$290,000 Settlement for violations of the NJ Home Improvement Act and NJ Consumer Fraud Act
A Burlington County Builder along with its subcontractors agreed to pay $290,000 to homeowners for violations of the New Jersey Home Improvement Act and the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. Burlington County homeowners entered into a contract in the amount of $680,000 for a home improvement project. The companies violated the Home Improvement Act, N.J.A.C. 13:45A-16.2 both prior and subsequent to entering into the contract with the homeowners by: (1) commencing work without all applicable state or local building and construction permits as required under state law or local ordinances; (2) requesting the buyer to sign a certificate of completion, or make final payment on the contract before the home improvement was completed in accordance with the terms of the contract; (3) failing to produce copies of inspection certificates to the buyer when construction is completed and before final payment is due or the signing of a completion slip is requested of the buyer; (4) failing to serve the plaintiffs with a written copy of all guarantees or warranties made with respect to labor services, products or materials furnished in connection with home improvements; and (5) failing to put changes to the contract in writing.
As a result of The Law Offices of Trimble & Armano’s experience in consumer and contract litigation, the homeowners recovered $290,000 in damages.