Attorney General sues home improvement contractor

ELYRIA — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has sued a home improvement contractor in Northeast Ohio who has done business under more than 10 different names and allegedly bilked homeowners out of over $150,000. The lawsuit filed in the Lorain County Common Pleas Court alleges Thomas Cutura, of North Royalton, violated Ohio's Consumer Sales Practices Act, Home Solicitation Sales Act and Home Construction Service Suppliers Act. "This guy changes his company name like he changes his underwear — and for the same reason," Yost said in a statement Wednesday. "His business practices and reputation stink." Cutura is accused of performing shoddy work and failing to deliver promised services or refunds after accepting large down payments from customers. He has used numerous names for his business, including Assurance Roofing and More, Avon Cabinets Direct, Avon Wholesale Cabinets, Cabinets Direct, Mid Ohio Cabinets, Midwest Cabinets and Ohio Capital Cabinets. He has also used aliases, such as Thomas Southard and Thomas Cutura Vavro, according to the Attorney General's Office. The lawsuit stems from 11 unresolved complaints submitted to Yost's Consumer Protection Section. In those complaints, consumers blame Cutura for financial losses of $154,800. Some of the complaints say he took money from customers but never started their projects. Others contend he abandoned projects after performing minimal, shoddy work. Consumers also accuse him of using stall tactics and ignoring their phone calls. The state's filing seeks an order requiring Cutura to reimburse affected customers and pay civil penalties, as well as court costs. It also requests an order preventing him from running a business in Ohio until those debts are paid. Consumers who suspect an unfair or deceptive business practice may contact the Ohio Attorney General's Office at (800) 282-0515 or www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.