BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a lawsuit Thursday against a Framingham contractor who allegedly performed contracting services without a license, failed to complete contracted work and misappropriated consumer payments.
The lawsuit against Kyle Buckminster seeks consumer restitution and civil penalties for alleged violations of the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act. Buckminster allegedly misrepresented himself as a licensed home improvement contractor and abandoned projects for which he received payment.
Coakley's office obtained a preliminary injunction on Thursday against Buckminster that prohibits the contractor from soliciting or engaging in contracting services without a license or proper registration from the state. Additionally, the injunction prohibits Buckminster from disposing of or transferring any assets while the lawsuit is pending.
"Performing home contracting work without a license puts honest contractors at an unfair competitive disadvantage," Coakley said. "This lawsuit will help ensure that these deceptive contracting practices do not continue."
Buckminster, doing business as First Commonwealth Builders, Blue Ocean Builders, Mid-Cape Construction and Fine Custom Carpentry, Kyle Buckminster Fine Custom Carpentry and Finishing, and Buckminster Corporation, had his contractor's license for home improvement revoked in 2000. Since that time, Buckminster allegedly solicited work as both a home improvement and a general contractor in the state.
Buckminster allegedly operated as a home improvement contractor in four matters filed by residents of South Grafton in 2011 and failed to fulfill his obligations under their home improvement contracts. The contractor then allegedly misappropriated more than $40,000 from a fifth individual for a construction project. Buckminster was ordered to pay thousands of dollars of penalties for his conduct but allegedly failed to pay any of the penalties assessed.
Mass. AG sues Framingham contractor for illegal practices
