Attorney General's News Release

August 12, 2008

Nixon lawsuit aimed at shutting down St. Louis home remodeling business that was paid for jobs it failed to complete

St. Louis, Mo. - A St. Louis home repair and remodeling business that was paid by consumers for jobs it either failed to complete or that featured shoddy workmanship is facing a lawsuit by Attorney General Jay Nixon. Nixon filed the petition in St. Louis County Court today against J.T. Contracting and its owner, Timothy Burke of St. Louis, seeking a temporary restraining order, permanent injunction, consumer restitution and civil penalties.

At least 12 consumers filed complaints with the Attorney General's Office regarding the defendants' business practices, going back to 2004. Nixon says that Burke made consumers sign contracts with him to perform various home construction projects such as additions, general remodeling and repair work, and required the consumers to make down payments on the jobs. In most cases Burke failed to complete the work, and in at least one instance failed to even begin work on a project. Some consumers who filed complaints alleged that the work that Burke did complete was substandard and that they had to have the work redone due to its shoddy nature.

Consumers who filed complaints with the Attorney General's Office also stated that they did not receive refunds from the defendants for the unfinished work.

Nixon's lawsuit is requesting that the court issue a temporary restraining order against the defendants, barring Burke or anyone from J.T. Contracting from advertising, offering for sale or selling home contracting services within the state of Missouri. The Attorney General is also asking the court to order the defendants to pay full restitution to all consumers who paid them for work projects that were not completed, never started or done with poor workmanship, appropriate civil penalties and all investigative and prosecution costs in the case.

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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