CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced on Tuesday that she has filed a lawsuit against a contractor who allegedly violated state law.

Phillip Hale, a Marion-based home repair contractor, allegedly went door-to-door selling roofing and other services, but rarely delivered on the work he was paid to perform.

Hale solicited the work through his companies Above Roofing, Top Quality Roofing and All State Roofing.

Madigan's office received numerous complaints about Hale from consumers who paid a total of over $27,000 to the contractor.

"Unscrupulous contractors have a whole host of ways that they will try to convince unsuspecting homeowners to pay for work that they never intend to complete," Madigan said.

"That's why home repair fraud is always among the top complaints my office receives. It's so important that homeowners are extremely cautious before agreeing to any projects."

Madigan is seeking a court order to stop Hale from working in the home repair trade in the state. She also wants Hale's pending contracts cancelled and restitution for affected consumers.

Furthermore, Madigan is seeking a civil penalty of $50,000 with additional penalties of $50,000 for each violation committed with the intent to defraud, as well as another $10,000 per violation committed against a person 65 years or older.