Mt. Prospect company sued for fraud, deceptive practices

Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez on Tuesday sued Mount Prospect-based Pondscapes, alleging consumer fraud and deceptive business practices, and citing shoddy and incomplete home-repair and remodeling projects.

The suit named Pondscapes, 144 E. Bonnie Brae Ave., Mount Prospect, and the Landscape Artist, a corporation dissolved two years ago, and their owners, Jennifer and Edward Wood Jr., as defendants. It accused the firm of not returning payments or down payments on work that was incomplete or never begun, as well as not observing the finer points of state law by informing clients of their right to cancel and including their contact information and business address on contracts.

The suit cited several cases with clients in the Northwest suburbs and Chicago and said Pondscapes had not responded to previous requests made by the state's attorney's office to refund these clients their money.

The Woods did not return a call seeking comment. The suit pointed out the firm received a failing grade from the Better Business Bureau for not responding to consumer complaints.

The suit seeks restitution and a $50,000 civil penalty as well as court costs.