MONTPELIER – Attorney General Charity Clark announced her office filed a lawsuit against residential contractor Jesse Reeder of Montpelier based on a complaint involving a homeowner in Hardwick, for failure to register under Vermont’s Residential Contractor law.
photo by Glenn Russell
Since 2023, residential contractors have been required to register with the Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation when they engage in contracts of $10,000 or more. In addition, contracts of more than $10,000 must be in writing, and contractors must carry insurance.
The Attorney General’s Office’s lawsuit, filed in Vermont Superior Court in Washington asserts Reeder failed to register after he was notified by the state that failure to do so is a violation of law:
Reeder of Montpelier “is subject to a default order and fine in the amount of $500 for failure to register in 2025, issued by the Office of Professional Regulation, based on a complaint involving a homeowner in Hardwick. Mr. Reeder has failed to register since then, continues to hold himself out as a residential contractor, and is also the subject of multiple consumer complaints,” noted the Attorney General’s announcement.
The lawsuit names Reeder as owner of All Around Construction, LLC since 2025 and the former owner of R&J Skilled Labor, LLC, since 2023. Both companies are based in Montpelier.
“Defendants have engaged in persistent unregistered residential contracting activity and advertising of the same,” states the lawsuit.
Reeder has performed contracts and/or accepted payments in excess of $10,000 and been the subject of “at least six complaints . . .since 2023.” according to Home Improvement Specialist Gabriel Taylor-Marsh with the Office of the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program, in an affidavit accompanying the lawsuit.
While information on the Hardwick complaint was not available, The Hardwick Gazette reported in January, on November 30, 2025, Vermont State Police “received a report of a possible home improvement fraud in Plainfield. Subsequent investigation indicated Melina Vieux paid Jesse Reeder approximately $9,000 for a home renovation project. The project was started, but Reeder failed to finish the project or refund Melinda’s money.” Following the police investigation, “On January 3, Reeder was issued a citation to appear in the Washington County Superior Court; Criminal Division for the above charge.”
The lawsuit further states that the defendant’s “conduct is unfair and deceptive for advertising residential contractor services when it is unregistered, and specifically that it references terms that would lead a reasonable consumer to believe that it operates lawfully with all appropriate registration credentials, such as offering to the public:
“Your property deserves a masterful touch; allow our experienced professionals to upgrade it with unparalleled skill and finesse.”
The lawsuit asserts such “misrepresentations constitute unfair and/or deceptive advertising from an unregistered party engaged in ‘unauthorized practice’ which is also defined in statute as ‘unprofessional conduct.’”
Further, the lawsuit asserts Reeder’s “conduct violates the policy behind Vermont’s registration requirements for all residential contractors which purpose is ‘to protect against fraud, deception, breach of contract, and violations of law . . .”
The Attorney General is asking the court to order the defendant to stop the unlawful activity and comply with Vermont law, in addition to paying penalties to the State of Vermont.
The lawsuit asks the court to find Reeder has violated the Vermont Consumer Protection Act, and the Act governing Residential Contractor, and prohibit him from engaging in unfair acts.
It asks for civil penalties of $10,000 and $5,000, plus the cost of litigation and other relief the court may find appropriate.
“Residential contractors provide a crucial service to our state by helping Vermonters repair or improve their homes,” said Attorney General Clark. “Registration is essential for a secure marketplace and to reassure Vermonters that businesses are operating legitimately. Residential contractors who fail to comply with the law, or rip people off, could be subject to enforcement actions.”
The Attorney General urged contractors who may not be aware of the law to contact the Office of Professional Regulation to register and get into compliance. More information is available on the Secretary of State’s Residential Contractors page at sos.vermont.gov/residential-contractors.
Vermont consumers with complaints about residential contractors may call the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at (800) 649-2424 or fill out the online complaint form at ago.vermont.gov/consumer-assistance-program-complaint-form.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
