More than 30 families accuse Myrtle Beach pool company of fraud

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)— Since News13 first aired our investigation into a local Myrtle Beach pool company, less than a week ago, more than 30 people from North and South Carolina have come forward to share their complaints about Cascade Custom Pools and its owner Chris Harrington.

Viewers have complaints that date back to 2021. However, the most recent family made their complaint in January of 2024.

“At that time, they told us they only had one other job in progress and that our job could be finished in 6 weeks. We gave them a $10,000.00 check as a deposit. They have never even began our pool install. Now they say they are ceasing operations,” Jim Brostek said in an email to News13.

News13 spoke with 15th Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson about what it would take for authorities to step in, from a civil and criminal perspective.

Richardson said it comes down to a magistrate judge to decide whether things move forward civilly, criminally, or both.

“A lot of it will depend on the actions of the suspect,” Richardson said. “How far did they go in this? And if they went a long way or halfway, it’s probably civil. If they went no way, it could easily be criminal.”

There is a large grey area between a contractor who is doing a “bad” job and someone who is “not” doing a job.

Some of the original four families News13 spoke with at the start of our investigation said this should be changed.

“I would like the lawmakers to step it up and take some action protecting the consumers, not just the contractor. In the eyes of the law if they came and started work then there’s least making good faith. But that’s not reality, that’s not how this is actually working for people,” Ben Tipton said.

Richardson said the burden of proof for criminal cases is higher than civil cases.

“That is simply tipping the seesaw 49 to 51 and you win, one’s heavier than the other, and a jury is tasked with that amount. In criminal court, the amount is not 49 to 51, its 85 to 15 or 90 to 10. It is beyond a reasonable doubt,” Richardson said.

“You give somebody money to buy you groceries, and they come back without the groceries, and they don’t give you your money back. How was that different?” Lydia Belliveau said.

Richardson said these are all things the police have to present to a magistrate judge.

“The magistrate will make a tough decision,’ Richardson said. “Do I allow you to go put handcuffs on this person and put them in jail?”

News13 has reached out to the Horry County Police Department several times this week to confirm if the department is actively investigating Cascade Custom Pools and owner Chris Harrington, and as of this writing have not heard back.

Many of the families who have come forward said they don’t feel protected as a consumer in the state of South Carolina.

“Unfortunately, the smart criminals kind of have the upper hand and they have figured out a system and how to get the bulk of the money from this project,” Samantha Tipton said.

A few of the families affected by Cascade said they would join a class action lawsuit against Cascade Custom Pools, if one got started.

“I think it’s important to note that this father and son, they preach all about family and helping each other and helping their family in times of need. But they’re causing all of our families to suffer in the midst of this by literally just stealing people’s hard earned money,” said Meredith Moors.

News13 received an email from another viewer who shared issues they had with Chris Harrington and his father, Mike Harrington, back in 2016 after signing a contract with Xtreme Pools and Hardscapes, which at the time was owned by Mike.

News13 is currently working to verify the number of companies the two have operating under along the Grand Strand.

This a developing story, count on News13 for updates and new information as it comes in.

* * *

Savannah Denton joined News 13 in July 2023 as a reporter and producer. Savannah is from Atlanta, Georgia, and is a graduate of the University of Alabama. Follow Savannah on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.