Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday launched a sweeping lawsuit against Black Cherry Design, LLP and its owner Lauren Piasecki in May 2025, alleging the Pittsburgh-based interior design firm collected more than $190,000 from homeowners for renovations that were never completed.
The civil action, filed in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas by Deputy Attorney General Jaimie George, follows numerous consumer complaints about unfinished projects ranging from bathroom remodels to living room redesigns. In one particularly egregious case, a Fox Chapel homeowner allegedly paid Piasecki over $160,000 for services that never materialized.
The company’s business model required clients to prepay entire invoiced amounts before any items would be purchased, with customers designating Black Cherry Design as their purchasing agent for furniture and design materials. According to court documents, many of these prepaid items were never delivered, and in some instances, the company never even placed the orders in spite of receiving full payment. One Mt. Lebanon customer paid over $170,000 in January 2023 for home updates but received only $4,600 worth of tiles.
The allegations extend beyond civil violations into criminal territory. Allegheny County District Attorney announced criminal charges against Piasecki in March 2025, including home improvement fraud, unlawful taking, and deceptive business practices. The 44-year-old owner faces eight separate criminal cases alleging she stole more than $400,000 from clients across the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
Court documents paint a troubling picture of financial mismanagement, detailing how client funds were allegedly diverted to personal expenses including hotels, liquor stores, Amazon purchases, and ATM withdrawals rather than business purposes. These revelations have sent shockwaves through Pittsburgh’s home design community, where Black Cherry Design previously operated as a seemingly legitimate interior design company.
The Attorney General’s lawsuit seeks a declaration that Black Cherry Design violated Pennsylvania’s Consumer Protection Law and aims to permanently bar the company from accepting prepayments for future sales. The lawsuit also demands full restitution for all affected consumers who paid for services and goods they never received.
The office has established a complaint system for potential victims, encouraging affected consumers to file reports online through the Bureau of Consumer Protection or call the helpline at 1-800-441-2555.
As criminal and civil proceedings run concurrently, the case represents a significant consumer protection enforcement action in the home improvement sector, serving as a cautionary tale for homeowners considering large upfront payments to contractors.
