Dorothy Philbin | CNBNews Columnist
In New Jersey people of almost every profession have to have a required number of educational hours, pass a test, and then pay a small fortune for a license to practice the trade. Some of these trades are hair stylist, manicurist, plumber, electrician, and all others but one. That trade is home improvement.
If there is a storm, you will see home improvement companies come out of the woodwork. The first thing you should look for is the license plate and any decals on the vehicles. If they are not in-state license plates and local decals - don't answer the door. Public adjusters also come out of the woodwork. Adjusters, though regulated, negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company to get you a higher settlement. Your brother-in-law most likely can do the same and won't take 25% of the settlement.
The reason for so much attention to home improvement companies is that eight out of 10 of the NJ Deadbeats are home improvement companies.
The best of the worst deadbeats are Daryl Turner and his wife, Robyn Bernstein of Marlton, NJ. They own a travel agency which is regulated. They owe $10,529,527. Turner was sentenced to seven years in prison and his wife got five years' probation. The "hints" that got the state's attention included hundreds of complaints. Also, the couple raised eyebrows for driving a Porsche, a Bentley, a Ferrari, a Range Rover and a speed boat. Nothing unusual going on here, folks.
To date they have paid nothing but have started another dozen companies under different names.
Another, more disgusting deadbeat is John Kapoor, doing business as Insys Therapeutics who owes the state more than $4 million. He is accused of paying illegal kickbacks and bribes to doctors to prescribe his company's opioids rather than the bigger and better-known companies. Kapoor was sentenced to five and a half years in federal prison and fined $5 million. He has paid $1 million which is supposed to go to the state's opioid response program. After he finished his federal sentence, New Jersey will take over.
Here are the other eight of the top ten deadbeats:
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