Attorney General Corbett announces consumer protection lawsuits against 11 home improvement contractors; $660,000+ sought for consumers

HARRISBURG – June 12, 2008 – Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced a series of consumer protection lawsuits filed against 11 home improvement contractors operating in Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, Central Pennsylvania, the Poconos, Southwestern Pennsylvania and Erie, seeking more than $660,000 in restitution for consumers.Corbett said the contractors named in the lawsuits are accused of accepting payment from consumers but failing to begin projects, failing to complete projects, or performing the work in a shoddy or unsatisfactory manner.  Additionally, several of the businesses are accused of failing to provide consumers with a legally-required notice of their three day right to cancel the contracts, while others are accused of failing to register fictitious business names with the Pennsylvania Department of State.

“Every year, thousands of Pennsylvania residents hire contractors for home repair and home improvement projects, and every year the Attorney General’s Office handles thousands of complaints about incomplete or shoddy work,” Corbett said. “Problems involving home repair or remodeling projects are typically the number one topic for consumer complaints, especially during the summer months.”

Corbett said the businesses named in these consumer protection lawsuits include builders, general contractors, home improvement contractors, room remodeling and room additions, concrete paving and repair, window replacement and other home improvement and home repair services.  The projects ranged in size from several hundred dollars to $40,000 or more.

Corbett said the consumer protection lawsuits were filed against the following individuals and businesses:

• Arthur McKeown, doing business as AEM Custom Builders and Buildcrafters, Inc., 813 West Chester Pike, West Chester, Chester County.  The lawsuit accuses McKeown of accepting substantial consumer deposits for general construction work, but failing to begin or failing to complete various projects.  He is also accused of using new consumer deposits to pay for previous projects.
• Kenneth Pomo, doing business as Ken Pomo General Contracting, 6624 Tackawanna St., Philadelphia. The lawsuit accuses Pomo of accepting consumer payments for paving and concrete work, but failing to perform the work or completing projects in an unworkmanlike manner.  He is also accused of failing to provide refunds or complete repairs for defective work and failing to inform consumers of their three-day right to cancel a contract.
• Ronald Renninger, doing business as A Chimney Doctor and Ace of Sweeps, 112 W. Wesner Road, Blandon, Berks County. The lawsuit accuses Renninger of failing to start or failing to complete various chimney repair or cleaning projects.  He is also accused of failing to inform consumers of their three-day right to cancel a contract and failing to register a fictitious business name.
• Brad Soref, also known as Brad Scott and Brad Sores, doing business as Prima-Seal, 425 Front St., Catasauqua, Lehigh County. The lawsuit accuses Soref of failing to start or failing to complete various home improvement projects.
• Robert Scott Clause, doing business as Design by Robert Clause, 1310 Broad Road, Wind Gap, Northampton County.  The lawsuit accuses Clause of failing to start or failing to complete various home improvement projects, along with failing to inform consumers of their three-day right to cancel a contract.
• Glen Langille, doing business as Langstaff, Inc, of RR 2, Box 2035, Effort, Monroe County.  The lawsuit accuses Langille of failing to complete various remodeling and room addition projects and performing work in an unprofessional or unsatisfactory manner.
• James Ryan Ward, doing business as Windy Ridge Construction, 590 Baltimore Pike, Mount Holly Springs, Cumberland County. The lawsuit accuses Ward of failing to complete various home improvement projects, performing the work in an unsatisfactory or unworkmanlike manner and failing to inform consumers of their three-day right to cancel a contract.
• Harry W. Nash, doing business as Nash Construction and Nash Building & Remodeling, 1009 Sixth Ave., Altoona, Blair County.  The lawsuit accuses Nash of failing to complete various home improvement projects, performing the work in an unsatisfactory or workmanlike manner and failing to properly inform consumers of their three-day right to cancel a contract.
• Benjamin J. Seidel and Troy D. Shope, doing business as Home Pro Improvements, 50 West Main St., Uniontown, Fayette County. (This business is no longer in operation). The lawsuit accuses Seidel and Shope of failing to start various home improvement contracts after accepting deposits from consumers and failing to inform consumers of their three-day right to cancel a contract.
• Bryant Hammond, doing business as Windows Express, 1152 East 28th St., Erie. The lawsuit accuses Hammond of accepting consumer deposits for replacement windows and failing to deliver those items, or failing to complete projects.  He is also accused of failing to inform consumers of their three-day right to cancel a contract and failing to register a fictitious business name.
• Christopher C. Stratton, doing business as Roof Pro+ Home Improvements, 19 Miller St., Bradford, McKean County.  The lawsuit accuses Stratton of failing to start or failing to complete various roof repair projects, as well as performing the work in an unsatisfactory or unworkmanlike manner.  He is also accused of failing to inform consumers of their three-day right to cancel a contract and failing to register a fictitious business name.

Corbett said the consumer protection lawsuits seek restitution for consumers totaling in excess of $664,000.  Additionally, the lawsuits call for civil penalties of $1,000 for each violation of the Consumer Protection Law, or $3,000 for each violation involving a victim over the age of 60.

The lawsuits also seek a court order prohibiting the defendants from operating their businesses in Pennsylvania until full restitution has been paid to all the victims, along with a permanent ban on any future violations of the state’s consumer protection laws.

Corbett noted that over the past year, the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection has received nearly 2,100 complaints about home improvement projects, ranging from general repairs and remodeling to roofing and paving, and other specialized tasks.

Corbett urged consumers to take steps to protect themselves from unscrupulous contractors, including:

• Research contractors carefully before signing any contract.
•  Get multiple estimates.
• Get references for recent work, and check those references (ask other consumers if they were happy with the work that was performed, if there were any problems and if they would hire that contractor again).
• Verify that the contractor has a physical address, not just a business card or sign on a truck (You want to be able to locate the contractor if there is a problem with the work).
• Don’t feel pressured by “special offers” or deals on “left over” materials.
• Be wary of contractors who approach you with unsolicited offers or stories of “just being in the neighborhood.”

Additionally, Corbett said that consumers should always get a written contract which includes all of the major details for the project:

• A start date and end date, along with a timeline for larger projects.
• A list of all costs for supplies and labor.
• A list of materials, including any brand-name items that you have specified.
• Details about any warranties or guarantees.
• Responsibility for clean-up of waste materials and debris.
• Information about necessary permits and inspections.
• Information about the contractor’s insurance for any injuries that might occur on the job-site, as well as any damage done to your home and property.
• A payment schedule, with final payment due after the job is completed.
• A notice of your three day right to cancel the contract – If that cancellation notice is missing or the contractor does not explain your right to cancel, do not proceed.
• Never sign a blank contract.

Corbett urged consumers with questions or problems regarding home improvement or home repair projects to contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-441-2555 or file an online consumer complaint using the Attorney General’s website: www.attorneygeneral.gov