State Sues Home Furniture and Furnishings Company
NEWARK – The State Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Law within the
Office of the Attorney General have filed suit against a company that allegedly took
thousands of dollars in deposits and payments from individual consumers and then,
among other things, failed to provide consumers with contracted-for home furniture and
furnishings or delivered damaged or non-conforming home furniture and furnishings.
The lawsuit, filed in State Superior Court in Morristown, alleges that JLT Millworks Inc.
and its principal, Janice Tupper, committed multiple violations of the State's Consumer
Fraud Act and Home Furniture and Furnishings Regulations. Tupper, 44, resides in
Green Brook Township.
The Division of Consumer Affairs has received 12 consumer complaints to date, with
consumers reporting that they collectively paid over $70,000 in non-refundable deposits,
representing at least 50% of the total cost of the home furniture and furnishings, and
other payments. JLT Millworks, operating at various times from Mendham, Morris
County and New Brunswick, Middlesex County, advertises that it sells custom-made
home furniture and furnishings, including wood flooring, beams, mantels and siding. JLT
Millworks also does business as Lumber Jane Millworks, Lumber Jane Wide Plank
Flooring, Lumber Jane Barn Beams, Lumber Jane Rustic Mantels and Lumber Jane
Antique Barn Siding.
"We've taken this action because consumers did not get what they paid for with their
hard-earned money," Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said. "The alleged legal
violations committed by Tupper harmed consumers and our goal is to get consumers
refunds or delivery of their merchandise."
The State's lawsuit contends that JLT Millworks and Tupper violated the Consumer
Fraud Act by committing unconscionable commercial practices and making false
promises and misrepresentations. The contracts issued to consumers, among other
things, failed to contain certain required language about the delivery of furniture and
furnishings and a consumer's rights when delivery dates are not honored, in violation of
the State's Home Furniture and Furnishings Regulations.
"Our consumer protection laws require full and accurate disclosures be made in
contracts, including a specified furniture delivery date and the consumer's recourse if
scheduled deliveries do not occur. Consumers should always check contracts for this
required information before signing the contract and paying a deposit," said Eric T.
Kanefsky, Director of the State Division of Consumer Affairs.
Investigator Jared O'Cone in the Office of Consumer Protection within the Division of
Consumer Affairs investigated this matter. Deputy Attorney General David M. Reap in
the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section within the Division of Law, is representing the
State.
Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse,
can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting
its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504- 6200.
Follow the Division of Consumer Affairs on
Facebook , and check our online calendar of upcoming
Consumer Outreach events.
###
