Attorney General's News Release

October 1, 2008

Nixon obtains order shutting down fraudulent St. Louis home remodeling business; consumers to receive $85,266 in restitution

Clayton, Mo. - The owner of a St. Louis home repair and remodeling business who was paid by consumers for jobs he either failed to complete or that featured shoddy workmanship is permanently barred from the home repair business in Missouri and must pay $85,266 in consumer restitution under a consent judgment obtained by Attorney General Jay Nixon. The Attorney General's consent judgment against Timothy Burke of St. Louis, owner of J.T. Contracting, was filed in St. Louis County Circuit Court.

Nixon sued Burke in August after consumers filed complaints with his office regarding the defendants' business practices, going as far back as 2004. The Attorney General said 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 for 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 at an additional cost 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.

According to the consent judgment, Burke is permanently prohibited from advertising, offering for sale or selling home contracting and home repair services within the state of Missouri, and is also ordered to take all necessary steps to dissolve J.T. Contracting. In addition, the defendant is ordered to pay $85,266 in restitution to compensate 18 consumers who paid him for work projects that were not completed, never started or done with poor workmanship.

Search consumer complaints with "Know MO"

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