AG lawsuit contends California company is a ‘government imposter’
News release from the attorney general’s office
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III today announced the filing of a lawsuit against a California company and its principals for violations under the Government Impostor Act.
The civil enforcement action names LA Investors LLC, based in southern California, and its principals, Roberto Romero and Laura Romero. LA Investors conducted business in Tennessee under the names “Local Records Office” and “National Profile Document.”
TN insurance commissioner’s travel, work with industry association, questioned
Tennessee Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie McPeak, who is president-elect of of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, has made more than 120 trips for conferences and meetings around the nation and world since taking office in 2011, reports WTVF-TV — and some say she’s spending “way too much time away from her office.”
McPeak told NewsChannel 5 Investigates, “That (travel) absolutely is serving the taxpayers of Tennessee and our Tennessee consumers.” But, Bob Hunter of the Consumer Federation of America wasn’t so sure.
“I think what happens as a result of these trips is less consumer protection, not more,” he said.
Bill set for passage bans local regulation of pet stores
A bill drafted at the request of Petlland, a pet store chain looking to expand franchise operations in Tennessee, includes consumer protection for purchasers of cats and dogs as well as protection of pet sellers from local government regulation.
The bill (SB519) is sponsored by Sen. Becky Massey, R-Knoxville, and Rep. Pat Marsh, R-Shelbyville, while opposed by animal advocacy groups. It has cleared committees in both the House and Senate and is scheduled for floor votes in both chambers this week.
Lawsuit says ‘Division of Corporate Services’ duping businesses
News release from attorney general’s office
Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III, along with Secretary of State Tre Hargett and Division of Consumer Affairs Director Cynthia Wiel, today announced the filing of a lawsuit in Davidson County Chancery Court against three individuals for violating the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act.
According to the lawsuit, Chad Davis and Joshua Strawn of Florida and Tate Howe of California have been doing business in Tennessee as Division of Corporate Services and Annual Business Services over the past few years.
Multiple businesses, registered with the Tennessee Secretary of State, have reported receiving a solicitation from the two private companies. The companies offer to create annual corporate meeting minutes for a fee of up to $150. The solicitations, titled “Annual Minutes Form” and “Annual Records Statement,” look official and could easily be confused as being from the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office, particularly because the solicitations appear to be an invoice for payment and use a return address in the capital city of Nashville, Tennessee.
Legislator gouged at gas pump?
Police were called to a Lavergne gas station after state Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, complained to the manager of the Speedway station that he had been overcharged for fuel, reports WKRN-TV. The legislator says he plans to file a complaint with the state Department of Agriculture, which oversees enforcement of gas pump regulations in Tennessee.
He claims that instead of paying $1.93 a gallon for regular unleaded, he was charged $2.54 a gallon, which was the price at that time for premium gas. So he approached the store manager.
“He said it was impossible, that it couldn’t happen,” the lawmaker said. “I said sir I promise you it happened to me a month ago.”
That was at a different Speedway in Smyrna.
“This is the second time this happened to me,” Sparks said. “Anybody who knows me knows I’m very frugal. I’m not going to spend a lot of money I don’t need to spend.”
…The Speedway manager of the La Vergne store called police, which Sparks encouraged. The manager asked Sparks to leave because he was asking other customers to check their receipts.
(A Speedway spokeswoman says the pump was checked and it was working correctly.)
AG: TN gets $965K in settlement with Hyndai and Kia
News release from the Attorney General’s Office
Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III, along with the Division of Consumer Affairs, today announced Tennessee will receive more than $965,000 as part of a $41.2 million multi-state settlement with Hyundai and Kia. The agreement resolves claims that the automakers misrepresented mileage and fuel economy ratings for some of their model year 2011, 2012 and 2013 vehicles.
The settlement, reached between attorneys general in 33 states and the District of Columbia and the Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Motors Corporation, and Kia Motors America, concludes a multi-state investigation into the companies’ fuel economy estimates during a period of especially high gasoline prices.
