POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Jan. 17 that a ruling has been made by the New York Supreme Court in Schneiderman’s favor in the case against Champion Fuel and Service Corp. (Champion) and owner David DeSilva Sr.
Supreme Court Justice Charles D. Wood ordered the defendants to pay full restitution—$176,000—to consumers whom they allegedly defrauded. Additionally, the defendants must pay triple the amount of unpaid damages that DeSilva Sr. owes from 30 small claims judgments.
Schneiderman’s office had alleged the defendants failed to provide consumers with home heating oil and burner services for the 2014-15 heating season, despite taking prepayments from them.
"When New Yorkers hire a home heating oil company, they need to know they’ll get the services they’ve paid for," Schneiderman said. "We’ll continue to hold companies accountable for the promises they make – and ensure that New Yorkers who pay for home heating fuel receive their full order in a timely and professional manner.”
Handling the case for New York is assistant attorney general Sandra Giorno-Tocco, with the assistance from senior consumer fraud representative John Katzenstein and investigators Ralph Dorismond and Michael Christian.