CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has filed a lawsuit against four members of the same family for alleged violations the state’s Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
Specifically, the attorney general is asking the Circuit Court of Putnam County to bar the defendants from violating the act related to the selling, moving, delivering and set-up and repair of mobile homes. The lawsuit also asks the court to award restitution for consumers harmed by the defendants’ alleged unlawful activities, among other things.
“It’s really simple: If you’re going to do business in West Virginia, you better comply with our consumer protection laws, and be honest about your work,” Morrisey said. “Those who defraud consumers must be held accountable to the full extent of the law.”
“Most businesses that operate in the state do the right thing but if you cross the line, we’re going to make sure there’s enforcement. Plain and simple.”
The defendants, Gary and Veronica May (husband and wife), Tyler May (Gary’s and Veronica’s grandson) and Joshua May (Gary’s and Veronica’s son), did business throughout southern and central West Virginia as May Brothers Mobile Home Movers.
According to the lawsuit, the business is allegedly not incorporated and does not have any of the licenses required to sell or move mobile homes. The attorney general’s office has received at least 15 consumer complaints alleging a wide range of unlawful activities by the defendants, including deceptive sales practices, sale of homes not fit for occupancy, faulty and unsafe installation of mobile homes, failure to make promised repairs and renovations and failure to return deposits, among other things.
The attorney general’s office’s Consumer Protection Division opened an investigation of May Brothers after identifying numerous unresolved complaints. Those complaints were sent to the Manufactured Housing Board who then issued a cease-and-desist orders (nine total), but the business “continued to engage in unlawful activities,” prompting the attorney general to file the lawsuit.
Anyone who believes they are a victim of this practice or any other scam can call the attorney general’s Consumer Protection Division at 800-368-8808 or visit www.ago.wv.gov.
UPDATE:
Tyler May responded to the West Viriginia Daily News after seeing the press release on our website and stated that he has filed a counter suit and stated that all he has done is shared posts to Facebook Marketplace.
“I don’t know if Mr. Morrissey believes in the 1st Amendment, but I have the right to post to Facebook,” he said.
He also said that some of the incidents in the suit go back to 2001, and that he is 24 years old.
“Over half the claims are between 2009 and 2014, when I would have been between 9 and 14 years old,” he said.
