Hilliard-based contractor called a storm-chaser in lawsuit from Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio has filed a lawsuit against two operators of a Hilliard-based home repair company, calling them storm-chasers and alleging they defrauded homeowners of more than $460,000 over two years.

Magic Touch Exteriors, operated by Joseph Slye of Galloway and David Harvey of Columbus, are accused of soliciting contracts for roof, gutter and siding repairs and then not delivering, according to the lawsuit, filed Thursday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

The office of Attorney General Dave Yost said it received 38 complaints against Magic Touch between June 2022 and April 2024. Of those, 16 came from Ohio residents and the rest from non-Ohio residents. The complaints said, after entering contracts, little or no work was done and that the company stopped responding to customers. The individual complaints involve amounts between $2,000 and $3,000.

The lawsuit seeks restitution for customers and an injunction to stop the company and its two operators from engaging in similar practices.

It's the second time in about a month that Yost's office has taken action against what it called a storm-chaser. A lawsuit was also recently filed against Liberty Restoration and its owner, Josh Basinger of Hilliard.