Consumer Warning — Public Record
⚠ Active Litigation
EVO TURF & PAVERS (EVO ENTERPRISES INC.) • MICHAEL S. MULDER • LICENSE 1018917 • CITATION NO. 2 2023 2010 • COMPLAINT SF 2022008760 • CIVIL PENALTY: $11,750 • 17 VIOLATIONS ACROSS 5 CODE SECTIONS • RETAINING WALL COLLAPSE • FRAUDULENT MECHANIC'S LIEN • NO BUILDING PERMIT OBTAINED • MORTGAGE DEFAULT & FORECLOSURE • 8990 MIRAMAR RD #170, SAN DIEGO CA 92126 •
EVO TURF & PAVERS (EVO ENTERPRISES INC.) • MICHAEL S. MULDER • LICENSE 1018917 • CITATION NO. 2 2023 2010 • COMPLAINT SF 2022008760 • CIVIL PENALTY: $11,750 • 17 VIOLATIONS ACROSS 5 CODE SECTIONS • RETAINING WALL COLLAPSE • FRAUDULENT MECHANIC'S LIEN • NO BUILDING PERMIT OBTAINED • MORTGAGE DEFAULT & FORECLOSURE • 8990 MIRAMAR RD #170, SAN DIEGO CA 92126 •
Consumer Warning — Contractor Fraud
Evo Turf & PaversA Public Record of Fraud
Documented construction fraud, a fraudulent mechanic's lien, retaining wall collapse, and 17 violations across 5 CSLB code sections with an $11,750 civil penalty — causing over $16 million in damages, mortgage default, and foreclosure of a La Jolla luxury estate.
⚖ LEGAL NOTICE: This website presents the personal experience and documented legal claims of the Mora family. All statements are based on court filings, the official CSLB citation, and documented evidence. This site is a non-commercial consumer information resource protected by the First Amendment. Nothing herein constitutes legal advice. This is NOT the official website of Evo Turf & Pavers LLC.
$16M+
Total Damages Alleged
$11,750
CSLB Civil Penalty Assessed
17
Violations / 5 Code Sections
$156K
Fraudulent Mechanic's Lien
$335,708
Fraudulent Bankruptcy Claim
$500K–$700K+
Wall Collapse Repair Cost
Identity & Background
Who is Evo Turf & Pavers?
Evo Enterprises Inc. DBA Evo Turf and Pavers is a California landscaping and hardscaping contractor located at 8990 Miramar Rd #170, San Diego CA 92126, operated by Michael S. Mulder. The CSLB complaint lists Michael Mulder's former address as 1100 N. Magnolia Suite A, El Cajon CA 92020.
Defendant
Evo Enterprises Inc.
DBA: Evo Turf and Pavers
Principal: Michael S. Mulder
CSLB License: 1018917
8990 Miramar Rd #170
San Diego, CA 92126
Phone: (619) 933-7428
Email: [email protected]
Principal: Michael S. Mulder
CSLB License: 1018917
8990 Miramar Rd #170
San Diego, CA 92126
Phone: (619) 933-7428
Email: [email protected]
Stone Haven Build
Evo Concrete and Masonry
Evoscapes
Affected Property
6389 Castejon Drive
La Jolla, California 92037
Certified Appraisal (At Completion): $18,034,000
Reduced Asking Price (w/ Repair Credits): $15,800,000
CSLB Complaint No.: SF 2022008760
Contract Date: 01/28/2022
Contract Amount: $237,158.00
Amount Paid: $225,000.00
Adjusted Credit Owed: $12,158.00 (for work removed from scope and not performed)
Certified Appraisal (At Completion): $18,034,000
Reduced Asking Price (w/ Repair Credits): $15,800,000
CSLB Complaint No.: SF 2022008760
Contract Date: 01/28/2022
Contract Amount: $237,158.00
Amount Paid: $225,000.00
Adjusted Credit Owed: $12,158.00 (for work removed from scope and not performed)
The CSLB issued Citation No. 2 2023 2010 on April 2, 2024, assessing a $11,750 civil penalty against Evo for 17 violations across 5 code sections. The Final Order date was February 19, 2025. A $6,000 modified civil penalty was ordered in 10 monthly installments of $600.
The Story
What Happened — A Timeline
In January 2022, we hired Evo Turf & Pavers (Evo Enterprises Inc.) and paid $225,000 in full. We dealt directly with the owner, Michael Mulder, throughout the entire project. What followed was years of fraud, defective construction, mortgage default, and the foreclosure of our home and livelihood.
