(ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a lawsuit against a St. Clairsville home improvement contractor accused of failing to deliver promised services and performing shoddy work.
The lawsuit charges Scarlet & Grey Contracting Ltd., Scarlet & Gray Builders Ltd., and the businesses’ owner, Kelson Hess, of Beallsville, with violations of Ohio’s consumer laws. In the lawsuit, Attorney General DeWine seeks an end to the violations, consumer restitution, and civil penalties.
“Consumers paid thousands of dollars for work that was not completed as promised,” Attorney General DeWine said. “By law, businesses are required to fulfill their obligations to consumers, and when they don’t, we will hold them accountable.”
According to the lawsuit, Kelson Hess is the owner of Scarlet & Grey Contracting, which filed for bankruptcy in June 2014, and Scarlet & Gray Builders, which is currently operating from 51710 National Rd. E. in St. Clairsville (the same address as Scarlet & Grey Contracting).
Hess’s businesses offer home repair services ranging from roofing repairs to new addition construction.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is aware of at least 10 possible consumer victims. Consumers generally said that the business failed to deliver or performed shoddy work. In some cases, consumers allegedly paid half the contract price upfront, and before the work was complete, the business tried to collect the remaining balance.
The Attorney General’s lawsuit, filed in the Belmont County Court of Common Pleas, accuses the businesses and Kelson Hess with violations of Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act, including failure to deliver and performing shoddy work.
Attorney General DeWine encourages consumers to research a business carefully before making payments or entering into a contract. Consumers can ask family and friends for recommendations. They also can search for complaints on file with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau.
Consumers who believe they have been treated unfairly should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at 800-282-0515 or www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.
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Documents
Lawsuit (PDF)
Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Kate Hanson: 614-466-3840