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NEWARK
– Superior Court Judge Frank Buczynski
has issued a final judgment by default and
order against an Ocean County contractor,
providing for $750,000 in civil penalties
and $137,000 in consumer restitution, plus
reimbursement of legal and investigative
costs and fees, in an action under the state’s
Consumer Fraud Act, Home Improvement Contractors’
Registration Act and related regulations.
AZ
Renovations, L.L.C. and its owner, Paul
A. Miller, were found to have committed
80 separate violations of the Consumer Fraud
Act, 21 separate violations of the Contractors’
Registration Act, 19 separate violations
of the Contractors’ Registration Regulations
and 17 separate violations of the Home Improvement
Regulations.
Under
the terms of the final judgment and order,
AZ Renovations and Miller are permanently
barred from engaging in any home improvement
work unless and until registered with the
Division of Consumer Affairs.
The
state filed suit against AZ Renovations
and Miller in State Superior Court in Ocean
County last December. The company maintained
business addresses in Freehold and Lakewood.
“Since
its enactment at the end of 2005, the Contractors’
Registration Act has given law enforcement
a powerful new tool to combat contractor
fraud,” Attorney General Stuart Rabner
said. “Those who violate the laws
that are designed to protect consumers ultimately
will be found out and we will pursue civil
judgments against them.’’
More
than 37,000 home improvement contractors
currently are registered with the Division
of Consumer Affairs, as required by the
Contractors’ Registration Act.
"Consumers
spend significant monies to update and renovate
what typically is their largest single asset
- their home. We will be vigilant in pursuing
contractors who flout the contractor registration
requirement and attempt to cheat consumers,"
Acting Consumer Affairs Director Stephen
B. Nolan said.
An initial violation of the Consumer Fraud
Act as well as the Contractors’ Registration
Act may result in a civil penalty of up
to $10,000 and up to $20,000 for each subsequent
violation.
Deputy
Attorney General Jody A., Carbone represented
the state in this action.
Homeowners
can check whether a home improvement contractor
is registered by going to the Consumer Affairs’
web site, www.njconsumeraffairs.gov,
clicking on "licensee search"
and then selecting "home improvement
contractors."
Consumers
may contact Consumer Affairs to file complaints
by calling 1-800-242-5846 (within New Jersey)
or 973-504-6200. Complaint forms also are
available on the Division’s web site.
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