Lansing, Michigan – A water well is supposed to provide a reliable source of clean water, not leave homeowners facing damaged property, unfinished repairs, and thousands of dollars in additional expenses. For some Michigan residents, however, hiring a well drilling company allegedly led to exactly those problems.
Now, a Lenawee County business has been shut down by court order, its owner has been barred from performing well drilling work across Michigan, and a $75,000 civil penalty has been imposed following a lawsuit brought by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
On October 12, Judge Anzalone of the 39th Circuit Court in Lenawee County entered a judgment against Boss’s Pump & Well Service, LLC, and its owner, Chadwick Boss, over violations of Michigan’s Consumer Protection Act and Public Health Code.
The ruling goes beyond a financial penalty. It prohibits Boss from drilling wells, installing pumps, or advertising those services anywhere in Michigan. He must also remove existing business website pages, while the company itself is ordered dissolved.
The court additionally authorized the state to seize well drilling and pump installation equipment to prevent further prohibited work.
Ten consumers identified in the Attorney General’s lawsuit must receive refunds under the judgment.
The case began in May 2026, when Nessel filed a lawsuit against Boss and his company, accusing them of violating Part 127 of Michigan’s Public Health Code and the Michigan Consumer Protection Act.
According to the complaint, the company operated without the required licenses while providing services throughout Michigan. State officials alleged that customers were regularly left with incomplete projects, damaged property, and water wells that failed to meet sanitary standards.
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Some homeowners reportedly had to spend thousands of additional dollars hiring properly licensed contractors to finish or correct the work.
The allegations extended beyond poor workmanship.
Prosecutors claimed the company refused refunds for services that were never completed, failed to disclose its lack of licensing, marketed used well pumps as new, and recommended repairs that customers did not actually need.
State and local officials had already attempted to stop the business before the lawsuit reached its final judgment.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) issued a cease-and-desist letter on May 16, 2025. Health departments in Lenawee and Jackson counties also sent warnings and violation notices.
Despite those actions, the company allegedly continued advertising and performing well drilling services.
In July 2026, the same court issued a preliminary injunction intended to halt the violations. The October judgment imposed further restrictions and financial consequences.
“We rely on the Public Health Code to maintain community safety and protect our drinking water but, just like the Consumer Protection Act, a good law is only valuable when it’s well enforced,” Nessel said.
EGLE Director Phil Roos also emphasized the importance of properly constructed wells, warning that unlicensed work can threaten both public health and the environment.
For Michigan homeowners, the case serves as a reminder that verifying a contractor’s qualifications before work begins can help prevent expensive problems.
Residents can check licensing and registration information through the EGLE Directory of Registered Contractors.
Officials also recommend reviewing customer feedback and requesting references from previous clients. Additional guidance is available through EGLE’s guide to hiring a well contractor.