CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's office has filed a lawsuit alleging a Northern Panhandle home improvement contractor defrauded at least five consumers of more than $11,000 in down payments for fencing projects.
The lawsuit targets contractor Adam Parsons and seeks to block him from any future contracting work in West Virginia, in addition to the payment of restitution and penalties. The alleged violations occurred through his operation of Precision Fence and Floors.
“Home improvement contractors must fulfill their contracts,” Morrisey said. “Every contract represents a promise, and any contractor who believes he can disregard its obligations should expect vigorous litigation from our office. We stand for the consumer.”
Morrisey
Parsons operated Precision Fence and Floors from his residence in Wheeling, according to the complaint filed in Ohio Circuit Court.
The scheme victimized at least five consumers dating back to September 2017. Each project involved the installation of outdoor fencing at homes in Wheeling, Marshall County or across the state line in Ohio.
The Attorney General alleges that Parsons collected individual down payments totaling $11,200, but never began work on any of the five projects. He also never provided refunds, despite repeated phone calls, text messages and letters from consumers and the Attorney General’s Office.
The lawsuit charges Parsons with unfair or deceptive practices, failure to begin or complete work by the date promised and failure to notify consumers of the three-day right to cancel.
The Attorney General seeks a court order to permanently prohibit Parsons from any future home contracting work, including fence or floor installation services, either as an owner, employee, subcontractor or other means.
The lawsuit also seeks a $5,000 penalty for each violation of the state’s consumer protection law, restitution for each consumer who has not yet obtained a judgment against the defendant and reimbursement for the state’s investigation and litigation expense.
Senior Assistant AG Norman Googel and Assistant AG Abby Cunningham from the Consumer Protection Division are handling the case for Morrisey's office. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge David J. Sims.
Ohio Circuit Court case number 18-C-274
