In a bold move to protect homeowners from exploitation, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a lawsuit against Magic Touch Exteriors, a company accused of scamming clients in the shadow of natural disasters, as reported by the Ohio Attorney General’s news release. The legal action aimed at Joseph Slye of Galloway and David Harvey of Columbus, who represent the Hilliard-based firm, charged them with the hefty sum of over $460,000 for home-improvement fraud.
The complaint lodged in Franklin County Common Pleas Court paints a dire portrait of deception, where Magic Touch Exteriors allegedly made commitments to mend roofs, gutters, and sidings after terrible storms. Still, often, they did not start or complete the promised work and turned their backs on communications. "This company preyed on homeowners during a highly vulnerable time and then walked away with their money, leaving them with only empty promises," Yost stated, signaling a firm stance against the malpractice.
This isn't an isolated incidence, trailing behind another suit from August against Liberty Restoration, with accusations of taking $158,000 in payments and not doing the required repairs or providing refunds. Both cases intend to send a clear message from Yost: such exploitative practices are unacceptable. The lawsuit against Magic Touch Exteriors specifically addresses complaints from 38 consumers, 16 Ohioans, cataloged from June 11, 2022, to April 24, where little to no work was done after contracts were signed, leaving homeowners stranded and out of pocket. The damages reported highlight a chilling disregard for trust and urgency post-calamity.
Yost's lawsuit seeks financial restitution for the aggrieved parties. It also demands civil penalties and injunctive relief to prevent Slye, Harvey, and their enterprise from repeating such fraudulent undertakings. Justice here plays a two-fold role, rectifying monetary losses and safeguarding future potential victims from the grips of opportunistic entities that may appear benign but hold malevolent intent under stress's guise.
