Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has obtained a default judgment against Caltons Lawn Care & Landscaping LLC and its owners, Aron Dean Calton and Leslie Calton, for violating the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. The company, based in Kent City, was found to have accepted advance payments or deposits for lawn care and pool projects but performed little or no work before ignoring or blocking customers who requested refunds.
The lawsuit was filed after the Caltons, operating under both Caltons Lawn Care & Landscaping LLC and Lake Michigan Pool and Outdoor Services on Facebook, engaged in these practices with several consumers across West Michigan.
Under the judgment, the Caltons and any entity they create are prohibited from conducting business in Michigan if they receive payment before completing work. The court order also dissolves their company and bars them from refusing to refund consumers. Additionally, the Caltons must pay a $100,000 civil fine and are forbidden from transferring or spending funds that could be used to compensate affected customers.
“Contractors cannot take money from consumers and then disappear without the work being finished,” said Attorney General Nessel. “I am proud of the work my office has done to secure this judgment and the work they continue to do to protect Michiganders from unscrupulous business practices.”
Since legal action began, reports have continued that the Caltons may still be engaging in similar conduct. Attorney General Nessel encourages anyone with related experiences involving businesses connected to the Caltons to contact her office’s Consumer Protection Team.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General serves as the state’s primary legal authority with statewide jurisdiction to protect residents through various public service initiatives such as managing consumer complaints, issuing scam alerts, supporting crime victims, combating human trafficking, addressing data breaches, and assisting with expungements (https://www.michigan.gov/ag). Dana Nessel is serving as Michigan’s 54th attorney general (https://www.michigan.gov/ag).
Consumers can reach out by mail at P.O. Box 30213 Lansing, MI 48909; by phone at 517-335-7599 or toll-free at 877-765-8388; by fax at 517-241-3771; or through an online complaint form.
