Revoked Registration Costs Contractor $45K

Officials in Rhode Island recently upheld $45,000 in fines against a wood flooring contractor who was caught trying to perform work under his stepson's contractor license, according to WPRI.com. Spurred by complaints from three homeowners, WPRI investigated contractor John Ribeiro of Cranston, R.I., and discovered the contractor's registration with the state had been revoked in 2007 for "negligent work." Ribeiro told WPRI that he had been working for his stepson because in Rhode Island if a contractor's registration is revoked, he can still work as an employee of a registered contractor. Ribeiro's stepson, however, denied this in a signed affidavit, and the state's Contractor's Registration Board has upheld the fines.