A.G. Schneiderman Announces Lawsuit Against Buffalo Area Contractor For Allegedly Defrauding Consumers

BUFFALO—Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a lawsuit against Joseph Lloyd, who holds himself out as a home improvement contractor, for allegedly defrauding Western New Yorkers by taking advance payments for snow removal services while failing to plow their driveways. In some cases, it is charged that customers allegedly prepaid Lloyd more than $275 for snow removal services that they did not receive following several recent snowfalls. The Attorney General also charges that Lloyd failed to provide home improvement services, even after receiving payment from consumers.

"Anyone who has experienced a winter in Western New York, knows that snow removal is not a luxury, but a necessity," said Attorney General Schneiderman. "My office has made it clear that we won’t tolerate those who exploit poor weather conditions to take advantage of consumers.”

The lawsuit, filed in New York Supreme Court in Erie County, seeks restitution for consumers, injunctive relief, and penalties. Attorney General Schneiderman also obtained an order prohibiting Lloyd from disposing of any of his assets, including his bank accounts. Lloyd is also prohibited from accepting advance payments from consumers.

This past May, Attorney General Schneiderman announced that a court sentenced Scott Romero, a notorious snow plow scammer, to 6 months in jail for violating an order obtained by the office, which required him to pay $50,000 in restitution to victims and to put up a $150,000 bond before he could accept any advance payments from consumers for snow removal work.

This case was handled by Assistant Attorney General James M. Morrissey and Karen Davis, Senior Consumer Fraud Representative in the Buffalo Regional Office. The Buffalo Regional Office is led by Assistant Attorney General In Charge Michael Russo. The Division of Regional Offices is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs Marty Mack.