EASTON HOME BUILDER DENIED REGISTRATION RENEWAL, ENTERS SETTLEMENT

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has reached a settlement with the owners of an Easton home builder whose application to renew registration was denied by the Division's Home Builder Registration Unit. The settlement will allow the builder, T.B. Passyn & Sons, Inc., to continue building in Maryland if it resolves past consumer complaints and posts a $200,000 bond with the Division to ensure that any future complaints are addressed.

Maryland home builders are required to be registered with the Division. The Division denied the renewal application of T.B. Passyn & Sons, Inc. based upon the builder's alleged failure to disclose lawsuits in which it was involved. The settlement resolves an administrative hearing requested by the builder to challenge the denial of renewal.

"We believe the terms of this settlement will protect consumers who encounter problems with homes constructed by this builder," Curran said.

The Consumer Protection Division, the builder and its principals, Theodore B. Passyn, III, Theodore B. Passyn, Sr., and Julia Beall Passyn, arrived at an agreement that would allow T.B. Passyn & Sons, Inc. to renew its registration and resume building. The agreement requires the builder and its principals to satisfy outstanding consumer judgments and post a $200,000 surety bond payable to the State for the benefit of any consumers who have problems with homes built by T. B. Passyn & Sons. The builder must also arbitrate any consumer complaints using the Division's arbitration program and report to the Division any matters pertaining to new home building, including complaints, warranty claims, stop work orders, permit and environmental violations.

Curran said consumers can check whether a home builder is registered by contacting his Home Builder Registration Unit at (410) 576-6573 or at www.oag.state.md.us/homebuilder. Maryland consumers who have problems with homes built by T.B. Passyn & Sons, Inc. and have not been contacted by the Division should call (410) 576-6561.

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