LEGAL NEWSLINE

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster took legal action on Tuesday against 16 home remodeling companies for allegedly defrauding consumers who hired them for remodeling or repair projects.

Koster filed lawsuits against 14 companies, entered into a consent judgment with one company and entered into an assurance of voluntary compliance with another company. The lawsuits and other legal actions affected at least 80 Missouri homeowners who lost allegedly $360,000 to unscrupulous contractors.

"When consumers are cheated by unscrupulous contractors, my office will step in to help," Koster said. "Unfortunately, consumers must do some homework and be extremely cautious when it comes to hiring individuals for home repair services."

Home repair and remodeling complaints are consistently among the top 10 complaints received by Koster's Consumer Protection Division. There have been 334 complaints in 2014 about home repair and remodeling and more than 2,000 complaints since Jan. 1, 2012. Many complaints result from storm chasers who stay long enough to collect initial payments and leave before finishing the repairs, Koster says.

Koster filed lawsuits against Exterior Home Concepts and its owners, Donald Mayers and Carrie Holmes; Jan Johnson, doing business as Alpha Exteriors; Cannon Builders and Remodelers and its owner Robert Cannon; Finder Construction and its owner Douglas Finder; James Oates, doing business as Home Help; Robert Mason, doing business as Mason Construction; Gene Skelton; Cory Smith, doing business as Switzer Construction; Grace Homes; J&N Construction and its owner John Nash; Ronald Spielman, doing business as St. Clair Windows & Doors; Yoder Construction and its owner Merlin Yoder; Paul Kremer, doing business as Kremer Construction; and West County Remodeling and its owner Zachary Mikus.

Koster reached a consent judgment with Cabinet & Interiors and its owner Matt Chapman. He also reached an assurance of voluntary compliance with Veterans Construction and its owner Michael Friery.