My husband and I signed a contract with a pool company on Aug. 25,
2005 and paid $10,700 as a down-payment to the pool company. The check
was made to the pool company and two men's names are on the charter of
this company. The check was endorced with only the pool company's
name. No individual's name endorsed the check. The work on the pool
was to start immediately. It has now been over 30 days and not one bit
of work has been done. The check has cleared, and one of the two
owners of the company has skipped town.  I have filed a report with a
detective in my county (Sumner, TN). I assume this takes care of the
criminal investigation. Can I now sue these two owners of this company
for civil violations in an attempt to recoup my $10,700? I also have
both men's social security numbers, license plate numbers and Tax id
numbers. Is tax fraud another direction I could pursue these
individuals. Moreover, are there other avenues I can take as a citizen
to prevent these men from cheating other people? I also have an
extensvie list of other individuals these two men have cheated. Can we
join together for a class action suit? Besides the Better Business
Bureaus are there other places for me to file complaints in an attempt
to keep these men from pursuing other individuals to cheat? I have
learned that to prove fraud on a criminal level my side must prove
intent. Are there other criminal charges that could be filed? I have
extensive research on these two individuals if this would be of any
additional assistance to your research. Please advise. Sincerely,
Bentle