A.G. Schneiderman Announces Order Requiring Contractor Who Defrauded Homeowners To Pay Over $41K In Restitution; $17K In Penalties

Daniel McInerney, Owner Of D Mac Design & Development LLC, Will Pay Over $41K In Restitution To 4 Homeowners, $17K In Costs And Penalties After Failing To Provide Contracted Services

Schneiderman: We Will Hold Unscrupulous Business Owners Accountable

POUGHKEEPSIE – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman recently announced that on August 12, 2016 an order was issued by Dutchess County Supreme Court Judge Peter Forman requiring home improvement contractor Daniel McInerney, doing business as D Mac Design & Development LLC., to pay $41,412.16 in restitution to four homeowners who were victims of his home improvement fraud, $15,000 in penalties and $2,000 in costs to the New York State Attorney General’s Office. In many cases, consumers paid McInerney thousands of dollars only to have him disappear with their money without providing any of the contracted services.

“When hardworking New Yorkers pay for home improvement services, those services should be performed fully, professionally, and in a timely manner,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “My office is committed to holding unscrupulous business owners accountable for taking advantage of New York consumers”.

According to one homeowner who paid McInerney a total of $9,000 in advance payments toward removal and replacement of a patio, the work was done improperly resulting in damage to the siding on his house and central air conditioning system. “In short”, the consumer reported, “he was doing as much damage as help in doing the removal phase of the job”. After paying McInerney the last portion of the $9,000, he abandoned the job, completing almost nothing he promised to do and failed to return the consumers calls.

In another case, a Newburgh homeowner contracted with McInerney to renovate her bathroom. She paid the $10,800 agreed upon contract price, plus an additional $1,500 demanded by McInerney. When the project was barely a quarter of the way to completion, McInerney disappeared, leaving the job in disarray. The job ended up costing the homeowner nearly $30,000, as she spent an additional $19,000 to have the work done right.

This case was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Stephen Barry and Nick Garin. The investigation was conducted by Investigators Stephanie Brideau and Adrienne DeGaetano of the Poughkeepsie Regional Office. The Buffalo Regional Office is led by Assistant Attorney General In Charge Jill Faber. The Division of Regional Offices is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs Marty Mack.