CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION UPHOLDS DENIAL OF HOME BUILDER'S REGISTRATION

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has issued an order upholding the Home Builder Registration Unit's denial of the application of Anchor Development Corporation to register as a new home builder in the State of Maryland. The order prohibits Annapolis-based Anchor Development Corporation from acting as a home builder in the State of Maryland. The Division found that Anchor, which also trades as Leedom, Inc., deceptively attempted to register as a home builder by failing to disclose a number of lawsuits and judgments involving its President, John Philip Seisman.

"Maryland law requires that home builders register with the Home Builder Registration Unit of my office before they can offer to build homes for consumers," said Attorney General Curran. "Builders have a duty to fully disclose information that will allow the Unit to assess whether the builder is qualified under Maryland law to build homes for Maryland consumers."

Curran added that consumers should not enter into contracts with or pay any money to builders who are not registered with the Home Builder Registration Unit. Consumers can check whether builders are registered by contacting the Unit at (410) 576-6573 in Baltimore, toll-free at (877) 259-4525 elsewhere in Maryland, or by visiting www.oag.state.md.us/homebuilder.

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