(WARREN, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is suing a Mahoning Valley contractor who allegedly performed substandard home-improvement work or failed to complete the upgrades after accepting large down payments from customers.
“This contractor pocketed down payments only to abandon the projects,” Yost said. “Now, we’re stepping in to protect consumers and hold him accountable.”
The lawsuit, filed in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, accuses Youngstown resident Stanley Strickland Jr. and his business, SNT Roofing and Landscaping LLC, of violating the Consumer Sales Practices Act and the Home Solicitation Sales Act.
According to four consumer complaints filed with Yost’s Consumer Protection Section, the defendants solicited business from customers and collected down payments, but performed shoddy work or did not complete the work. In some instances, after securing initial contracts and payments, Strickland allegedly persuaded customers to sign additional agreements and pay more money for other projects he never completed.
Yost encourages other affected consumers to file complaints with his office.
The Attorney General’s Office is seeking restitution for affected consumers as well as civil penalties and injunctive relief.
In February, Strickland pleaded guilty to theft charges involving similar allegations in a case prosecuted by the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office.
Yost reminds Ohioans that, before signing a home-improvement contract, be sure to:
- Check with local officials to see whether permits are required for the project.
- Ask the contractor for references — and follow up with those references.
- Check whether any complaints have been filed against the contractor with the Better Business Bureau and/or the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
- Get written estimates from at least three contractors.
- Verify your cancellation rights under Ohio law.
- Ensure that the contract details:
- A description of the work to be completed.
- Any warranties or guarantees.
- Any verbal promises made by the contractor.
- Avoid any contract requiring a large down payment or requiring full payment before the project is completed and inspected.
Consumers who believe they have been taken advantage of by a home-improvement contractor should file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or by calling 800-282-0515.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Dominic Binkley: 614-728-4127
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