(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a lawsuit against Webb Contracting, LLC and its owner, Brett Webb, for violations of Ohio’s consumer laws.
“Imagine paying a company several thousand dollars for home improvement work that is never completed as promised,” Attorney General DeWine said. “That’s the experience that consumers said they had with this business. We tried to resolve the issues with Mr. Webb, but those efforts have failed, leaving us no choice but to file this lawsuit.”
Brett Webb owns Webb Contracting with a principal place of business at 667 Lakeview Plaza Boulevard in Worthington, Ohio. The business offered home improvement services, specifically basement remodeling services, through online advertisements.
According to the Attorney General’s lawsuit, filed in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, the business made false or misleading statements to consumers and took money for services it failed to provide as promised. In some cases, the business did such poor work that consumers had to spend additional money to have the work corrected or completed.
The lawsuit charges the business and owner Brett Webb with multiple violations of Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act and Home Solicitation Sales Act. Specific counts include failure to deliver, shoddy work, making misrepresentations, and failing to give consumers proper notice of their three-day right to cancel the contract. In the lawsuit, the Attorney General seeks permanent injunctive relief, civil penalties, and consumer restitution.
2012 Home Improvement Lawsuits
This is the sixth civil lawsuit against a home improvement business filed by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section thus far in 2012. Home improvement lawsuits were filed in Auglaize County, Cuyahoga County, Franklin County (2), and Hamilton County earlier this year.
Also in 2012, several home improvement scammers have faced criminal penalties due to the efforts of the Consumer Protection Section’s Economic Crimes Division, county prosecutors, and local law enforcement. For example, in January, two individuals were sentenced to multiple years in prison for a Greene County tree-trimming scam. Another individual was charged in Franklin County for theft from the elderly, a third degree felony, after taking money for a roofing job he never performed. In February, a driveway paver was indicted for stealing $21,000 from an elderly couple in Champaign County, and two Summit County roofers were also charged with theft from the elderly.
“This is why it’s so important to find someone you can trust to do work on your home,” DeWine said. “During this time of year, many consumers are thinking about repairing or remodeling their homes. Others are dealing with serious destruction and damage as a result of the recent storms and tornadoes. In any situation, check with my office and the Better Business Bureau to research a business before signing a contract or making any payment.”
Consumers who believe they have been treated unfairly should file a complaint with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or by calling 800-282-0515.
National Consumer Protection Week
This announcement coincides with National Consumer Protection Week, March 4-10, 2012. View events scheduled throughout the state at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/NCPW.
Documents
Copy of lawsuit (PDF)
Media Contacts
Lisa Peterson-Hackley: 614-466-3840
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840