NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development is taking new measures to ensure employers in the construction industry are protecting workers who are injured on the job or need unemployment benefits.
Pending felony charges against contractor cause CLC to halt parking lot work
A suburban Chicago college has halted plans to seal coat its parking lots because the contractor selected for the project is under indictment. College officials initially decided to accept the company’s low bid, despite pending criminal charges, after an attorney advised them to require a performance bond and monitor the project closely, according to the college’s executive director of public relations and marketing. They put the project on hold after a local newspaper learned the contractor has been charged with defrauding several municipalities of more than $400,000.
“The College of Lake County has put a hold on a paving contract after the Lake County News-Sun learned that the top bidder for the project is under indictment in Cook County. Alann Harris, president of Park Ridge-based North Suburban Asphalt Maintenance, which on April 29 was awarded a contract to sealcoat parking lots at the college’s Southlake Campus in Vernon Hills, was indicted in September on charges brought by Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
Madigan claims that Harris, 47, of Niles, ran a kickback scheme in 2010 and 2011 that defrauded several north suburban municipalities of more than $400,000 for public works projects. The indictment also alleges that Harris forced his employees to money from their paychecks each month, a violation of the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act.”
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Lawsuit filed by Target alleges massive fraud by contractor
“Target Corp. filed a federal racketeering lawsuit in Minneapolis Friday, alleging that it has been systematically defrauded by a contractor it hired in 2009 to oversee about $100 million in repairs and maintenance on its parking lots around the country.
The company alleges that LCH Pavement Consultants of Pearland, Texas, conspired with paving contractors in California, Wisconsin, Texas and Illinois to inflate prices, rig bids, fix prices, misrepresent work being done and distribute kickbacks.
It’s unclear from the lawsuit how much Target claims it was damaged, though it appears to be in the millions of dollars. The company is seeking triple damages, with the precise amount to be proven at trial.”
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Contractor set for plea on fraud charges
“A Staunton contractor will enter a plea in response to charges he submitted fraudulent insurance certificates to the Virginia Department of Transportation for snow-removal services.
Jeffrey Jennings, 32, had his Tuesday trial canceled and will enter a plea on March 26, according to Augusta County Circuit Court records.
Jennings is charged with three counts of commercial fraud against a government agency, along with seven counts of obtaining money by false pretenses.”
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NICB Warns Storm Victims: Beware of Contractor Scams
“After a disaster, contractors and others will often go door-to-door in neighborhoods, which have sustained damage to offer clean up and/or construction and repair services. Most of these business people are reputable, but many are not. The dishonest ones may execute schemes to defraud innocent victims. One such scheme is to pocket the payment and never show up for the job, or never complete a job that was started. Another scheme is to use inferior materials and perform shoddy work not up to code in order to pocket more profit.”
Conduct due diligence with Assurance Screening on all companies who work for you and Be Sure.
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