A.G. Schneiderman Announces Settlement With Buffalo Area Contractor For Allegedly Defrauding Consumers

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman recently announced that a lawsuit his office filed against Joseph Lloyd, who holds himself out as a home improvement contractor, has resulted in a settlement. Mr. Lloyd was accused of defrauding Western New Yorkers by taking advance payments for snow removal services while failing to plow their driveways. In some cases, customers allegedly prepaid Lloyd more than $275 for snow removal services that they did not receive following several winter snowfalls. The Attorney General also found that Lloyd allegedly failed to provide home improvement services, even after receiving payment from consumers.

“When scammers make false promises and defraud consumers there will be consequences,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “This settlement bars Mr. Lloyd from engaging in the snowplowing, landscaping, and home repair business, preventing him from preying upon additional consumers.”

The agreement announced today listed Joseph Lloyd, M. Franklin Properties, LLC, and M. Franklin Home Improvement, Inc. as parties to the agreement. Under the agreement Lloyd is barred from participating in any home improvement, landscaping, or snow plowing business, is ordered to pay $40,000 in restitution to victims, and is ordered to pay an additional $15,000 penalty.

To ensure compliance with the agreement, Mr. Lloyd must report in writing to the Attorney General’s Office on the first business day of January, May, and September of each year the name and address of his employer. Failure to meet the conditions of the agreement could result in the Attorney General’s Office seeking contempt of court charges that are punishable with possible jail time.

This case was handled by Assistant Attorney General James M. Morrissey and Karen Davis, Senior Consumer Fraud Representative in the Buffalo Regional Office. The Buffalo Regional Office is led by Assistant Attorney General In Charge Michael Russo. The Division of Regional Offices is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs Marty Mack.