INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed lawsuits Wednesday against two home improvement contractors that allegedly failed to meet contract requirements and a home services company that allegedly misrepresented the urgency of repairs.
Patriot Restoration of New Castle LLC allegedly entered into at least 27 contracts with consumers since November 2011 that failed to meet state requirements. The defendant also allegedly failed to complete roof replacements or other work or issue refunds.
"Door-to-door salesman offering home improvement services - especially after damaging storms - may pressure homeowners into making quick decisions without fully vetting the contract or the company," Zoeller said. "Repairs on your home can carry a hefty price, which means consumers can never do too much homework before deciding on a contractor."
Patriot Restoration allegedly violated the Deceptive Consumers Sales Act, the Home Improvement Contracts Act and the Indiana Home Solicitation Sales Act.
In a separate lawsuit, Reliable Home Improvements LLC and its owners, Joe Callahan and Eric D. Norwood, were alleged to have helped five consumers obtain bank financing before failing to fulfill contracts or provide refunds. The defendants also allegedly acted as a credit services organization without obtaining a surety bond.
Reliable Home Improvements allegedly violated the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act, the Credit Services Organizations Act and the Home Improvement Contracts Act.
In a third lawsuit, Mister Quik Home Services, an Indianapolis-based heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing company, allegedly misrepresented the urgency of repairs to consumers to boost sales and charge high prices for the services.
The defendant allegedly failed to obtain a permit and entered into contracts with consumers that did not meet state requirements.
Mister Quik Home Services allegedly violated the Indiana Home Improvement Contracts Act and the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act.
All three lawsuits seek civil penalties, consumer restitution, injunctive relief and attorney costs.