A landscaping business in western North Carolina faces a lawsuit after allegedly gouging victims of Hurricane Helene. On Thursday, Attorney General Josh Stein announced that he has indicted Lorenzo Lorin Huggins, Sr. and his businesses for allegedly gouging North Carolina for tree removal services after Hurricane Helene. Huggins’ businesses include Huggins & Sons Yard Service and Lorenzo & Son Landscaping. The lawsuit comes after a Hendersonville, North Carolina, couple found Huggins on HomeAdvisor.com after two trees fell on their roof during Hurricane Helene. The couple spoke with Huggins, who agreed to drive to Hendersonville and remove the trees. When he arrived, Huggins told the couple they had to pay $25,500 up front, Stein said. The couple was worried that the trees would cause their roof to collapse, so they paid by credit card to have the tree removed. Stein said Huggins asked for that exorbitant price even though he only brought three men, three chain saws and a leaf blower to do the job. Instead of removing the trees and tree debris from the house and yard, defendant’s workers threw the tree limbs and debris through the hole in the roof and into the house. The workers also allegedly caused a tree to fall and damage to a retaining wall. According to Stein, Huggins did not complete the job of removing and clearing the tree, which meant the couple had to hire and pay additional contractors to remove a tree stump and other debris. Stein is seeking temporary, preliminary and permanent relief against Huggins to prevent future misrepresentations and price gouging, along with restitution, civil penalties, attorneys’ fees and other relief. Western North Carolina continues to clean up and rebuild from the hurricane, I want rate hikers to be aware,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “If you take advantage of people in their time of need and charge them unfair, excessive prices , my office will hold you accountable.” As of 2018, Stein has filed 13 lawsuits against 30 defendants under North Carolina’s price gouging statute. He has obtained 14 judgments or settlements totaling $1,080,000 against 25 defendants, including a $274,000 settlement that was the largest award settlement in the department’s history.
A landscaping business in western North Carolina faces a lawsuit after allegedly gouging victims of Hurricane Helene.
On Thursday, Attorney General Josh Stein announced that he has indicted Lorenzo Lorin Huggins, Sr. and his businesses for allegedly gouging North Carolina for tree removal services after Hurricane Helene. Huggins’ businesses include Huggins & Sons Yard Service and Lorenzo & Son Landscaping.
The lawsuit comes after a Hendersonville, North Carolina, couple found Huggins on HomeAdvisor.com after two trees fell on their roof during Hurricane Helene. The couple spoke with Huggins, who agreed to drive to Hendersonville and remove the trees.
When he arrived, Huggins told the couple they had to pay $25,500 up front, Stein said.
The couple was worried that the trees would cause their roof to collapse, so they paid with a credit card to have the tree removed.
Stein said Huggins asked for that exorbitant price even though he only brought three men, three chain saws and a leaf blower to do the job. Instead of removing the trees and tree debris from the house and yard, defendant’s workers threw the tree limbs and debris through the hole in the roof and into the house. The workers also allegedly caused a tree to fall and damage to a retaining wall.
According to Stein, Huggins did not complete the tree removal and clearing work, which meant the couple had to hire and pay additional contractors to remove a tree stump and other debris.
Stein is seeking temporary, preliminary and permanent relief against Huggins to prevent future misrepresentations and price gouging, along with restitution, civil penalties, attorneys’ fees and other relief.
“As western North Carolina continues to clean up and rebuild from the hurricane, I want rate hikers to be aware,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “If you take advantage of people in their time of need and charge them unfair, excessive prices, my office will hold you accountable.”
As of 2018, Stein filed 13 lawsuits against 30 defendants under North Carolina’s price gouging statute. He has obtained 14 verdicts or settlements totaling $1,080,000 against 25 defendants, including a $274,000 settlement that was the largest award settlement in the department’s history.