Illinois AG Out To Hammer, Nail Home Improvement Contractors For Deceptive Practices, Shoddy & Incomplete Work

The following press releases are from the Office of the Illinois Attorney General in connection with its effort to target wayward home improvement contractors. The civil lawsuits, according to the press releases, generally allege that the defendants have violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and the Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act by:

• performing work in a shoddy, unprofessional manner;
• failing to complete the repair work; and
• refusing to provide refunds to consumers.

The complaints also allege that the defendants failed to provide homeowners with written contracts and the "Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights" pamphlet, as required under Illinois law. In the suits, Madigan generally also asks the court to prohibit the defendants from engaging in the home repair trade in Illinois, and seeks:

• restitution for consumers,
• a civil penalty of $50,000,
• additional penalties of $50,000 for each violation found to have been committed with the intent to defraud,
• $10,000 per violation found to have been committed against a consumer who is 65 years or older, where applicable.
• a a court order requiring the defendants to foot the bill for the costs of the prosecution and investigation of the case.

For the press releases, see:

• Madigan Sues Chicago Contractor For Failure To Fulfill Home Improvement Contracts: The AG's lawsuit, filed in County Circuit Court, alleges that Chicago home repair contractor Robert Leving, who operates a home repair business under the names Right Choice Construction and Elite Construction solicited contracts without a license and collected up to $26,000 in deposits from consumers. The Attorney General's Consumer Fraud Bureau has received six complaints about Leving's work from consumers in the Chicago area.

• Madigan Sues Rockford Home Contractor For Shoddy Work, Failure To Complete Fence Installations: The AG's lawsuit, filed in Winnebago County Circuit Court, alleges that Rockford contractor Michael J. Thelen, who owns and operates Thelen Services, Inc., solicited contracts to remove or install fences but failed to complete contracted projects or completed them in a substandard manner. Despite consumer requests, Thelen allegedly refused to refund down payments. The Attorney General's Consumer Fraud Bureau has received three complaints since September 2008 about Thelen's work from consumers in DeKalb, Boone and Ogle Counties.

• Madigan Sues Springfield Contractor For Failure To Fulfill Home Improvement, Roofing Contracts: The AG's lawsuit, filed in Sangamon County Circuit Court, alleges that Springfield-based contractor Jeremy L. Sorenson, who operates JSL Construction, solicited home improvement services from area homeowners without a license and collected more than $72,000 in fees for work that he failed to perform or completed in a substandard manner. The Attorney General's Consumer Fraud Bureau has received six complaints about Sorenson's work from consumers.

• Madison Sues Washington County Contractor For Failure To Fulfill Home Improvement Contracts: The AG's lawsuit, filed in Washington County Circuit Court, alleges that local home repair contractors Everett and Myra Henson, who operate Henson Construction, Pole Barns & More and Do-It-Rite Home Improvement, solicited contracts and collected fees for work that the contractor failed to perform or completed in a substandard manner. The Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Bureau has received five complaints about the defendants’ work from consumers in Franklin, Jackson and Washington counties.

• Madigan Sues Williamsom County Contractor For Failure To Fulfill Home Improvement Contracts: The AG's lawsuit was filed against Williamson County contractor Garret Wilson, who operated Residential Construction Services LLC, for allegedly soliciting home improvement contracts from area homeowners without the proper licenses and collecting more than $47,000 in fees for work that he failed to perform or completed in a substandard manner. The Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Bureau has received three complaints about Wilson’s work from consumers.