Wisconsin Court Rules Against Home Improvement Company For Violations Of State Consumer Protection Laws

The Wisconsin Attorney General's Office announced last month:

• The Wisconsin Department of Justice ("DOJ") obtained a judgment on Tuesday holding Middleton company, Asphalt Specialists, L.L.C., and its owner Jace McDonald liable for violating state consumer protection laws. The defendants provide various home improvement services including asphalt and cement paving, deck sealing and gutter cleaning. After an investigation and referral by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, DOJ filed suit against the defendants in October, 2007.(1)

For the press release, see Middleton Company Violated State Consumer Protection Laws, Court Rules.

(1) According to the press release, the lawsuit alleged that the company, under the direction of McDonald engaged in misleading and deceptive behavior to solicit home improvement services and then failed to comply with state home improvement laws in conducting services by, among other things:

• failing to provide home improvement contracts;
• substituting products or materials used in conducting its services;
• misrepresenting it was licensed and bonded to conduct work;
• failing to provide customers with lien waivers following payment; and
• deceptively advertising its services by promoting gift cards that the company failed to honor.