COLUMBUS, Ohio — As the year comes to a close, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a series of consumer protection lawsuits against businesses accused of ripping off Ohioans. In total, eight lawsuits have been filed across the state in an effort to hold “bad actors” accountable and protect the hard-earned money of Ohio residents.

One of the lawsuits, filed in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, alleges that three Cincinnati-area appliance supply companies and their owners, Terry Haynes and Amy Garcia, violated Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act by accepting nearly $4,900 in payments from consumers without providing any appliances or services. The companies are also accused of failing to register with the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, as required by state law. Haynes has a history of setting up new companies after consumers complain to the Attorney General’s Office about existing ones.

CREDIT: MGN

Another lawsuit, filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, accuses a Hilliard caterer and his two catering companies, Tasteful Occasion, and Kool Daddy’s BBQ, of violating the Consumer Sales Practices Act by accepting money from customers for weddings and other events but failing to provide adequate services or, in some cases, any services at all. The caterer, Michael Morales, is also accused of refusing to refund the money.

Other lawsuits filed by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office include cases against a Dayton home-landscaping contractor accused of taking $12,500 from homeowners for fences that were never constructed, a Heath furniture store and its owner accused of selling furniture with far-off delivery dates and then misleading buyers about the status of their orders, a Springfield construction company and its owner accused of swindling $31,600 from consumers, and a Columbus driveway repair and installation company accused of failing to complete work or provide refunds and failing to honor warranties.