ALJDEC decisions subject to certification as final

2025A-06101-RFA-LS-ROC · Registrar of Contractors · 2026-06-22

IN THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

Gary & Teresa Levis,

COMPLAINANT,

Dream House Construction &

Renovations, LLC

License No. ROC 342522,

RESPONDENT.

No. 2025A-06101-RFA-LS-ROC

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

JUDGE DECISION

HEARING: June 16, 2026

APPEARANCES: Complainants Gary and Teresa Levis appeared on their own behalf. Assistant Attorney General Charles Hover III represented the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Erika Hoskin appeared as a witness for the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Respondent Dream House Construction & Renovations, LLC failed to appear.

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE: Sondra J. Vanella

EXHIBITS ADMITTED INTO EVIDENCE: None

FINDINGS OF FACT

On or about April 27, 2024, Gary and Teresa Levis (“Complainants”) entered into a contract with Dream House Construction & Renovations, LLC (“Respondent”) for the purchase of a newly constructed house with guest house.

Complainants filed a Complaint with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (“Registrar”) alleging that Respondent performed poor work.

The Registrar’s investigator conducted a jobsite inspection, and thereafter, issued a Written Directive requiring Respondent to perform corrective work.

Respondent failed to comply with the Written Directive.

The Registrar issued a Citation to Respondent that ultimately resulted in

discipline of Respondent’s license.

On March 10, 2026, Complainants filed a Residential Contractor’s Recovery Fund (“Fund”) claim with the Registrar.

After a review of the claim, the Fund determined that Complainants’ actual compensable damages equated to $30,000.00, the maximum allowable payout per statute.

Respondent appealed the Registrar’s determination regarding Complainants’ proposed award from the Fund.

Pursuant to Respondent’s request, the matter was thereafter set for a hearing before the Office of Administrative Hearings.

On May 7, 2026, the Registrar issued a Notice of Hearing to the parties advising of the hearing date and time of June 16, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., and that the Office of Administrative Hearings would issue Google Meet information to participate in the hearing either by video or phone. The Notice of Hearing was sent to the parties’ respective mailing and email addresses of record with the Registrar.

On May 8, 2026, the Office of Administrative Hearings issued an Order to the parties, setting the hearing via Google Meet, reiterating the date and time of hearing and providing the Google Meet information, including instructions as to how to join the hearing by video or by phone. The Order was issued to the parties’ respective email addresses of record.

On the date and at the time of hearing, Complainants appeared on their own behalf. Assistant Attorney General Charles Hover III represented the Registrar. Erika Hoskin appeared as a witness for the Registrar. Respondent failed to appear notwithstanding proper notice.

After a grace period, the hearing proceeded in Respondent’s absence. Mr. Hover made a motion to dismiss Respondent’s appeal based upon Respondent’s failure to appear, and requested a dismissal of Respondent’s appeal and an affirmation of the Registrar’s award from the Fund to Complainants. Complainants joined in the motion.

On June 17, 2026, the day after the noticed hearing, Respondent filed a Motion to Continue the hearing stating in pertinent part:

I am writing to respectfully request a continuance of the court date currently scheduled for 06/16/2026 under Docket Number 2025A-06101-RFA-LS-ROC. I was unable to appear on that date due to a calendar error, as the date conflicted with my mother’s doctor appointment. I am responsible for transporting her to and from medical visits, and I had a scheduling conflict on that day. I am requesting another hearing date so I can present my case and the relevant evidence.

On June 17, 2026, Complainants filed a response objecting to a continuance of the hearing stating in pertinent part:

The Notice of Hearing was served on all parties on May 7, 2025, providing more than six weeks' notice of the scheduled hearing date.

In reliance on that notice, we adjusted business travel plans and arranged time away from work to ensure our attendance at the hearing.

Given the ample advance notice provided, and because no request for a continuance was communicated to us prior to the hearing, we do not consent to a continuance of this matter.

Upon review and consideration, and finding no good cause, Respondent’s Motion to Continue is DENIED.

CONCLUSION OF LAW

By failing to appear at the hearing, Respondent did not meet the burden to establish by a preponderance of the evidence, that the Registrar’s determination to award Complainants $30,000.00 from the Fund was improper or contrary to law.

RECOMMENDED ORDER

In view of the foregoing,

IT IS ORDERED that on the effective date of the final Order in this matter, the Registrar shall dismiss Respondent Dream House Construction & Renovations, LLC’s appeal in this matter.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that on the effective date of the final Order in this matter, the Fund shall pay $30,000.00 to Complainants Gary and Teresa Levis.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that under A.R.S. § 32-1139(B), the Registrar shall charge $30,000.00, plus interest at a rate of ten percent a year, to Respondent Dream House Construction & Renovations, LLC’s License Number 342522.

In the event of certification of the Administrative Law Judge Decision by the Director of the Office of Administrative Hearings, the effective date of the Order will be forty (40) days from the date of that certification.

-54864001

001

-137160-45720000Done this day, June 22, 2026.

/s/ Sondra J. Vanella

Administrative Law Judge

Transmitted by either mail, e-mail, or facsimile to:

Tom Cole, Director

Registrar of Contractors

Dream House Construction & Renovations, LLC

[email redacted]

Gary & Teresa Levis

[email redacted]

Charles S. Hover III

Assistant Attorney General

[email redacted]

By: OAH Staff