PHILADELPHIA, PA – Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that her office has filed a lawsuit against Max Contractors Inc. and its alleged owner, Murillo Sousa, for defrauding customers by failing to fulfill contracts. Sousa is accused of contracting with Pennsylvania consumers for various general contracting and home improvement services, accepting substantial payments, but not performing the work or completing it in an unprofessional manner.
The lawsuit alleges that Sousa made promises to resolve customer complaints but never delivered on those promises and did not issue refunds. “Sousa strung along customers with empty promises that ultimately led to Pennsylvanians being scammed out of their hard-earned money,” said Attorney General Henry. “He pocketed the money without completing the work — that’s a violation of the law, pure and simple.”
According to the lawsuit, Sousa may have used various business names, including LMN General Construction LLC, Skyline Contractor Imperium LLC, Easy Way Construction LLC, Clean Future General Construction LLC, and MPS Home Improvement LLC. He may have also been known to consumers by different names, such as Murillo Da Costa Sousa, Murillo Sousa Dacosta, Murillo Da Costa, and Murillo Costa.
In one notable instance, a consumer contracted with Max Contractors Inc. and Sousa for a project costing over $50,000. Sousa allegedly never obtained the required construction permits, failed to comply with building codes, improperly placed door frames and windows, punctured a gas line, and caused a leaking roof, resulting in water damage.