TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) -- Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wednesday her office has obtained an order against Nationwide Pools Inc., freezing the company's assets and enjoining it from participating in the pool construction and remodeling business.
In June, Bondi's office sued Nationwide Pools for allegedly engaging in unfair and deceptive trade practices related to the company's construction and sale of pools.
Nationwide Pools allegedly transferred its assets to National Construction Group and continued its deceptive practices during a period of active litigation.
On Monday, the Broward County Circuit Court issued an order to freeze Nationwide Pools' assets and enjoin the defendants from further business related to pool remodeling and construction that could harm Florida consumers while the litigation is pending.
"We will not allow them to circumvent the litigation by creating and funneling money to a separate business in order to engage in the same alleged unfair and deceptive conduct," Bondi said in a statement.
In the original lawsuit, Bondi's office alleged that Nationwide Pools used multiple false and deceptive marketing practices related to the sale and construction of pools. The alleged deceptive practices included failing to pay subcontractors which caused liens to be placed on the homes of consumers, charging illegal credit card fees, making pool financing misrepresentations, failing to complete construction of pools and making misrepresentations related to manufacturer warranties and rebates.
Bondi's amended complaint seeks permanent injunctive relief and consumer restitution, in addition to the return of the assets transferred to National Construction Group.
Bondi obtains asset freeze against Nationwide Pools
