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Dezign Construction & Green LA Construction Group: What California Homeowners Should Know (2026)

Dezign Construction: license expired
CSLB accusation pending
Principals now operating as Green LA Construction Group

Last updated: June 2026. This is a developing matter; we update as new public records become available.

If you’re researching Dezign Construction (or its principals’ new company, Green LA Construction Group) before signing a contract or handing over a deposit, this page lays out what is currently on the public record: two families’ accusations as reported by CBS Los Angeles, the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) status of the license, and the exact steps you can take to protect yourself.

About this page. Everything below is drawn from public record: CBS Los Angeles reporting and CSLB license records. The homeowners’ claims are allegations that, as of this writing, have not been decided in court. We name individuals and a successor company as they appear in CBS Los Angeles’s reporting and in public CSLB records. An expired license, a citation, and a pending disciplinary accusation are facts on the public CSLB record; an accusation is an allegation, not a finding of fraud or a court judgment. Always verify a license yourself before hiring.

Key Takeaways

  • According to CBS Los Angeles, two families accuse Dezign Construction of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars and not finishing the work; one West Hills homeowner reports paying close to $450,000.
  • Dezign’s CSLB license (#1107522) is expired and cannot contract, and the CSLB has a pending disciplinary accusation against the company alleging diverted funds and a willful or fraudulent act (Case N 2025 217).
  • CSLB records show Malka Nazar, a former Dezign officer, is now active with a new company, Green LA Construction Group (license #1140301), as its CEO/President; CBS Los Angeles named Nazar and Enrique Ramirez (whom it called “Rick” Ramirez) as Dezign’s principals. Check the people behind a company, not just the name.
  • California caps a contractor deposit at $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less, and the CSLB cited Dezign for exceeding that limit. A large upfront demand “for appliances and materials” is a red flag.

What homeowners allege

According to CBS Los Angeles, two families accuse Dezign Construction of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars for home projects and then failing to finish the work. One West Hills homeowner told the station they paid close to $450,000 — including money handed over upfront for appliances, a Tesla wall battery, a fireplace, and other materials that, the homeowner says, were never delivered. CBS Los Angeles reported the homeowner produced invoices showing a $77,000 check written in June 2024 for appliances that never arrived at the house.

The detail every homeowner should notice: the rebrand

CBS Los Angeles reported that the principals associated with Dezign Construction, Malka Nazar and Enrique Ramirez (whom CBS Los Angeles identified as “Rick” Ramirez), moved on to a new company. CSLB records confirm part of that move directly: Malka Nazar, listed as a former Dezign officer, is now active with Green LA Construction Group (license #1140301) as its CEO/President. This is the single most important thing to understand about this case. When a company’s license is in trouble, the same operators can open under a new name with a clean-looking public record — and a homeowner searching only the new name may never see the history.

This is exactly why checking the people behind a company matters as much as checking the company name. A new LLC does not erase the track record of the people who run it. (Before relying on the license number above, confirm its current status yourself; link below.)

License status & regulatory action

Dezign Construction — CSLB license
License #1107522. CSLB lists it as expired and not able to contract (expired July 31, 2025); the contractor’s bond was canceled June 5, 2025 and workers’ comp coverage has lapsed. CSLB also notes the license must replace its qualifying individual to reactivate. CBS Los Angeles earlier reported the license was suspended in February, citing a lack of a qualifier.
Pending disciplinary accusation
CSLB records show a pending disciplinary accusation against Dezign Construction Inc. (Case N 2025 217, filed May 1, 2026). It alleges diverted funds or a failure to account (B&P §7108), a willful or fraudulent act (§7116), and collecting more money than the work completed (§7159.5A5), among other violations. An accusation is an allegation that has not been finally decided.
Prior CSLB citation
A separate CSLB citation (October 8, 2024) cited Dezign for exceeding the legal down-payment limit of $1,000 or 10% (§7159.5A3), contracting without a license (§7028), and failing to carry workers’ compensation (§7125.4A), among others.
Bankruptcy
CBS Los Angeles reported that Ramirez has filed for bankruptcy.
Successor company
Green LA Construction Group, license #1140301 — active, issued July 11, 2025, with Malka Nazar listed by CSLB as CEO/President. Green LA also has its own disclosable CSLB complaint that has been referred to legal action (Complaint N I 2025 9199). Verify current standing yourself before hiring.

