WHO IS BEHIND NORTHSHORE LAWNCARE?
All the Northshore Lawncare customers indicate dealing with a Justin or a John and both are listed on various flyers and contracts that 13WHAM News has obtained in the course of this investigation. Numerous sources have identified these men as Justin and John Gagner, twin brothers from Greece, and a search of records at the Monroe County Clerk’s Office indicates five additional businesses that were at one time registered in their names since 2008.
Those businesses include Diesel Landscaping & Snowplowing Solutions, JG Lawncare, Expert Sealers, JG Property Maintenance, and Gagners Snowplowing and Lawncare. The Better Business Bureau reports two unanswered complaints related to snowplowing service were lodged against Expert Sealers. A landscaping complaint and a separate snowplowing complaint were also reported against Gagner’s Snowplowing and Lawncare.
A BBB spokeswoman notes that since the BBB has never been able to actually contact the owners of these companies because mail is always returned, they may not be aware of these unanswered complaints.
A check of New York State Department of Motor Vehicle records indicates that John Gagner’s license was suspended in April 2007 and there are five subsequent suspensions for open scofflaw violations including multiple “failure to pay fine” and “failure to answer summons”
DMV records indicate Justin Gagner has a clean driving record.
13WHAM News could not locate the Gagner brothers at their Greece home on Thursday. Following a profanity-laced phone conversation on Wednesday John Gagner was much calmer in a phone conversation on Thursday. He explained how one of his trucks broke down during this past weekend’s snow storm and how he’s been doing this for eight years and this was the worst of his career.
"I'd like to apologize to all the customers,” Gagner said. “It's not their fault, it's my fault."
Gagner also repeated his explanation that a personal relationship with the woman who is listed on the DBA (Doing Business As) for Northshore Lawncare ended poorly. He said that had a lot to do with the complaints customers are now lodging against his business. Gagner maintained that this woman is the real owner of the company.
(NOTE: At no point during this 13WHAM News Your Stories Investigation did customers or authorities ever report having to deal any individual other than Justin or John Gagner. A couple customers stated that they wrote a check payable to the woman who’s name is on the DBA back in October or November.)
During this phone conversation Gagner admitted that he did not have a NYS Drivers License but that he “has a guy” who helps him with that obstacle. Gagner said he and his brother made decisions to close other businesses that weren’t working out for them and he said Expert Sealers and Gagner’s Snowplowing and Lawncare only had about five or six customers.
Gagner said customers who wish to receive a full refund can contact him at his new phone number 585-713-6992
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Attached is information that the BBB is disseminating about Snow Plow Contractors in the hopes of helping customers. The BBB is urging any customers with complaints to contact them through this website www.upstateny.bbb.org or by phone at 1-800-828-5000 to file a formal complaint.
The Greece Police Department can be contacted at 585-865-9200 or through 911 if someone wishes to file a police report.
The NYS Attorney General’s Office also provided the attached tip sheet and is encouraging any affected customers to contact their Consumer Fraud Unit at 585-327-3240
13WHAM News can be contacted at News@13wham.com or 585-334-8743
You can also contact 13WHAM News Reporter Sean Carroll Directly at scarroll@13wham.com
