver on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)Related ArticlesColorado lawmakers kill bill aimed at banning lobbyists from donating to campaignsColorado House passes bill banning use of algorithms blamed for driving up apartment rents3D printed and factory-built homes could help tackle housing crisisIn rare move, Denver council rejects Salvation Army contract over homeless shelter safetyColorado legislators consider another round of HOA bills to protect homeowners from foreclosureMeanwhile, families like the Kirbys wonder whether they’ll see any of their money returned.
A Douglas County judge in September awarded the couple more than $122,000 in damages, though they haven’t seen a dime yet.Nicole’s parents, thinking they’d be moving to Denver to live in the house, sold their residence in Arizona. They’ve been living with Nicole’s brother as they wait for the house to be completed.
The Kirbys eventually found another homebuilder to begin the process again. They hope to move into their new house in Berekely in December, a full year later than expected.“We were too trusting in this process,” Tyler Kirby said.
“Unfortunately, that’s not how the world works.”Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter..
