DeWine
MASON, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a lawsuit on Thursday against the owner of a southwest Ohio computer repair shop for allegedly failing to provide services paid for among other consumer law violations.
Ronald Denicola, Jr., doing business as JR Computer Outlet, was the subject of multiple complaints to DeWine's office. Denicola allegedly failed to provide services that were paid for, failed to give proper estimates and failed to disclose the company's refund policy. JR Computer Outlet is a computer repair and sales store with a website and a physical location in Maineville.
"JR Computer Outlet was taking consumers' money without properly repairing computers or performing other requested services," DeWine said. "This lawsuit is another example that we will not stand for companies trying to take advantage of consumers in Ohio."
JR Computer Outlet sold and repaired computers through its website and at the store location. Consumers alleged that the company did not provide repairs or services after they paid deposits. DeWine's lawsuit also alleges that the company said it made repairs that it did not actually perform and that it did not offer estimates to consumers.
Denicola allegedly engaged in multiple violations of the Consumer Sales Practices Act, including failure to deliver, failure to inform consumers of their right to an estimate, charging for an unauthorized service or repair, and failure to register the business with the Ohio secretary of state. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties, consumer restitution and injunctive relief.
The state's repair or service rule gives consumers the right to a written or verbal estimate if the cost of a service or repair is over $25. Consumers may not be charged more than 10 percent or $5 of the original estimate, whichever is greater, without the consumers giving the company authorization to do so.