PG County Home Builder To Pay $950K Over Deceptive Business Practices

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A Prince George's County company and its owner have been ordered to pay more than $950,000 after prosecutors said they used unfair and deceptive trade practices related to their home-building businesses.

A judge this week affirmed a final order issued by the Maryland Consumer Protection Division against Finish Werks Corp. and Finish Werks Custom Builders, Inc., as well as owner William Karl “Harris” Woodward, Attorney General Anthony Brown announced Friday.

According to prosecutors, Finish Werks companies violated state consumer protection laws more than 800 times when they took $1 million in deposits and progress payments from consumers to construct modular homes in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Montgomery counties but failed to finish construction or correct serious defects in the homes.

Prosecutors said the companies also failed to pay subcontractors or include required disclosures and notices in their contracts with customers. Additionally, the order found Woodward liable for the violations of his companies.

"Purchasing a home is one of the most important investments a person can make," Brown said in a statement. "Maryland families should be able to trust that businesses will honor that investment by delivering safe, secure homes."

The order requires Woodward and his companies to immediately stop violating the law and to no longer build homes in Maryland unless they post a performance bond of $700,000 to protect future customers from harm.

The order also requires Woodward and his companies to pay more than $720,000 in restitution and economic damages and $235,500 in civil penalties to the state.

Consumers who have had problems with their new homes build by Finish Werks should contact the Division’s Mediation Unit at 410-528-8662 in Baltimore or call toll-free at 877-259-4525.

Consumers can also file a claim by using the New Home Complaint and Guaranty Fund Claim Submission Form, which can be found here. The Office of the Attorney General encouraged home buyers to check whether their builder is registered by calling or visiting Registered Home Builders.