Delaware home contractor sued by Ohio Attorney General for second time

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) -- A home-improvement contractor previously sued for fraud is now facing another lawsuit from the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

On Tuesday, Dave Yost's office announced a newly-filed lawsuit against 1st Choice Renew and its owner, Aaron Cowans, in Delaware County Common Pleas Court. Yost's office accused Cowans of failing to deliver suitable services to consumers, with an estimated $119,000 in disputed consumer damages.

Nine complaints have been issued by consumers against 1st Choice Renew, which include a failure to complete work despite full payment and refusal to issue refunds. This lawsuit in Delaware County aims to give consumers restitution and prohibit Cowans from operating any more home-improvement businesses in Ohio, per Yost's office.

Cowans faced a lawsuit last year in Franklin County Common Pleas Court on similar claims for two prior home-improvement businesses: 1st Pick Home Improvement and Cowans Home Improvement. Yost's office secured a default judgment against Cowans in that case, but accused him of continuing deceptive business practices, despite not being allowed to operate as a supplier from the 2023 judgment.