Ohio AG Sues Contractor for Abandoned Pool and Pond Projects

Lawsuit alleges Storm D. Mills and his company left customers in five counties with nearly $250,000 in losses.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:50pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a partially-drained, cracked and dirty swimming pool, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the abandoned pool projects at the center of this consumer fraud case.A contractor's abandoned pool project leaves customers across Ohio with hundreds of thousands in losses.Delaware Today

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a lawsuit against former northern Ohio contractor Storm D. Mills and his company, Mills Water Management, accusing them of abandoning swimming pool and pond projects across five counties and costing customers nearly $250,000. The lawsuit alleges Mills violated state consumer protection laws by continuing to take payments from Ohio customers even after relocating his business to Florida.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges consumers face when dealing with unscrupulous contractors who abandon projects, as well as the importance of the Ohio Attorney General's office in protecting residents from financial losses due to fraudulent business practices.

The details

According to the lawsuit, five customers in Delaware, Hancock, Richland, Seneca, and Wyandot counties lost a total of nearly $250,000 after hiring Mills for pool and pond projects that were never completed or even started. The lawsuit states that Mills ran his business from his Seneca County home until 2024, when he relocated to Florida and started a new swimming pool company there. Despite the move, Mills continued to enter into contracts and take payments from Ohio customers.

  • In 2024, Mills relocated his business from Ohio to Florida.
  • On April 6, 2026, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed the lawsuit against Mills and his company in Delaware County Common Pleas Court.

The players

Dave Yost

The Ohio Attorney General who filed the lawsuit against Storm D. Mills and his company.

Storm D. Mills

A former northern Ohio contractor who is accused of abandoning swimming pool and pond projects in five Ohio counties, costing customers nearly $250,000.

Mills Water Management

The company owned by Storm D. Mills that is named in the lawsuit filed by the Ohio Attorney General.

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What they’re saying

“This guy skipped town and headed south, taking Ohioans' money with him. Floridians ought to take caution before diving into business with this scammer.”

— Dave Yost, Ohio Attorney General

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on the Attorney General's request for restitution, civil penalties, and injunctive relief for the affected customers.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of thorough research and due diligence when hiring contractors, as well as the need for stronger consumer protection laws and enforcement to prevent such fraudulent business practices from occurring.