First Trial Result Against Suntria: Judge Awards Over $110,000 in Solar Panel Fraud Case
A Texas judge recently awarded our client over $110,000 in a solar panel fraud case against Arizona Solar Solutions, Inc. d/b/a Suntria — marking the first trial against the company. The judgment, entered in the 271st Judicial District Court of Wise County, Texas, included the full payoff of the homeowner's solar loan and attorney's fees after the judge found that Suntria's salesman made false promises to induce the purchase of a residential solar panel system.
The Promises
Like many solar panel fraud cases, this one started with a knock on the door. A salesman from Suntria visited the homeowner's residence and made a series of promises designed to convince the homeowner to sign up for a solar panel system. Those promises included:
A $0 electric bill after installation
A tax refund from the government for purchasing solar panels
The ability to sell back extra electricity through a buyback program
No more power outages — the system would keep the home powered independently
Based on these promises, the homeowner agreed to purchase a solar panel system from Suntria. The sale was financed through GoodLeap, LLC, which funded the loan for the solar panel purchase.
The Reality
After the solar panels were installed, the homeowner quickly realized that the promises were not true. The electric bill did not go to $0. There was no “extra electricity “ to sell through a “buyback program.” And the system did not prevent power outages. Meanwhile, the homeowner was now locked into a loan obligation for tens of thousands of dollars for a system that did not deliver the benefits Suntria had promised.
Bench Trial vs. Jury Trial
An important aspect of this case involved how the trial was conducted. The homeowner originally requested a jury trial. However, Suntria filed papers with the court to “strike” the homeowner’s right to a jury trial, which the court granted. As a result, the case was decided by a judge instead of a jury — what is known as a "bench trial."
This is significant for other Suntria customers considering legal action. If Suntria's contracts or litigation strategy includes eliminating the right to a jury trial, future cases against Suntria may also proceed as bench trials. While a bench trial means a judge — rather than a jury of twelve — decides the facts and renders the judgment, this case demonstrates that a bench trial can still produce a favorable result for the homeowner.
The Trial
The case was tried before a judge in Wise County, Texas. At trial, the salesman who sold the solar panels to the homeowner took the stand and denied making any of the alleged misrepresentations. According to the salesman, he never promised a $0 electric bill, never promised a tax refund, never promised a buyback program, and never promised the system would prevent power outages.
Despite what Suntria claimed at trial, and after hearing testimony from both sides, the judge found in favor of the homeowner and against Suntria.
The "Second Sales Pitch"
One of the more notable facts in this case was that the same salesman who originally sold the system came back to the homeowner's house to try and sell additional solar panels — just a few months before the trial and well after the lawsuit had already been filed. This is a pattern we have seen in other solar panel fraud cases, where salesmen return to make a second pitch despite knowing the homeowner has already experienced problems with their first system. It speaks to the aggressive sales culture that drives these companies.
The Judgment
The judge awarded the homeowner over $110,000, which included the full payoff of the solar loan and the homeowner's attorney's fees. This judgment represents the first trial result against Arizona Solar Solutions, Inc. d/b/a Suntria.
The case was tried in Wise County, a conservative, rural county northwest of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. For homeowners in Wise County and the surrounding North Texas area — including Decatur, Bridgeport, Chico, and Boyd — this result shows that solar panel fraud is being taken seriously by local courts. Arnell Law represents homeowners throughout North Texas and is familiar with the courts in this region.
What This Means for Suntria Customers
If you purchased solar panels from Suntria or Arizona Solar Solutions and were promised benefits that never materialized — a lower electric bill, a tax refund, a buyback program, or protection from power outages — you may have legal claims under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA).
The DTPA protects Texas consumers from false, misleading, and deceptive business practices. When a solar company makes promises about a product to convince you to buy it, and those promises turn out to be false, you may be entitled to:
Cancellation of your solar loan
Removal of any lien on your home
Additional damages under the DTPA
Attorney's fees
Free Consultation
If you were sold solar panels by Suntria or Arizona Solar Solutions and the system is not performing as promised, contact Arnell Law for a free consultation. We represent Texas homeowners in solar panel fraud cases and have a proven track record of results, including this judgment — the first trial result against Suntria.
Call (972) 516-4385 or visit our Free Consultations page to get started.