Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson sued a Columbus-based roofing contractor in Franklin County, alleging the company took more than $60,000 from five customers for work the state calls defective or that was never started.

The lawsuit, filed Oct. 7 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, names The Metal Roof Company and its owner, Daniel Toland. The complaint lists the company’s business address as 2631 Morse Road, Unit C, in Columbus and sells and installs metal roofing at homes throughout the area, including Franklin County, where Hilliard is located.

The state alleges the company performed defective roofing work for some customers and ignored complaints. In at least one case, the complaint states, the company accepted payment for a new roof but never began the project. In another, the company's work caused a roof to leak, and the company then failed to honor its lifetime warranty, according to the AG's office.

The complaint also alleges Toland personally solicited customers at community events and at their homes, had them sign contracts at their residences, and was listed as the sales representative on some of those agreements. The state says the contracts failed to notify buyers of their legal right to cancel within three business days.

The business appears to remain in operation, according to the AG's office.

"Not doing the work is not acceptable," Wilson said in a statement.

No public response from Toland or The Metal Roof Company to the lawsuit's allegations was available as of Oct. 15.

Wilson is asking homeowners in the Hilliard area and across central Ohio who paid The Metal Roof Company for incomplete or defective work to contact his office. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction barring the company from consumer transactions in Ohio until it satisfies any court-ordered payments, restitution for the five victims, and civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act.

Wilson also filed suit against Journey Home Restoration and its owner, Jason Kaczur, in Lorain County. That case involves nine consumers who reported paying a combined $140,000 for roofing, siding and gutter projects that were allegedly never completed.

Homeowners who believe they were harmed by either company can reach the Ohio Attorney General's Office at 1-800-282-0515 or OhioProtects.org.