Judge Says Home Contractor Guilty of Criminal, Civil Contempt

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has praised an order issued by a judge to stop an Orange County home improvement contractor from continuing to defraud consumers.

Supreme Court Justice Elaine Slobod’s order permanently bars Christopher Rooney of Newburgh from engaging in the home improvement business in New York State, whether acting individually or through his businesses known as Renaissance Renovation and CRC Home. The judge also ordered Rooney to pay restitution to consumers, fines and costs totaling over $97,000.

In addition, Spitzer sought and obtained a court order finding Rooney guilty of civil and criminal contempt for violating the terms of a prior court order against him. If Rooney fails to pay the full amount ordered by the court, he will be required to serve six months for civil contempt and 30 days for criminal contempt.

Spitzer’s office obtained a court order against Rooney in September 2000 which barred him from engaging in the home improvement business unless he posted a $50,000 performance bond, and required him to pay restitution, fines and costs.

However, Rooney reportedly ignored the court order and continued to engage in the home improvement business without posting the required bond. In addition, Rooney reportedly continued to engage in deceptive and illegal practices by continuing to perform shoddy work, failing to complete jobs, failing to remedy defective work, and failing to make full restitution to consumers.