January 28, 2022
Contract Signed — $237,158 Agreed
Written contract for landscape, hardscape, turf, pavers, irrigation, drainage, basketball court, bocce ball court, 2 pavilions, potted plants, zen garden and tile installation at 6389 Castejon Drive, La Jolla. Mulder personally assured us the project would be completed in 4–6 weeks and gave us a deadline of March 1, 2022 to get us to sign the contract.
February 1, 2022
Work Began — $225,000 Eventually Paid in Full
Work commenced February 1, 2022 and was abandoned June 20, 2022 — nearly 4 months past deadline. All $225,000 was paid. Evo immediately issued a preliminary lien notice for $325,000 — 57% above the remaining contractual balance.
February–June 2022
Missed Every Deadline — $450,000 in Holding Costs
Evo repeatedly missed its March deadline, pushing to April, May, then June — costing $450,000 in holding costs. A per diem penalty of $1,000/day was agreed upon. The promised crew of 8–10 workers never materialized. Unauthorized change orders totaling $55,000+ were submitted without written authorization.
June 20, 2022
Project Abandoned With Major Defects
Evo declared completion despite: failing 6-foot retaining wall already leaning, defective pot irrigation draining onto brand-new concrete, 7 trees/plants dead, bocce court 20 feet too short, mulch missing in 15+ locations, stucco sprayed onto brand-new basketball hoop. A surprise overtime and "idle time" bill was submitted days before the final payment demand.
July 15, 2022
Fraudulent Mechanic's Lien Filed — $156,184.59 (Lien Instrument No. 22-291647)
Evo recorded a mechanic's lien for $157,000 despite the contract being paid in full. The lien was not properly served — mailed to the property address rather than the entity's legal address, at a time when the property did not even have a mailbox installed. This void lien blocked a signed $11,500,000 refinance commitment from a lender, destroyed our ability to debt-service the project, and triggered mortgage default and foreclosure. We lost our home and livelihood as a direct result of Mulder's fraudulent lien.
January 2023
Retaining Wall Collapses
The Keystone mortarless wall — built without a masonry license and without building permits — collapsed. Vital Core Consulting's engineering report confirmed: defective installation, wrong drainage pipe placement, improper gravel fill, plastic instead of filter fabric, no geogrid for clay soil, uncompacted backfill. Emergency cleanup: $25,000. Total repair estimate: $500,000–$700,000+.
April 2, 2024
CSLB Issues Citation — 17 Violations Across 5 Code Sections, $11,750 Civil Penalty
The California Contractors State License Board issued Citation No. 2 2023 2010 against Evo Enterprises Inc. (License 1018917) finding 17 individual violations across 5 code sections, including willful departure from trade standards, failure to obtain building permits, fraudulent lien amounts, illegal contract terms, and payment in excess of work performed. Civil penalty: $11,750. Final Order: February 19, 2025. Modified to $6,000 in 10 monthly installments.
2023 — Ongoing
Fraudulent $335,708 Bankruptcy Claim
During Bula Developments' Chapter 11, Evo filed a proof of claim for $335,708 — far more than the entire paid contract amount, including charges for defective and unperformed work. Mulder also included approximately $100,000 in self-created "defamation" claims stemming from our Yelp reviews and photos — no defamation lawsuit was ever filed, and no court authorized this claim. He manufactured it entirely on his own accord. The trustee ultimately sold construction defect claims back to Evo for only $50,000.
June – July 2026
Trial Readiness Hearing & Trial — San Diego Superior Court
Federal bankruptcy judge directed all individual plaintiffs to California State Court, preserving independent claims. Trial readiness hearing: early June 2026. Trial: mid-July 2026. Case No. 37-2024-00029706-CU-FT-CTL.
Photo Evidence
Documented Damage — In Photos
⚠ All photos and documents constitute evidence in active litigation (SD Superior Court No. 37-2024-00029706-CU-FT-CTL). Images document 6389 Castejon Drive, La Jolla CA 92037 following work performed by Evo Enterprises Inc. DBA Evo Turf and Pavers, License 1018917.
Evidence Group 1
Project “Completion” → Apparent Defect — 4 Months Before Collapse
August 16, 2022
By August 2022 — just weeks after Evo declared completion and demanded final payment — visible structural defects had already emerged. The retaining walls began showing failure within 30 days of alleged completion. Evo visited the site during the first 30–60 days, observed the defects, and left without performing any repairs or warranty work. Full collapse followed in January 2023.
