Attorney General's News Release

August 7, 2008

Nixon obtains court order requiring Springfield roofer to pay $70,000 in restitution to consumers

Springfield, Mo. - A Springfield roofer must pay $70,054 in restitution to consumers who paid for shoddy or incomplete work, under an order issued today by the Greene County Circuit Court. In the default judgment, Judge Calvin Holden also prohibited David Harlow from making misrepresentations to consumers, and ordered him to pay $19,000 to the state in penalties and $1,200 for Attorney General Jay Nixon's costs in bringing the case.

Nixon filed a lawsuit in May against Harlow, who did business as Harlow Roofing and Siding, after receiving numerous complaints from consumers who paid thousands of dollars for roofing work that in some cases was so substandard it caused damage to consumers' homes. Nixon said Harlow also would not complete work for which he had been paid and, in at least one instance, never started the work, despite being paid $3,400.

"Bad apples in the home repair business like David Harlow need to be held accountable," Nixon said. "We will pursue collection on this judgment to ensure that his victims are made whole."

The lawsuit said that since at least September 2004, Harlow had violated state consumer protection laws in the operation of his business, including failing to honor warranties made to consumers; causing damage to consumers' property and not repairing that damage; failing to complete a job in a reasonable time period; and performing shoddy work and failing to make the necessary repairs to the consumer's satisfaction.

Missouri consumers can file complaints about problems with home repair by going to the Attorney General's Web site at ago.mo.gov or by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.

Take the "Consumers Take Action" online quiz

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818