Attorney General Dave Sunday is taking legal action against Black Cherry Design, LLP, and its owner, Lauren Piasecki, over allegations of failing to fulfill home renovation contracts and not providing prepaid goods to consumers. According to an announcement by the Office of Attorney General, the lawsuit, spearheaded after multiple complaints from consumers who had hired the Allegheny County-based interior design firm for various home improvement projects, accuses the company of accepting upfront payments but not completing the agreed-upon work or ordering the prepaid goods.
It's alleged that the customers handed over significant sums to Black Cherry Design, expecting complete bathroom remodels. Living room redesigns, however, the work was never finished and in some cases, items that were supposed to be purchased were never even ordered the lawsuit filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County states that consumers effectively appointed Black Cherry Design as their purchasing agent, entrusting them to buy furniture and other design items once the full invoiced amount was paid upfront. According to allegations, this process did not result in the promised deliveries, leaving consumers without their money and their goods.
"Consumers paid this company large, upfront sums for home design jobs that were never completed," stated Attorney General Sunday in a press release. The pending lawsuit seeks to reimburse the impacted customers and aims to block Black Cherry Design from future instances where prepayments are accepted for goods.
The legal push by the Attorney General's office is a firm step to right the alleged wrongs of Black Cherry Design and its owner. Deputy Attorney General Jaimie George, who filed the lawsuit, is seeking an official declaration stating the company's violation of the Consumer Protection Law, and additionally asks for court-enforced restitution and an injunction against Black Cherry Design and Piasecki from offering or requiring prepayments for goods.
If individuals have been affected by Black Cherry Designs or Lauren Piasecki's actions, the Attorney General encourages them to file a complaint online or contact the Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555.
