Ill. Attorney General Files Complaint Against Home Repairman; Lack of Liability Insurance Among Complaints

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced recently that a consumer fraud complaint has been filed in Cook County Circuit Court against a Burbank resident who operates a home repair, remodeling and construction business.

Ron Labay of Burbank, owner of Ron & Don’s Construction, is charged with multiple violations of the Consumer Fraud and Home Repair Acts in conjunction with his home repair business.

According to the complaint, Labay failed to finish projects for which he had contracts with consumers and had received down payments to complete. Madigan’s complaint alleges that Labay refused to complete the work or return the money paid by his customers.

The complaint alleges that in one instance Labay accepted more than $13,000 from a customer and then failed to complete the work as promised, leaving the customer with an unfinished, useless shell of a garage.

Additional charges stem from Labay’s alleged failure to provide customers with legally-required documents, including the three-day “Notice of Cancellation” form and the “Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights” pamphlet. Labay also allegedly failed to provide legally-required information, such as a business address on contracts and proposals. According to the complaint, Labay also lacks liability insurance.

Madigan seeks restitution for Labay’s defrauded customers, civil penalties and a permanent injunction barring Labay from any further home improvement operations.

Chicago Consumer Fraud Bureau Chief Charles Fergus and Assistant Attorney General Sarah Alipourian are prosecuting the case for Madigan’s office.