Lawsuit seeks to shut down suburban home repair ‘scammer’

A southwest suburban home repair company would be out of business, its president barred from doing business in the state and its customers compensated under a lawsuit filed Friday.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed the suit to shut down the business it claims has defrauded homeowners in Will and DuPage counties out of nearly $150,000, a statement from the AG’s office said. Eagletop Construction billed customers for home repair and remodeling projects that were either poorly executed or never completed, the suit claims.

Madigan also warned consumers that the business owner, Dan M. Creager, has recently gone back into the business under the name Michael Builders.

The suit, filed in Will County Circuit Court, asks a judge to shut down Eagletop — which also operates as Eagle Top Design and Builders — and claims neither firm is registered with the state. Creager would have to pay full restitution for homeowners he defrauded, plus civil penalties.

“Through this lawsuit, we’re working to stop yet another home repair scammer from doing business in Illinois and taking advantage of homeowners,” Madigan said in the statement.

The suit claims Creager solicited business online, including via the referral service HomeAdvisor, “to perform home repairs with an emphasis on kitchens, bathrooms, basements, remodeling and additions” since at least March 9, 2015. Creager charged customers and was paid for services never performed or completed, then refused to return the payments.

The lawsuit calls that a violation of both the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, and the Home Repair and Remodeling Act.