Roofing company owner cited for false advertising

NEW KENSINGTON: Three months after a fire destroyed a New Kensington assisted-living home, the owner of the roofing company cited for starting the fire has been charged with false advertising.

Dennis Hooper, owner of Hooper Roofing in Plum, was charged Thursday by New Kensington police. Police allege that Hooper, who has been operating the roofing business since 1995, never had liability insurance coverage.

Lack of insurance became an issue after three Hooper Roofing employees, installing tar over a flat roof at the Quality Assisted Living Personal Care Home on June 13, allegedly caught the building on fire.

Police reports indicate the workers tried to extinguish the fire, but it spread and engulfed the personal care home at 1024 Constitution Blvd. causing more than $250,000 in damage.

Nineteen residents were left homeless.

Some were moved to another nearby personal care home, but there wasn't enough room for all of the residents.

Deborah Perry, owner of both homes, had pledged to get the Constitutional Boulevard home fixed, open and operating as soon as possible. But she had difficulty contacting Hooper about liability insurance coverage.

Not long after the fire, she learned Hooper did not have insurance to cover the loss, Perry said.

However, in the 2000 and 2001 editions of the Verizon Yellow Pages telephone book, a Hooper Roofing advertisement reads 'Insured for your protection.'

When police initially questioned Hooper, he allegedly told them his policy had lapsed two months before the June 13 fire.

However, police reports indicate Hooper later told police he had been referring to a liability policy that covered the property where Hooper Roofing had its offices.

He then told police he never had liability insurance to cover work done by employees, reports indicate.

'Hooper stated he was going to get the coverage, but it was too expensive,' the police report said.

Calls to Hooper and Perry, regarding the charges, were not immediately returned Friday.

Michelle Start can be reached at mstart@tribweb.com .