(File Photo)

HARRISBURG – Attorney General Dave Sunday announced a lawsuit against a Beaver County home improvement contractor, and his business, for repeatedly failing to complete contracts and operating while unregistered.

The lawsuit alleges that James D. Martin — also known as Doug Martin, and his business, Martin Lawn Services, LLC — failed to perform home improvement contracts by doing subpar work or never doing any work at all. Martin also entered into contracts with several consumers after his business’ registration under the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA) had expired, according to the lawsuit.

At least seven court judgments have been entered against Martin, since 2022, for his business practices, and he also has a pending criminal case in Beaver County regarding theft and deceptive business practices charges.

The Office of Attorney General’s lawsuit seeks to stop Martin from doing business in Pennsylvania, along with consumer restitution and civil penalties.

“This contractor took significant sums of money from hardworking Pennsylvanians hoping to improve their homes, then failed to honor the contracts,” Attorney General Sunday said. “He also knew he had to register as a contractor with our office, failed to do so, and kept taking on clients.”

Martin’s conduct violated both HICPA and the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.

Any consumers who believe that they or someone they know may be a victim of these practices should file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection at www.attorneygeneral.gov, call 1-800-441-2555, or email scams@attorneygeneral.gov.

This lawsuit was filed in the Beaver County Court of Common Pleas by Chief Deputy Attorney General Jesse F. Harvey.