Evidence Group 2
Property Condition Within 6 Months of Evo’s Alleged Completion
February – October 2023
After Evo received $250,000 in full and declared the project complete, the property deteriorated rapidly. These photos document erosion, wall failure, and landscape defects that made the $18M-appraised property unsaleable.
⚠ Evidence Video
Retaining Wall Collapse — January 2023
Video evidence of retaining wall failure at 6389 Castejon Drive, La Jolla CA 92037. Wall built by Evo Enterprises Inc. DBA Evo Turf and Pavers (License #1018917) without building permits and in willful departure from manufacturer specifications — confirmed CSLB violations §7109(a) and §7110. Collapse occurred within 6 months of alleged project completion. Submitted as evidence in San Diego Superior Court Case No. 37-2024-00029706-CU-FT-CTL.
Evidence Group 3
Condition After Self-Mitigation — Critical Marketing Period
December 2023 – December 2024
Despite self-funded mitigation efforts, the fraudulent lien continued blocking refinancing. Asking price reduced to $15.8M with buyer credit for repairs, against a certified appraisal of $16M assuming completed repairs. Four buyers walked away.
Evidence Group 4
Backyard Paver Damage — Evo’s Defective Installation
December 2025
Defective pot irrigation was engineered to drain directly onto brand-new concrete pavers, causing severe calcium staining and surface damage. CSLB confirmed willful departure from trade standards (§7109a).
Evidence Group 5
Evidence of Incomplete Installation by Evo
June 2022
Photos taken at Evo's claimed completion date show significant work unfinished or defective: mulch missing in 15+ locations, dead trees, bocce court 20 feet too short, stucco on basketball hoop. Evo then demanded final payment and filed a $156,000 lien.
Evidence Group 6
Backyard Damage and Defective Irrigation by Evo
June 2022 – October 2023
Persistent defective drainage caused water accumulation, ongoing erosion, and calcium deposits on new concrete. Documented over 16 months as the property sat unsaleable while Mulder's fraudulent lien remained on title.
Evidence Group 7
Front Entry Damages and Defective Irrigation by Evo
June 2022 – October 2023
Defective irrigation at the front entry caused water damage and surface staining on newly completed hardscape. Damage worsened over the 16-month period the property was locked by the fraudulent lien.
Evidence Group 8
Alleged Landscape Completion — July 2022
July 2022
Evo received $250,000 payment in full — then filed a mechanic’s lien for $156,000. The retaining walls began to show signs of failure within 30 days of this alleged completion date. Evo conducted an inspection of the property during the first 30–60 days, observed the defects firsthand, and left without addressing them. These photos show the property at the moment Evo declared completion and demanded full payment, before recording a fraudulent lien that triggered mortgage default, foreclosure, and the loss of an $18,034,000 estate.
📋 All photos are sourced from the case evidence record submitted to San Diego Superior Court.
View Full Evidence Photo Document →
Construction Defects & Damages
Documented Construction Defects
The following defects and damages were reported directly to Evo in writing on August 31, 2022 — and repeatedly before that. Each was documented in CSLB Complaint Form SF 2022008760 and confirmed by engineering assessments from Vital Core Consulting and Coffey Engineering. Evo was notified of every defect listed below and failed to perform warranty repairs on any of them.
Retaining Walls
6-foot Keystone retaining wall built without permits — began failing within 30 days, collapsed within 6 months — Work began showing structural failure within 30 days of alleged completion (August 2022). Full collapse occurred January 2023 — less than 6 months after Evo declared the project complete and collected payment. Vital Core Engineering confirmed 5 specific installation failures: drain pipe at wrong height, gravel not filling full wall height, plastic film used instead of filter fabric, no geogrid for clay-heavy soil, and uncompacted backfill. Confirmed CSLB violation § 7109(a).
Full collapse — January 2023 — total structural failure approximately 6 months after alleged completion (July 2022). Damage to surrounding hardscape, landscape, and drainage infrastructure. Repair estimate: $500,000–$700,000+. Emergency cleanup: $25,000.
No building permit obtained — walls constructed without required City of San Diego permits. Confirmed CSLB violation § 7110, $5,000 civil penalty.
Evo visited site during first 30–60 days and left all defects unaddressed — Evo personnel observed the failing wall and multiple defects firsthand during this inspection period and departed without performing any corrective or warranty work.
Keystone cap adhesive failed — glue applied directly to stucco (a brittle material), causing cap detachment across multiple wall sections.
Improper hill sloping and drainage — caused excess water accumulation on pavers and upper hill. Directly caused 4 additional trees to die.
