State files lawsuit against Vegas window-blind firm

Wednesday, March 26, 2003 | 11:30 a.m.

The state Consumer Affairs Division sued Monday to enforce a decision it issued in December ordering a Las Vegas window-blind business and its owner to pay $4,875 in restitution and more than $1,500 in attorneys' fees and costs to 10 customers.

The state, in a Clark County District Court suit, said Neal Ward, doing business as Blinds R Us, was investigated by the state after it received complaints from 10 customers that he violated the Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

The state, which said it had asked Ward to respond to the allegations, said Ward not only failed to attend a state hearing about the matter on July 10 but failed to comply with the December order to pay restitution to the 10 customers.

Several consumers, who had seen Blinds R Us advertisements in various media and contacted the business to buy and install the window blinds, said Ward failed to honor a guarantee on their sales receipt that provides the blinds "will be free from defects due to faulty workmanship or material forever."

The consumers complained of either not receiving the blinds they bought or that the blinds delivered were of "incomplete, ill-fitting and/or of poor quality and workmanship," the state alleged. Ward was also accused by one of his consumers of intimidating the customer into making additional payments for work not specified by contract by threatening to undo his work.

Ward was also accused of failing to properly inform his customers -- by not printing a statement on the face of his sales receipts -- that he doesn't allow refunds.

Ward could not be reached for comment on the state's allegations.