A Golden Valley contractor has been fined $25,000 and barred from obtaining a license for roofing, remodeling and residential building for at least two years by the state Department of Labor and Industry.

The department cited Arkay Builders' failure to pay or appeal $740,000 in court judgments. Kurian and Laly Benjamin of Woodbury were awarded $200,000 after they sued Arkay for abandoning a remodeling project. The Benjamins appealed to the state's Contractor Recovery Fund, which will pay them $50,000. The fund is tapped when licensed contractors don't pay judgments.

The department also cited Arkay and principal Bruce E. Swanson for failing to pick up the permits or pay the fees for doing exterior work on 18 town houses in St. Louis Park.

For more information about the Contractor Recovery Fund, click here.