Attorney General's News Release

July 31, 2006

Court issues temporary restraining order against Lebanon home remodeler Nixon alleges preyed on military families

Waynesville, Mo. — A Pulaski County judge today placed restrictions on a Lebanon home remodeler who Attorney General Jay Nixon is suing for consumer fraud. The temporary restraining order entered by Circuit Judge Tracy L. Storie prohibits James Jordan from making misrepresentations or threats to consumers, requires him to pay suppliers for materials he uses in home repair, and forbids him to use various business names unless those names are registered with the Missouri Secretary of State's office.

In addition, Jordan cannot continue to offer home repair services unless, by 9 a.m. on Aug. 2, he:

• (1) files with the court an affidavit itemizing the payments made to him by three consumers who have filed complaints against him, or
• (2) deposits $59,250 with the court - the amount the consumers paid him for home repair.

Nixon is suing Jordan for allegedly taking large deposits for home improvement projects but not finishing the work or refunding the money after he canceled the contracts. Jordan does business as James Jordan Construction Management Services, Jordan Construction Management Services and James Jordan Residential Remodeling Services, all at 25678 N. Hwy. 5, Lebanon.

Jordan, who targeted military families around Fort Leonard Wood through advertising in local newspapers, often required customers to pay at least half the total amount up front as a down payment and then kept pressing for more payments even if he did little or no work, Nixon says.

In one case, Jordan canceled the contract and quit work on a Waynesville home whose owner had paid $37,500 for services not completed or done shoddily. In another case, Jordan allegedly threatened a Houston homeowner who canceled a $4,500 check because Jordan had not completed the promised work, even though the woman had already paid him $17,800. Jordan told the woman, whose husband was serving in Iraq at the time, that the canceled check would result in her husband being placed in a military prison and her children being placed in foster care.

A third homeowner from Roby who paid Jordan $4,150 for a roofing job told an investigator with Nixon's office that Jordan cursed at her and hung up the phone when she inquired why he had not paid a supplier nor done the work she paid for.

In addition to the temporary restraining order, Nixon is asking for preliminary and permanent injunctions against Jordan to prohibit him from making misrepresentations in the sale of home repair services. Nixon also is asking for full restitution for Jordan's victims and for Jordan to pay appropriate costs and penalties. A hearing on Nixon's request for a preliminary injunction is scheduled for Aug. 9 at 9 a.m.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818