State Investigating Fire Victims' Complaints Against Contractor

NORTH BAY, CA — The California Contractors State License Board has received complaints about a Central Valley company hired to rebuild homes after the 2017 Tubbs Fire in Sonoma and Napa counties. The eight complaints against Chiaramonte Construction and Plumbing of Tulare allege violations of the Business and Professions Code that include diverting or failing to account funds, departing from trade standards, committing a willful or fraudulent act, and failure to pay for materials and services, according to the Rick Lopes of the California Contractors State License Board.

The complaints, which also allege abandonment without legal excuse of a construction project, no approximate start and stop dates and lack of reasonable diligence, are being investigated as possible violations, Lopes said.

"At this point, there are not specific charges against the licensee, and they have not been allowed to formally defend themselves. But due to risk of harm, we do publicize our concerns online," Lopes said.

The complaints came to the attention of the Contractors State License Board within the past two weeks, Lopes said.

The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office is working on the complaints with the Contractors State License Board, Assistant District Attorney Bill Brockley said.

Pam Chiaramonte, co-owner of the construction company, did not respond to an email request for comment on the complaints.

— Bay City News Service