HARRISBURG, PA — A Philadelphia-area home improvement contractor has agreed to pay $200,000, permanently exit Pennsylvania’s home improvement industry, and dissolve multiple businesses under a settlement resolving allegations that consumers paid for renovation projects that were left unfinished or performed improperly.
The settlement between the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and Murillo Sousa, along with several companies associated with him, resolves a consumer protection lawsuit filed in April 2023. The agreement remains subject to approval by the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the lawsuit alleged Sousa and his companies entered into home improvement contracts with Pennsylvania homeowners, accepted substantial upfront payments, and then failed to complete the contracted work. The office further alleged that some projects were abandoned before completion or were completed in an unworkmanlike manner.
Under the settlement, Sousa must pay the Commonwealth $200,000, cease owning or operating a home improvement business in Pennsylvania and dissolve six companies: Max Contractors Inc., MPS Home Improvement LLC, Skyline Contractor Imperium LLC, Clean Future General Construction LLC, LMN General Construction LLC and Easy Way Construction Limited Liability Company.
The agreement also permanently prohibits Sousa, or anyone acting on his behalf, from seeking registration as a home improvement contractor in Pennsylvania.
The Attorney General’s Office cited one homeowner who allegedly paid nearly $40,000 for a renovation project. According to the lawsuit, Sousa, who allegedly also operated under the names Mark Sousa, Murillo Costa, Murillo Da Costa, Murillo Sousa Dacosta and Murillo Da Costa Sousa, failed to obtain required construction permits, violated building codes, improperly installed windows and a door frame, punctured a gas line, caused roof leaks that resulted in water damage and ultimately abandoned the project.
Attorney General Dave Sunday stated that the settlement also creates an opportunity for additional eligible consumers to seek restitution.
The Attorney General’s Office is encouraging anyone who believes they were affected and has not previously contacted investigators to submit a complaint to the Bureau of Consumer Protection within 60 days through its online complaint form, by calling 1-800-441-2555 or by emailing scams@attorneygeneral.gov.
The Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection litigated the case in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.
The settlement agreement states that it does not constitute an admission of liability or a violation of law by Sousa.
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