NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) -- New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa announced Wednesday a $353,800 court order against a North Jersey businessman who sells, installs and repairs draperies and blinds for alleged Consumer Fraud Act violations.
Essex County Superior Court Judge Harriet Klein issued the court order last week against Mitchell Poller for allegedly committing multiple violations of state consumer protection laws.
Poller allegedly performed home improvement contracting without being registered with the state, failed to deliver furniture that consumers purchased, failed to return deposits or down payments when services were not provided, and failed to provide contracted-for services.
"Poller offered to install and repair draperies but in reality he fleeced consumers through his systematic pattern of fraud and lies," Chiesa said in a statement. "Poller broke laws that are in place to protect consumers and we have held him accountable for the frauds he committed."
Poller conducted business under many different names including The Drapery and Blind Company, Affordable Drapery and Blind Company, Affordable Draperies and Blinds, Country Wide Draperies and Blinds, Countrywide Draperies and Blinds, American Draperies and Blind Company, and American Draperies and Blinds.
Chiesa's office received multiple complaints about Poller's businesses.
In her ruling last week, Klein ordered Poller to pay $13,800 in consumer restitution and $340,000 in civil penalties for the alleged violations of the Consumer Fraud Act and the Home Improvement Contractors' Registration Act.
The court later will determine the reimbursement amount that Poller will pay to the state for attorney and court costs.