Missouri attorney general files charges against Springfield bathroom remodeler

The Missouri attorney general's office has filed suit against a Springfield-based bathroom remodeling contractor, alleging the owner defrauded customers to the tune of nearly $400,000 through his company.

A complaint filed Dec. 3 in Greene County Circuit Court levies 20 felony counts against James Gordon Bennett. A probable cause statement included in court filings states Bennett is the sole owner of American Reflections Bath and Spa Inc., dba Bath Planet of Southwest Missouri, at 806 W. Battlefield Road.

A call to Bath Planet went unanswered this morning. A website and Facebook page associated with the company appear to be defunct.

The probable cause statement from the Missouri attorney general's office alleges Bennett and his company caused losses to consumers of $395,690. The office to date has received 38 complaints from consumers alleging they did not receive promised work from Bennett or his company. Refunds were not provided, nor were labor and materials, the probable cause statement alleges.

In September, the Better Business Bureau issued a consumer warning against Reflections Bath/Bath Planet, alleging the company failed to do work or provide refunds despite customers making "substantial down payments," according to a separate news release.

Bath Planet in July confirmed to the BBB that the local company had been a franchisee but was no longer an authorized dealer.

“Due to multiple and serious violations of our dealer standards – including a pattern of complaints, failure to deliver contracted services and negative media attention – we have formally terminated their right to operate under the Bath Planet brand,” the company reportedly wrote in an email to the BBB.

At the time of the September news release, Barnett told the BBB he intended to fulfill outstanding customer installations, officials said.