Irrigation & Drainage
Defective pot irrigation causing chronic concrete staining — Mulder's crew drilled drain holes in pots that discharged directly onto brand-new concrete. Notified within one week of installation; ignored for months. Required $5,000 in acid washing and resealing — damage recurred within one month each time.
Improper site drainage saturated new concrete with dirt — from February through June 2022. Contractor should have cleaned daily to prevent this. Required $10,000 in labor and materials to acid wash and seal.
Defective irrigation killed 7 trees, 3 trellises, and multiple plants — improper installation and engineering of water supply. Replacement cost: $2,100+.
Standing water accumulation on pavers and pathways — improper sloping and drainage caused standing water and ongoing dirt buildup on all paver pathways.
Hardscape & Pavers
Uneven paver step — not per code — at top of paver pathway. Creates a tripping hazard and fails residential construction standards.
Unsecured paver caps — loose and improperly secured throughout the project, creating additional tripping hazards.
Chronic calcium and hard water staining on concrete — from defective pot irrigation. Required $5,000 acid wash repeatedly; damage never permanently resolved.
$5,000 pressure washing labor pre-staging — 7 days of labor required prior to staging and photoshoot to address dirt saturation caused entirely by Evo's defective work.
Landscape, Turf & Incomplete Scope
Bocce ball court built 20 feet too short with wrong dimensions — required full reconstruction ($40,000). Evo coerced a $16,848 change order for a "fix" that still failed standard residential specifications. Basketball hoop footing placement further obstructed the field of play ($22,008 to correct). Total bocce-related damages: $78,856.
Bocce court artificial turf loose and rippled — improperly installed; visible lifting and rippling within months.
Mulch sparse or missing in 15+ documented locations — weed guard and bare dirt clearly visible across the property. Contractor claimed 2" coverage; industry standard is 3". Completion agreement specifically required mulch completion. Per diem penalties accumulated as a result.
Mexican beach pebble rocks never delivered — contractually required at the upper wall brow ditch per agreement dated 1/25/22. Never provided. $2,000 credit owed and never paid.
Stucco sprayed onto brand-new basketball hoop — crew applied stucco to the rear wall without covering or protecting the basketball hoop a few feet away. Requested correction from both Mulder and Michael Ong repeatedly; ignored every time.
Contractual Violations & Billing Fraud
$55,000+ in unauthorized change orders — submitted without written authorization. Confirmed CSLB violation § 7159.
Fabricated charges for neighbor's plants, employee overtime, and tractor "idle time" — false line items submitted to inflate billing beyond agreed contract amounts.
Payment accepted in excess of work performed — confirmed CSLB violation § 7159.5.
$12,158 credit owed for work removed from contract scope — items removed from the original scope were never performed and were never credited back. This amount is owed to the property owner.
Fraudulent mechanic's lien — $156,184.59 — filed despite full payment. Served at the property address while no mailbox was installed — not at the entity's legal service address (1611 S. Mariposa Road, Stockton CA 95205). Overstated by 40–60%. Confirmed CSLB violation § 7161(d).
Warranty repairs refused entirely — contractor was made aware of all major defects and safety hazards and refused to schedule or perform any warranty work whatsoever.
Physical threat against homeowner — Mulder verbally threatened the property owner on private property, stating he "wanted to fight like men," with his own employees present as witnesses.
"Homeowner's engineering report from Vital Core Engineering found the cause of failure to be defective installation and improper work by contractor; not following manufacturer's engineering specifications."
— Case Chronology filed as evidence, U.S. Bankruptcy Court E.D. Cal. Case No. 23-24619
"Estimated Total Damages: $1,300,000 and counting an additional $100,000 every 30 days."
— Case Chronology, Timeline, Defects and Damages by Evo — filed January 2023
Legal Proceedings
Causes of Action — Hallett Cross-Complaint (2022)
Filed October 14, 2022 by David E. Hallett, Esq. / Buscemi Hallett LLP on behalf of Bula Development Inc., Cesar Mora, and Natasha Mora against Evo Enterprises Inc., Michael S. Mulder, and The North River Insurance Company (contractor's surety bond carrier). Case No. 37-2022-00041470-CU-BC-CTL. Demand: $348,100. The case was tolled from 2024 due to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings (U.S. Bankr. E.D. Cal. Case No. 23-24619). Trial is currently set for mid-July 2026 with a trial readiness hearing in early June 2026.
COUNT 01
Negligence
Evo failed to exercise reasonable care in the construction of retaining walls, irrigation, drainage, and hardscape — resulting in structural failure, property damage, and financial loss.
