CARBONDALE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced on Thursday that she has filed a lawsuit against a home repair and remodeling contractor who allegedly defrauded state consumers.

Brad Peters, doing business as Custom Design contracting in Irvington, Ill., allegedly took down payments for repair work but never completed -- or in some cases, even started -- the work. He also allegedly didn't provide correct detailed and itemized proposals.

"Rather than providing honest service, this contractor took advantage of his customers," Madigan said. "My office intends to hold him accountable and seeks to stop him from doing business in Illinois."

Two consumers filed complaints with Madigan's office claiming that Peters had taken more than a combined $16,000 from them for work never done.

The lawsuit alleges that, as a result of this, Peters violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and the Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act.

Madigan is seeking to have the court prohibit Peters from engaging in any further home repair trade in the state. She also wants Peters to pay $50,000 for each violation that was committed with the intent to defraud and for him to pay all costs associated with the litigation.

"Home repair, remodeling and construction complaints consistently rank among the top consumer grievances my office receives each year," Madigan said. "Consumers need to protect their substantial financial investments in home projects by carefully checking on contractors before any money changes hands."