Attorney General's News Release

October 6, 2008

Nixon files lawsuit against Sullivan home builder who was paid by consumers for shoddy or non-existent work

Union, Mo. - A Sullivan man who operates a homebuilding business that was paid tens of thousands of dollars to perform construction projects for consumers but then either failed to complete the work or did so using substandard workmanship is the target of a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Jay Nixon. Nixon's lawsuit against Jason Woods, who does business as Timber Ridge Construction, was filed in Franklin County Circuit Court and seeks injunctive relief, restitution and civil penalties.

According to the lawsuit, Woods entered into a contract with a consumer in Sullivan in which the defendant was to construct a new home on property owned by the consumer. While the house was in the process of being constructed, the consumer paid Woods a total of $138,951 for the job. However, Woods failed to complete the construction of the house per the specifications listed in the agreement. Damage included trusses and the roof needing replacement, the support beams being too short, the walls needing repair and river rock being used instead of clean gravel on the driveway. As a result of the defendant's poor workmanship, the consumer reported that the house was uninhabitable.

In addition, Nixon says, the defendant entered into a contract with a Hermann couple to construct a storage building on the couple's property. The couple paid Woods a total of $30,000 to construct the structure, but he failed to do so.

None of the consumers who paid Woods for the poor quality of non-existent work received a refund from the defendant.

Nixon's lawsuit asks the court to issue preliminary and permanent injunctions to prevent Woods from continuing to violate state consumer protection laws. The Attorney General is also requesting that the court order Woods to pay full restitution to all consumers who were harmed by his unlawful conduct, as well as appropriate civil penalties.

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