Madigan sues Aurora concrete companies for fraud

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a lawsuit accusing the operators of two west suburban concrete businesses of scamming area residents out of more than $85,000 for work that was either faulty or never done.

Madigan filed the suit in Cook County Chancery Court Thursday against Thomas Patrick Ratz and Ola S. Williams, both of Aurora, according to a statement from the attorney general’s office. The suit accuses them of violating Illinois’ Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

Ratz owned Pathways Concrete and Envision concrete, and partnered with Williams to run Envision, according to attorney general’s office. The suit alleges they cheated customers out of money for home repair work that was substandard or incomplete, and often failed to refund customers for deposits they had already paid.

Customers in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties reported losses of more than $50,000 to Pathways, according to the suit. Customers in DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties reported losses of more than $35,400 to Envision.

Madigan is asking the court to prevent the defendants from doing business in Illinois, impose civil penalties, nullify any outstanding contracts they have, and provide restitution to customers, according to the statement.

Anyone who believes they have been defrauded by Pathways or Envision is asked to contact Madigan’s Consumer Fraud Hotline at (800) 386-5438.