SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit against a Springfield-based contractor alleged to have collected more than $72,000 in fees for work that he completed in a substandard method or failed to complete at all.

Jeremy L. Sorenson, the operator of JSL Construction, is also alleged to have solicited home improvement services without a license. Sorenson is alleged to have accepted down payments for his home improvement work without delivering as promised. Six consumer complaints were filed with the Madigan's Consumer Fraud Bureau by consumers about Sorenson's work.

"Each year, we see a significant number of complaints about home repair fraud," Madigan said.

"Prosecuting these cases continues to be a high priority for my office, as is raising consumer awareness. I can't stress how important it is that consumers ask the right questions and check references before hiring a contractor to protect themselves from paying thousands of dollars in return for substandard work."

Sorenson is alleged to have violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act as well as the Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act with his alleged shoddy, unprofessional manner, failure to complete repair work and refusal to provide refunds to consumers.

Madigan's complaint also alleges that homeowners were not provided with written contracts or the "Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights" pamphlet that is required under Illinois law.

The lawsuit asks the court to prohibit Sorenson from further engaging in the home repair trade in Illinois and seeks restitution for consumers, a $50,000 civil penalty and additional penalties of $50,000 for each violation committed with the intent to defraud.

An additional $10,000 per violation is also sought for each violation found to have been committed against senior 65 years or older. The lawsuit also asks the court to require Sorenson to pay the costs of the investigation and prosecution of the case.