Arizona’s Attorney General is reviewing consumer complaints linked to Holtzman Construction after four companies connected to the business filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, leaving customers facing unfinished work and substantial financial losses.
The complaints are being examined by the Criminal Division of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Officials have not said whether a formal investigation has been opened and declined to comment on any current or potential case involving the company.
Among those affected are David and his family, who paid more than $85,000 to have an accessible casita built at their home for his 84-year-old mother.
The family paid an initial cheque of more than $57,000 in February, expecting work to begin the following month. They later paid a further $28,000, but said the site remained untouched.
“Unfortunately, after we paid them, they went away, the calendar was cleared, and we didn’t hear from them again until June, when they wanted more money,” Mr Rosenkrance said.
After attempting to obtain help from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, the family said their complaint was dismissed because they had already started civil proceedings against Holtzman. The agency’s position was that state rules are designed to prevent civil and administrative cases running at the same time.
Holtzman Construction complaints reviewed by Attorney General
Mr Rosenkrance said he had also approached the sheriff’s office, but was told the dispute was contractual and would have to be dealt with through litigation.
“I went to the sheriff’s office, and they wouldn’t touch it because there was a contract. So they said I had to litigate,” he said. “So I litigated, the ROC says you litigated, we’re not going to help you either, so it seems like the entire system is set to protect bad contractors.”
Tom Cole, director of the Registrar of Contractors, said the agency operated according to state law and that cases could be closed or dismissed for several reasons.
“It’s not arbitrary,” Mr Cole said, adding that officials aimed to give complainants accurate information about what steps they could take next.
The Attorney General’s Office has directed Holtzman customers towards the Registrar of Contractors, local law enforcement and private lawyers while complaints are assessed.
Mr Rosenkrance said the family could no longer afford to build a second casita after the first project failed, forcing them to abandon their plans to bring his mother to Arizona.
“We’re gonna have to go to plan B,” he said. “We’re not sure what that looks like, but it’s not gonna be having mom here where she can see her great-grandkids.”
Holtzman Construction owner Brandon Holtzman previously said the companies had faced a “unique and unexpected challenge” and apologised to customers, subcontractors and employees after the business was unable to recover.
He said the company was committed to being open about the bankruptcy process and directed customers to its lawyer for further information.
