Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine recently filed a lawsuit against a Marion home improvement company for allegedly cheating homeowners on work and putting their homes at risk by failing to pay supply companies.
In the lawsuit filed last week, DeWine charges Beltran Construction L.L.C. and its owner, Jon Settlemire, with violating Ohio's consumer protection laws.
“Some consumers got a very bad deal,” DeWine said. “They paid for services they never received as promised or ended up with a lien on their property for work they had already paid for.”
The lawsuit states that Beltran contracted with home improvement supply companies for products for home repair work. The supply companies put liens on the homes, alleging Beltran didn't pay them in full.
Homeowners had already paid Beltran for the work, but can't sell or refinance their homes until the claims are settled and the liens are removed. They could also face foreclosure from lien holders.
The lawsuit alleges that Beltran Construction and Settlemire violated the Consumer Sales Practices Act by failing to deliver services, performing shoddy work and failing to pay subcontractors and suppliers, resulting in the liens on consumers' properties.
DeWine is seeking consumer restitution, a permanent injunction and civil penalties in the lawsuit.