Howard County Home Builder Faces Consumer Protection Act Violation Charges

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A Howard County home builder has been charged with consumer protection violations by Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh. According to Frosh, Finish Werks Corp. and Finish Werks Custom Builders, Inc. and their principal, William Karl Woodward, of Howard County, have failed to comply with the Consumer Protection Act, New Homes Deposits Act and the Custom Home Protection Act.

Frosh noted that Finish Werks accepted thousands of dollars from consumers who contracted with the companies for the construction of custom homes in Maryland but failed to complete construction of those homes. The charges state that Woodward and Finish Werks violated the laws protecting new home purchasers in Maryland by, among other things, breaching the trust created for the benefit of the buyer, misappropriating the money paid by consumers to Finish Werks, making false and misleading statements, and failing to state material facts.

The charges also state that Finish Werks and their principal failed to include required disclosures in the contracts with consumers and included provisions inconsistent with required disclosures.

A hearing on the statement of charges against Finish Werks and Woodward will take place Aug. 29 at 9:30 a.m. at the Office of Administrative Hearings.

The Attorney General’s Office encourages homebuyers to check whether or not their builder is registered by calling or visiting www.marylandattorneygeneral.go....