State files suit against Galion contractor

MANSFIELD - A Galion contractor was accused of performing "shoddy and substandard home repair work" in a civil suit filed in Richland County Common Pleas Court Tuesday by the Ohio Attorney General's office.

According to a press release from the state office, James McClanahan and his company, JM Construction Home Improvement, are accused of violating Ohio consumer protection laws.

According to the lawsuit, McClanahan and his company accepted $10,250 in payment for home improvement work from, and failed to provide those goods and services within eight weeks for three consumers who lived in Richland, Huron and Crawford counties.

The Attorney General's office is seeking restitution to the customers, along with a $25,000 fine for each of the three violations listed in the suit.

McClanahan said Tuesday he was not aware of the lawsuit until the News Journal contacted him. He had no comment on the suit, but said his business closed last year after some of his customers did not pay him.

Steve Sensmeier, of Mansfield, hired McClanahan for $6,000 in July 2015, according to Attorney General records. Sensmeier needed a step removed in a hallway in his home that his mother could not get up. McClanahan tore up a hallway in the home and removed the roof but never returned to finish the job. Sensmeier contacted McClanahan, who told him he would not be finishing the job. Sensmeier filed a complaint in September.

The Attorney General's office also filed a similar suit in Cuyahoga County against Richard A. Gazella and his business, Revolution Roofing LLC.

“Most home repair contractors do good work,” Attorney General DeWine said in the press release. “But there are a few operators who fail to do what they are paid to do. In these cases, our goal is to protect consumers and to stop any violations of Ohio’s consumer protection laws.”

zlemon@gannett.com

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Twitter: @zack_lemon