Violations of Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor Act-Criminal Penalties

Massachusetts Attorney General: Full Article http://web.archive.org/web/20041215000150/www.ago.state.ma.us/s...
1 of 2 1/23/07 10:10 AM
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WATERTOWN CONTRACTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO VIOLATING
HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTORS ACT
Contractor to pay restitution of $14,100 to 12 consumers
May 5, 2003
CONTACT: BETH STONE
(617) 727-2543
BOSTON -- A Watertown man has pleaded guilty to multiple home improvement contract violations in connection with work done for 12
consumers from April 2000 through May 2001, Attorney General Tom Reilly announced today.
James Pallone, 46, of Watertown, pleaded guilty to 12 counts each of operating as a home improvement contractor without certification,
requiring a deposit on a home improvement contract in excess of that permitted by law, and failing to specify start and completion dates
on a home improvement contract. Middlesex Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Donovan sentenced Pallone to serve probation of five years
and pay restitution of $14,100 to be paid within the first year of probation. As part of today's sentencing, Pallone also was barred from
doing any work that would require a supervisor's license in Massachusetts for five years.
Pallone operated Middlesex Contractors, a landscaping, masonry and general home improvement business. Pallone consulted with
consumers and offered estimates on jobs before a contract was signed.
The investigation found that between April 2000 and May 2001, 12 separate victims contracted Pallone to do various improvement jobs
ranging in price from $2,000 up to $60,000, on their homes. The work Pallone was contracted to perform for the consumers falls under the
Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractors Act and therefore required Pallone to have a license. Pallone was not licensed to perform
home improvement contracting work, as required under the law.
Consumers signed contracts drawn up by Pallone that did not list start and completion dates for the home improvement jobs, as is
required by Massachusetts state law. Pallone also required that customers pay approximately half of the contracted price up front, a
violation of Massachusetts state law which requires only 1/3 of the total be paid ahead of construction.
Victims who contracted Pallone's services are from Arlington, Belmont, Newton, Waltham, Watertown and Weston.
Consumers with questions about home improvement contractors should contact the Attorney General's Consumer
Hotline at (617) 727-8400.
Assistant Attorneys General Madeline Leone and Kathy Chen, both of AG Reilly's Corruption, Fraud and Computer Crimes Division
prosecuted the case, which was investigated by State Police assigned to the Attorney General's Office, Investigator Ashley Dizel of AG
Reilly's Public Protection Bureau and Investigators Paul Stewart and Jon Murphy of AG Reilly's Financial Investigations Division.
Massachusetts Attorney General: Full Article http://web.archive.org/web/20041215000150/www.ago.state.ma.us/s...
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