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TALLAHASSEE - Attorney General Charlie Crist today announced that his office has sued two Palm Beach County men for unfair and deceptive trade practices stemming from allegations that their cabinet and countertop business took customers' deposits but failed to provide the requested items. William Deese and Harold Bernstein owned and operated Counter Tops & Cabinets Direct, Inc., which sold kitchen and bathroom counter tops and cabinets. The complaint alleges that the two men never delivered the promised services, and affidavits from consumers reflect that victims were cheated out of more than $175,000 in deposits.

The Attorney General's Office launched an investigation into the company in August after receiving numerous complaints from consumers. The investigation revealed that Deese, 45, and Bernstein, 65, routinely accepted down payments ranging anywhere from $300 to $19,000 and assured their customers that installation would be completed in six to eight weeks. Many of the consumers who complained to the Attorney General's office had waited more than seven months and never received their cabinets or counter tops.

"These individuals apparently decided to live the high life with other people's money, but their joyride is coming to an end," said Crist. "People paid for cabinets and counter tops, not empty promises."

Deese and Bernstein allegedly continued to accept deposits from consumers even though their credit with suppliers had been cut off, making them unable to complete prior service orders or begin work on new jobs. The Attorney General's complaint alleges that as new deposits were accepted, Deese and Bernstein cashed the checks and used the money for personal purchases, including a Bentley automobile and a house.

Typical of those victimized by Deese and Bernstein were Lake Worth residents Dave and Kathy Gwynn, who ordered cabinets from the men in May and paid more than $6,000 as a deposit. They were told they would receive their cabinets and counter tops in six to eight weeks, but that delivery never arrived. After several unsuccessful attempts to get the company to honor their contract, the Gwynns contacted the Attorney General's Office and filed their complaint.

Deese and Bernstein are being sued under Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, which allows a penalty of $10,000 per violation, or $15,000 if the victim is a senior citizen or disabled adult. The lawsuit also calls for an injunction to be entered against Deese and Bernstein, preventing them from conducting any business dealing with counter tops and cabinets, home improvements and the acceptance of advance deposits.

Deese and Bernstein are currently in custody in Palm Beach County on related charges. They were arrested by Greenacres police on November 15 on organized fraud and grand theft charges, also stemming from their fraudulent business practices.

A copy of the Attorney General's civil complaint is available at: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-6JPKF6/$file/CounterTops_Complaint.pdf