Apr 16, 2009 1:50 pm US/Central
7 Home Repair Firms Sued For Alleged Fraud
Illinois Attorney General's Office Urges Consumer Caution
CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
Homeowners are urged to use caution when choosing home repair and remodeling contractors after the Attorney General's office filed seven lawsuits against businesses for allegedly defrauded consumers of more than $476,000 in down payments.
"Home repair, remodeling and construction complaints consistently rank among the top that my office's Consumer Fraud Bureau receives each year, especially during the warmer months," Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan said said in announcing the suits, five of which were filed in Cook County and a sixth in McHenry County.
The Cook County suits named the following defendants:
-- Boss Construction of New Lenox, which sells and installs gutters, downspouts, roofing, siding, doors and windows; and its president Steven R. Smith;
-- Alpine Glass Window Co. of Wilmette, which does window and door installation, and its president Carol L. Bernahl;
-- John M. Burow, doing home repair business as John's Home Repair in Willow Springs;
-- Shane Rasmussen and Paul Haley of 123 General Construction of Frankfort;
-- and American Dream General Construction Co. of Berwyn, and its president Carlos Villalvazo.
Madigan filed suit in McHenry County against Steven Tatgenhorst and his companies -- Precision Roofing Restoration of Algonquin, and Xteriors Inc. of Crystal Lake, the release said.
A seventh suit was filed in Bureau County against Charles Templeton of Templeton Construction in Peru.
The complaints allege that the defendants violated the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and the Home Repair and Remodeling Act by accepting thousands of dollars in down payments from consumers, but either performing substandard or incomplete work or, in some cases, failing to perform any work at all.
In each suit, the Attorney General is asking the court to permanently enjoin the defendants from engaging in the home repair business in Illinois, pay restitution to consumers, pay a civil penalty of $50,000, pay additional penalties of $50,000 for each act committed with intent to defraud, and pay an additional $10,000 for each act committed against a senior.
Madigan reminded consumers the best way to avoid home repair fraud is to request and check references provided by contractors or deal only with companies and individuals who have done work for friends or neighbors.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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