WRIGLEY OBTAINS CONSUMER FRAUD JUDGMENT AGAINST GEORGE LAFAVE DOING BUSINESS AS BY GEORGE BUILDINGS

12 Dec WRIGLEY OBTAINS CONSUMER FRAUD JUDGMENT AGAINST GEORGE LAFAVE DOING BUSINESS AS BY GEORGE BUILDINGS

December 12, 2022

_{CONTACT: Attorney General, Drew H. Wrigley 701.328.2210}

Attorney General Drew Wrigley announces that the Burleigh County District Court entered judgment against George Lafave of Bismarck, ND, doing business as By George Buildings, in its December 1, 2022, ruling. The court determined Lafave engaged in consumer fraud by contracting to perform home improvement projects and then abandoning the contracts after he had been paid. Lafave’s business was not sufficiently capitalized for the work he contracted to perform and that he obtained a contractor’s license by making false or misleading statements on his applications. For his fraudulent conduct, Lafave was banned from contracting in North Dakota for at least five years, and until all amounts due in the Judgment have been paid in full. Pursuant to the Judgment, Lafave is required to pay restitution in the amount of $35,631 to impacted consumers; $2,000 in civil penalties; and the Attorney General’s attorney’s fees and costs in the amount of $1,554.

“Mr. Lafave, after defrauding multiple consumers, making false or misleading statements on his contractor licensing application, and failing to cooperate with the Consumer Protection Division’s legal action, has now been banned from contracting in order to prevent future harm to consumers,” said Wrigley.

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