Company owners agree to compensate wronged customers and cease doing snow removal, lawn care business in Michigan.





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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
January 8, 2025




*Media Contact:*
Danny Wimmer <[email protected]>






AG Nessel Settles Lawsuit Against Owners of Detroit-Area Landscaping, Snow Removal Companies

*LANSING* – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has secured a consent order (PDF) [ [link removed] ] to resolve a lawsuit against John and Michele Church and their several landscaping and snow removal companies. The Attorney General sued the Churches and their business entities [ [link removed] ] in December 2023, alleging they were repeatedly and knowingly violating the Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCPA) and a previously established Assurance of Voluntary Compliance reached to settle consumer claims mediated by the Department of Attorney General. The consent order provides financial relief to affected customers and mandates the dissolution of the Churches’ business entities.  

“It is my hope that this agreement not only provides relief to impacted customers but also serves as a warning to businesses that my Department will defend customers and their rights under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act,” Nessel said. “This outcome was only made possible by the consumers who filed complaints with my office, and I encourage anyone who suspects they have been targeted by illegal or predatory business practices to contact us.” 

The Churches owned and operated several business entities formally created with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, including Metro Mow ‘N Snow, LLC; The Snow Guys, Inc.; and John Church’s Snow Service, Inc. The pair also operated several informal businesses using names including Farmington Mow N Snow, Snow Guy Enterprises, Titan Seasonal Services, Friendly Neighborhood Lawn Service, Friendly Lawn Care, Friendly Lawn & Snow, Lawn & Snow King, Greenkeepers Lawn & Landscape, North Star, BlueJay Outdoor Services, and Mike’s Best.  

The Churches and their businesses offered residential snow removal, lawn care, and landscaping services in the Detroit area for over two decades. The Department of Attorney General has received more than 200 consumer complaints pertaining to these businesses dating back to 2010 alleging unlawful business practices. A formal investigation was initiated in 2017, which resulted in an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance, filed in 2018, whereby the Churches agreed to cease unfair or deceptive business practices, to not create any new same-service entities without notifying the Department, to pay a $15,000 fine, to compensate any affected customers, and to compensate the Department for investigative costs.  

However, the Attorney General brought the lawsuit alleging the Churches had resumed abusing their customers and violating the MCPA through breaches of contract, continuing to engage in unfair and deceptive business practices, failing to fulfill refund requests, grossly misrepresenting the scope and quality of the work being offered, and misleading consumers as to their legal rights to post and publish honest reviews and complaints about the Churches and their businesses. 

Under the consent order, the Churches have agreed to pay the Department $50,000 for its enforcement efforts, a portion of which will be distributed among affected consumers. Failure to make payments will allow the Attorney General to reopen the lawsuit. The Churches have also agreed to dissolve their business entities and are permanently barred from incorporating, operating, or working for any business offering snow removal, lawn care, or landscaping services in the State of Michigan.   

Michigan consumers who believe they should be considered for a reimbursement under this consent order, or who suspect they are the victims of illegal or predatory business practices by other entities, are encouraged to contact the Department of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team:

Consumer Protection Team [ [link removed] ]
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form [ [link removed] ] 

 

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