The Globe and Mail

When George Eaton needed an architect to design a new home, he called up his old friend Conrad Black and asked if he could recommend someone. It was early 1988 and Mr. Eaton wanted to build a house for his family and his mother, Signy, on Hawkridge Farm, a 240-acre spread the Eaton family owned north of Toronto near Caledon, Ont. Lord Black didn't hesitate to make a recommendation -- Thierry Despont. The French-born Mr. Despont worked out of New York and had become something of a legend among the rich and famous. He'd not only redesigned Lord Black's Toronto mansion, but also homes for Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta and, later, Bill Gates. But what seemed like a perfect match -- a Canadian business mogul and a renowned architect -- has turned into a legal nightmare. Mr. Eaton alleges in court filings that the house Mr. Despont designed -- a 28,000-square-foot behemoth -- was so badly planned and built that it has literally made him sick. Mr. Despont has fired back with allegations that it's not his fault.