Semper Solaris, the El Cajon-based solar, roofing, and HVAC contractor, is the subject of a proposed class action lawsuit alleging it recorded inbound customer phone calls without consent, and it has also been named in separate individual suits over a wrongful termination claim and a residential fire. Alongside the litigation, the company has drawn a heavy volume of consumer complaints about installation quality and post-sale service.
The Call-Recording Class Action
The most prominent case is being handled by Crosner Legal, P.C., where attorneys Sepideh Ardestani, Zachary Crosner, and Michael Crosner are representing a proposed class of people who called Semper Solaris during what the firm describes as “the statutory period.” The claim is that the company recorded those inbound conversations without giving callers advance notice or obtaining their consent.1Crosner Legal. Semper Solaris Call Recording
The firm’s case page does not name a specific court or case number, and no settlement has been announced. The matter appears to be in an investigative or early litigation phase.
The California Law Behind the Claim
California Penal Code Section 632 makes it unlawful to intentionally record a “confidential communication” without the consent of every party to the call. A confidential communication is any conversation carried out under circumstances that reasonably indicate the parties expect privacy. Penalties reach $2,500 per incident for a first offense and up to $10,000 per incident for repeat violators.2FindLaw. California Penal Code Section 632 A companion provision, Section 632.7, separately prohibits recording calls involving cellular or cordless phones and does not require the “confidential” element.
In 2021 the California Supreme Court held in Smith v. LoanMe, Inc. that the statute applies even when the recorder is a party to the call, not just an outside eavesdropper.3Seyfarth Shaw LLP. California Supreme Court Holds That Recording Cell Phone Calls Without Consent Is Unlawful That ruling is what makes suits like the one against Semper Solaris viable.
Getting a case like this certified as a class action is a separate hurdle. California appellate courts have held that whether any given call was “confidential” often turns on the individual caller’s expectations. In Kight v. CashCall, Inc. (2014), an appellate court affirmed decertification of a call-recording class on exactly that reasoning, finding individual questions predominated over common ones. The precedent does not bar these cases, but it makes certification harder.
Other Pending Suits
Two individual cases in California state courts also name the company.
In October 2023, former employee Nicholas James Hein filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Semper Solaris Construction, Inc. in Los Angeles County Superior Court, case number 23STCV24435, before Judge Theresa M. Traber. As of a February 2025 court order, the case has been stayed and sent to binding arbitration.4Docket Alarm. Nicholas James Hein v. Semper Solaris Construction Inc.
In November 2025, homeowner Rockford Strickland filed a personal injury and property damage suit in Santa Clara County Superior Court against Semper Solaris, Inc. and Solar Edge, Inc. The complaint stems from a residential fire reported to have occurred at Strickland’s home in Taft, California in June 2024.5Trellis.law. Rockford Strickland vs Solar Edge Inc et al The case is in its early stages, and no outcome has been reported.
Consumer Complaints and Service Issues
Semper Solaris carries an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, but the complaint volume behind that rating is substantial. Over the three years ending in early 2026, customers filed 164 complaints. Only 36 were marked “resolved” to the customer’s satisfaction. The other 128 were categorized as “answered,” meaning the company responded but the consumer did not confirm the problem was fixed. Service or repair issues drove the largest share, at 115 of the 164 complaints.6BBB. Semper Solaris Complaints
Reviews on SolarReviews describe roof damage during installation, including cases where more than 200 tiles were broken and leaks appeared after panels went up. Some customers said inspectors flagged workmanship errors. Others said subcontractors performed the work despite being told the company uses its own crews. Equipment failures, including faulty micro-inverters and batteries that never functioned, come up repeatedly. Several customers reported projects that stretched past a year because of permitting delays or missing utility paperwork.7SolarReviews. Semper Solaris Reviews
ConsumerAffairs reviews follow a similar pattern. One homeowner reported paying for panels that were still not fully functional ten months after installation. Another said the company failed to respond to state requirements for a $26,400 incentive program, and the state canceled the application, costing the customer the full amount. A third paid $700 for a service call that reportedly left the system performing worse than before. Multiple reviewers said reaching support could take three to four weeks.8ConsumerAffairs. Semper Solaris
EcoWatch noted that Semper Solaris does not offer a warranty on its own workmanship for solar installations, which the publication called “one of the less remarkable ones in the industry.” Its review also cited customer reports of projects taking more than two years to complete and repeated failed inspections.9EcoWatch. Semper Solaris Review The complaint patterns cover more than solar; the company also performs roofing and HVAC work, though the reviews do not always identify which division a given complaint involved.
About the Company
Semper Solaris was founded in 2012 by Kelly Shawhan, a former U.S. Marine Corps captain, and John Almond, who has more than two decades of business experience.10iHeartRadio. John Almond and Kelly Shawhan, Co-Founders of Semper Solaris Headquartered in El Cajon, the company operates across California and has expanded into Florida. It markets itself as veteran-owned and claims to be the top Tesla Powerwall installer in the country and the number-one volume solar and battery installer in the United States.11Semper Solaris. About Us One business database estimates roughly 652 employees and annual revenue near $415 million, figures that have not been independently verified.12Datanyze. Semper Solaris Construction Inc
If you called Semper Solaris and believe your conversation was recorded without your consent, Crosner Legal is the firm collecting information from potential class members. If your complaint is about installation quality, delays, or unresponsive service, the BBB and California’s Contractors State License Board are the channels the existing complaint record has run through.