The pattern this fits

Dezign isn’t an isolated story. Across California’s ADU and home-improvement boom, the same warning signs keep repeating: large sums collected upfront for materials or “appliances,” work that stalls or never finishes, a license that lapses or gets suspended, and operators who resurface under a new business name. We track these cases side by side on the California ADU Builder Scam & Failure Tracker (including Anchored Tiny Homes, Multitaskr, and Nonna Homes) because seeing the pattern is the best protection against falling for it.

How to protect yourself before you sign

  1. Verify the license: company AND the people. Look up the company on the CSLB, then look up the names of the principals. If a license is suspended, expired, or brand-new with no history, slow down and ask why.
  2. Know the deposit law. In California, a contractor cannot legally demand a deposit larger than $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less. A request for tens of thousands upfront “for appliances and materials” is a red flag, not normal practice.
  3. Never pay for materials or appliances directly to the contractor in a lump sum upfront. Tie payments to completed, inspected milestones.
  4. Get everything in writing — scope, schedule, payment milestones, and what each payment covers.

If you believe you’ve already been affected

  1. File a complaint with the CSLB. This feeds the investigation and the public record.
  2. Check for a contractor’s bond and file a claim if one applies; be aware the bond is capped and may be split among multiple claimants.
  3. Consider small claims or civil action for amounts above the bond, and consult an attorney for large losses.
  4. Report to the California Attorney General and your county District Attorney’s consumer-fraud unit.
  5. Document everything — contracts, invoices, checks, texts, and dates.

Our step-by-step recovery playbook walks through each of these in order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dezign Construction still in business?

Dezign Construction’s CSLB license (#1107522) is expired and cannot contract, and CSLB records show a pending disciplinary accusation against the company (Case N 2025 217) alleging diverted funds and a willful or fraudulent act. CBS Los Angeles also reported that Ramirez has filed for bankruptcy. An accusation is an allegation, not a final finding; always confirm a license’s current status yourself on the CSLB website before relying on it.

Is Green LA Construction Group the same company as Dezign Construction?

They are separate licensed entities, but CSLB records show Malka Nazar, listed as a former Dezign officer, is now active with Green LA Construction Group (license #1140301) as its CEO/President. CBS Los Angeles named both Nazar and Enrique “Rick” Ramirez as Dezign principals. A new company name does not erase the track record of the people who run it, so it helps to check the principals’ names, not just the business name. Confirm any license’s current standing on the CSLB site before hiring.

What should I do if Dezign Construction took my money and didn’t finish the work?

File a complaint with the CSLB, which feeds the public record and any investigation. Check whether a contractor’s bond applies and file a claim, keeping in mind the bond is capped and may be split among multiple claimants. For losses above the bond, consider small claims or civil action and consult an attorney. You can also report the matter to the California Attorney General and your county District Attorney’s consumer-fraud unit. Document everything: contracts, invoices, checks, and dates.

Have Dezign Construction or its owners been criminally charged?

The homeowners’ claims reported by CBS Los Angeles are allegations that, as of this writing, have not been decided in court, and we are not aware of any criminal charges. The CSLB has filed a pending disciplinary accusation (Case N 2025 217); a disciplinary accusation is a regulatory allegation, not a criminal charge or a finding of fraud. An expired license is a regulatory fact on the public record; it is not, by itself, a conviction.

Is a large upfront deposit for appliances and materials legal in California?

No. Under California Business and Professions Code §7159.5, a contractor cannot collect more than $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less, as a down payment on a home improvement contract. For any ADU project over $10,000, the maximum legal deposit is $1,000. A demand for tens of thousands of dollars upfront for appliances and materials is a red flag, not standard practice.

How do I check whether a contractor’s license is active or suspended?

Run the company and the principals’ names through our free Contractor License Lookup, which checks CSLB license status, classification, bond, workers’ compensation, and any disclosed complaints in one place. You can also search the CSLB’s own database directly. Either way, check the people behind the company, not just the company name.

Before you pay any contractor a deposit

Two minutes now can save you six figures later.

→ Verify a CSLB license, bond & insurance
→ The deposit law: $1,000 or 10%, whichever is less
→ See every tracked California ADU builder case

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