Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed lawsuits against three companies in Columbus, alleging bad business practices.
Yost’s office accused two Columbus contractors of doing subpar driveway resurfacing work, and two used car shops of resetting odometers and selling ruined cars in a statement released on Friday.
According to Yost’s office, each of the businesses’ practices left customers feeling dissatisfied and cheated.
Contractors Peter Ristich and Teneilla Stults were sued for breaching the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act and the Home Solicitation Sales Act, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. Ristich, and Stults allegedly underwent a number of firm name changes as Central One Paving, Top Seal, and Alliance Paving.
“Sadly, the days of hiring a contractor with a handshake are over consumers need to be aware of contractors like these who change their name to hide shoddy work from the past. A good contractor will provide a cost estimate, a written contract, and references. Don’t give away your hard-earned money to someone who won’t,” Yost said.
In the case, Ristich and Stults are charged with neglecting to remedy poor pavement work and failing to provide clients adequate notice of their right to cancel contracts. Yost requested that the court compel them to pay court costs, civil fines, and consumer reimbursements.
Additionally, Yost filed lawsuits against Simon Nwaru Jr., the owner of S Automotive in Whitehall, and Korite Michael Kalango, the owner of Kalango Links on Cleveland Avenue, alleging violations of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, the Certificate of Motor Vehicle Title Act, and the Odometer Rollback and Disclosure Act. Yost’s office received 57 complaints about the dealerships, which led to the filing of the action in Franklin County Common Pleas Court as well.
“These dealers went out of their way to make sure that customers had no idea what they were actually buying. Consumers didn’t realize their car would come fully equipped with buyer’s remorse,” Yost said.
According to the lawsuit, S Automotive was the subject of 39 complaints. Several of the people who complained weren’t aware they had purchased cars with altered odometers, and 33 claimed they hadn’t received the car’s title. According to the lawsuit, Kalango Links was the target of 18 consumer complaints, the majority of which claimed odometer tampering.
The lawsuit also claims that Yost’s research revealed that the dealerships also rebuilt damaged vehicles and sold them covertly.
He requested that the court order Nwaru and Kalango to pay back their respective consumers, pay fines and court costs, and be prohibited from possessing or applying for a license as an auto dealer or salesperson. Additionally, he requested that the court order Nwaru to pay back the cash the Title Defect Recision Fund used to settle the allegations.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Dave Yost” by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. Background Photo “Courtroom” by Carol M. Highsmith.