COUNT 02
Breach of Contract
Evo failed to complete the contracted scope of work, missed all deadlines, performed defective work, submitted unauthorized change orders, and refused to honor warranty obligations.
COUNT 03
Nuisance
Evo's defective construction created conditions — wall collapse, improper drainage, standing water, and ongoing property damage — constituting a nuisance affecting the use and enjoyment of the property.
COUNT 04
Recovery on Contractor's Bond — Resolved via Interpleader
Claim against The North River Insurance Company (surety on Evo's contractor's license bond, License #1018917) was resolved through interpleader proceedings in San Diego Superior Court (Case No. 37-2023-00007460). A $6,400 settlement check was issued payable to Bula Developments, Inc. The funds were not received by plaintiffs. This claim against the surety is resolved.
COUNT 05
Declaratory Relief
Seeking judicial declaration regarding the rights and obligations of the parties, including the invalidity of the fraudulent mechanic's lien (Instrument No. 22-291647) recorded by Evo.
⚠ Note for Counsel: The cross-complaint as filed by Hallett contains 5 causes of action. The case was tolled since 2024 due to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy. With trial readiness in June 2026 and trial in July 2026, the question of whether the complaint should be amended to add additional claims — including fraud, slander of title, unfair business practices (§ 17200), and/or defense to quantum meruit — is a key issue to be assessed by incoming counsel before the readiness hearing.
Official Records
Court Filings & Case Numbers
All of the following are matters of public record:
⚖
San Diego Superior Court — Case No. 37-2022-00041470-CU-BC-CTL
State Civil Action · San Diego, California
Original civil action arising from fraudulent mechanic's lien (Instrument No. 22-291647) and construction defects at 6389 Castejon Drive, La Jolla.
📋
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, E.D. California — Case No. 23-24619
Chapter 11 · Bula Developments, Inc. · Adversary Proceeding Against Evo
10 causes of action filed. Evo filed fraudulent $335,708 proof of claim. Trustee sold defect claims back to Evo for only $50,000.
🏛
San Diego Superior Court — Case No. 37-2024-00029706-CU-FT-CTL
Individual Claims · Trial Readiness: Early June 2026 · Trial: July 2026
All individual plaintiffs directed by federal judge to California State Court. Trial readiness hearing scheduled early June 2026. Trial scheduled mid-July 2026.
🏛
CSLB Citation No. 2 2023 2010 — Evo Enterprises Inc. DBA Evo Turf and Pavers
California Contractors State License Board · License No. 1018917 · Complaint SF 2022008760
17 violations across 5 code sections. Civil penalty: $11,750 (modified to $6,000). Violations: willful departure from trade standards (§7109a), failure to obtain building permit (§7110), fraudulent lien amount (§7161d), defective home improvement contract (§7159), payment in excess of work value (§7159.5).
Summary
The Pattern of Deceptive Conduct
"The contractor is abusing his licensing and lien rights in order to extort money from the homeowner's high-value asset and sale of the property, in addition to providing hazardous incomplete work and not honoring the warranty promised in the contract."
— CSLB Complaint Form SF 2022008760, filed by property owner (confirmed by CSLB investigation)
Received $225,000 in full — then declared completion while leaving defective, dangerous work
Submitted $55,000+ in unauthorized change orders without written authorization — CSLB confirmed violation of § 7159
Filed a mechanic's lien for $157,000 despite full payment — amount confirmed inflated by CSLB (violation of § 7161d)
Served the lien at the property address while no mailbox was yet installed — homeowners unaware until Mulder filed to foreclose
Failed to obtain building permits for the retaining walls — confirmed CSLB violation of § 7110, $5,000 penalty
Built walls that willfully departed from trade standards — confirmed CSLB violation of § 7109(a), causing collapse
Blocked a signed $11.5 million refinance commitment through this void lien — destroying our ability to debt-service the property, causing mortgage default and foreclosure
Filed a $335,708 fraudulent bankruptcy claim including ~$100,000 of self-created "defamation" damages over Yelp reviews — no defamation lawsuit was ever filed; the claim was manufactured without court authorization
17 violations across 5 CSLB code sections confirmed by CSLB; $11,750 civil penalty assessed; motion for sanctions against counsel Grebing was filed and denied
Threatened the homeowner physically on their own property, in front of employees
Hired Evo Turf & Pavers?
If you have had a similar experience with Evo Turf and Pavers, Evo Enterprises Inc., Stone Haven Build, or Michael Mulder — your experience matters. Consider filing a formal complaint with the CSLB.
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