Attorney General James Announces Court Order Against Contractors Scamming Buffalo Homeowners
Attorney General James Announces Court Order Against Contractors Scamming Buffalo Homeowners
BUFFALO – Attorney General Letitia James today announced a court order against the owners of a home improvement contracting company for scamming homeowners in the Buffalo-region. The court order against Edward Kwiatkowski Sr., his son Edward Kwiatkowski Jr., and their company JR Construction requires the Kwiatkowskis’ to pay consumer restitution of at least $44,000 and penalties of up to $10,000. The order also permanently bans Kwiatkowski Sr. from acting as a home improvement contractor within the State of New York, requires him to dissolve his business, JR Construction, and requires Kwiatkowski Jr. to post a performance bond of $50,000, or the full amount of each contracted home improvement job before performing any work as a home improvement contractor.
“New York has zero tolerance for businesses and individuals who fail to provide New York consumers with services they paid for,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “These individuals scammed hardworking consumers and cheated them out of thousands. Home improvement contractors must comply with New York law or my office will take action to hold them accountable.”
JR Construction and the Kwiatkowskis’ were in the business of constructing pole barn structures on consumers’ residential property. The Attorney General’s Office received numerous complaints from customers of JR Construction, stating that they paid for work that was not performed and that work was performed in a shoddy and unworkmanlike manner. The Kwiatkowskis’ failed to pay multiple subcontractors and vendors for construction materials, resulting in liens being placed on consumers’ properties. The Kwiatkowskis also provided consumers home improvement contracts that failed to comply with New York law.
Consumer Brian Lords hired JR Construction to construct a pole building near his home. Lords described dealing with the Kwiatkowskis’ as “one of the worst experiences of my life.” The Kwiatkowskis’ took $36,000 from Lords, but “didn’t even pay the subcontractor who did the concrete,” and as a result a lien was placed on Lords’ property.
In addition to the name JR Construction, the Kwiatkowskis’ also operated their business under the names JR Contracting and Handyman Services, JR Enterprises, JR Structures, and JR Construction and Firewood.
Consumers who have not already filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office and believe they paid JR Construction or the Kwiatkowskis’ for home improvement services that they did not receive should call the Attorney General’s Consumer Help Line in the Buffalo Regional Office at (716) -853-8404 or file an online complaint. Complaints must be received by the Attorney General’s Office by June 3, 2019.
This case is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Christopher L. Boyd, under the supervision of Assistant Attorney General in Charge Michael J. Russo, with the assistance of Senior Consumer Frauds Representative Karen Davis. The Buffalo Regional Office is part of the Division of Regional Offices, which is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs Jill Faber.