CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION ORDERS GARRETT COUNTY HOME BUILDER TO PAY MORE THAN $130,000

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has issued a final order requiring a builder to refund payments of $28,603.70 he collected to build a home in Garrett County and pay penalties of $100,000. The Division found that Donald Corby, dba D&M Corby Construction, violated Maryland’s Custom Home Protection Act by failing to place monies paid by a consumer into an escrow account or having a surety bond to cover the deposits; violated the Home Builder Registration Act by acting as a home builder without being registered with the Division’s Home Builder Registration Unit; and violated the Consumer Protection Act by failing to build the home as promised.

The order bars Corby from acting as a home builder in the State of Maryland until he is registered as a home builder under Maryland’s Home Builder Registration Act, requires payment of restitution for all monies that he has received from consumers for new homes that he never built or completed, payment of a civil penalty in the amount of $100,000, and payment of costs in the amount of $1,778.19.

" Before paying any money, consumers need to protect the biggest investment of their lifetime by ensuring that their home is being built by a registered home builder and that any deposits they make are protected by an escrow account, bond or letter of credit," said Attorney General Curran.

Consumers can check whether their builder is registered and how the builder protects deposit money by contacting the Home Builder Registration Unit at (410) 576-6573 in Baltimore or toll free at (877) 259-4525, or by checking on the Attorney General’s website: www.oag.state.md.us/homebuilder. Consumers who have paid money to Donald Corby dba D&M Corby Construction in connection with a new home should also contact the Home Builder Registration Unit.  

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