License Perils

To protect the integrity of the construction industry and its law-abiding professionals, CSLB's Enforcement division—with the help of partnering state agencies and local law enforcement—works hard to hold accountable those contractors who harm consumers through illegal business practices. Below are a couple of recent cases pursued by CSLB.

High Cost for Helping Unlicensed Son

The perils of allowing family members to use your valid CSLB license should be obvious. Yet, two cases that CSLB is pursuing demonstrate that this illegal activity still is being practiced and results in legal action and fines against the license.

After a Corona homeowner complained, a CSLB investigator discovered that the licensed owner of JM Pools helped his unlicensed son, Jeremiah Mansfield, land a pool contract for $38,500. The junior Mansfield (assisted by another licensed contractor who served as a subcontractor overseeing the project) made several demands to be paid ahead of schedule, racked up a list of correction notices from the county building inspector, and only occasionally showed up at the site.

When the fed-up homeowner discovered that the license was issued to Mansfield's father, doing business as JM Pools, and that his son was unlicensed, he terminated the contract and barred Mansfield from the property. At that time, $31,550 toward the contract price for the pool and amenities already had been paid.

A CSLB industry expert determined that most of Mansfield's work was substandard, and needed to be demolished and replaced at an estimated cost of $43,510.

During interviews with CSLB's investigator, the licensed owner of JM Pools acknowledged that he helped his son prepare the project bid, pulled permits on behalf of his unlicensed son, and also claimed it was the first pool they had ever built.

CSLB is pursuing a formal accusation against the father, alleging he violated Business & Professions Code §7114 by aiding and abetting an unlicensed person and evading contracting law. CSLB is recommending that the Riverside County District Attorney's Office file criminal charges against his son, Jeremiah Mansfield, for contracting without a license (B&P Code §7028) and fraudulent use of an incorrect license number (B&P Code §7027.3). Mansfield's subcontractor friend who worked on the project also faces sanctions for entering into a contract with an unlicensed contractor (B&P Code §7118).

Business Ties with Revoked Contractor Risky, Even with a Spouse

Dean Wallie Dominguez lost his contractor license in 2002, and served state prison time after a subsequent conviction for illegal contracting in 2006. Despite this, in 2010, he represented himself as the owner of MJ Maness to land a $153,000 contract to renovate a San Francisco fitness center. The problem: the license belonged to his wife, Mollie Jean Maness, doing business as MJ Maness.

When the property owners questioned the progress and quality of what had been done, and refused to advance additional funds to Dominguez, the project was abandoned after more than $110,000 had been paid. According to a CSLB investigation, Dominguez oversaw and performed all of the project work and his licensee wife's role was doing paperwork. As a result, Maness could lose her license through the accusation process for associating with a revoked contractor. CSLB also referred the case to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office for the possible filing of criminal charges against Maness for perjury and employing a revoked contractor (B&P Code §7121.7), and against Dominguez for contracting without a license.