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Judge Mogen: Wisconsin’s Beauty Bringing Justice (and Sass!) to the Courtroom
Judge Mogen Exposes and Shuts Down a Contractor Who Scammed an Elderly Homeowner

What began as a simple kitchen refresh turns into a full courtroom reckoning. In Teresa Grittner v. Don Rener (24-CV-156), the homeowner alleges her contractor stopped showing up, installed a countertop with a seam placed directly across a drawer line, sprayed popcorn ceiling texture that failed to blend, and abandoned an unfinished kitchen island.

Judge Mogen carefully reviews the evidence, including more than 50 pages of text messages, photographs of the work, and testimony surrounding a questionable “$300 loan.” After weighing the facts and doing the math, the court rules in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $6,850 plus costs.

Cash payments and verbal promises collide with courtroom reality—and patience is not part of the contract.

What This Case Covers

How it got here:
The case began in small claims court but moved to civil court after counterclaims pushed the amount over $10,000. Those counterclaims were later dismissed, leaving only the homeowner’s claims for trial.

The core dispute:
Allegations of incomplete and defective work, including a poorly placed Formica seam, mismatched ceiling texture, and an island left unfinished.

The paper trail (or lack of one):
Payments were largely made in cash, with estimates discussed over text but no formal invoices or written contracts. Subsequent repair and replacement work was completed by other contractors and documented with receipts.

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