JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced on Monday that despite obtaining a default judgment against UST Development Inc., the California company and its owner may still be distributing misleading advertisements to businesses in Missouri.
Koster's office previously obtained a default judgment against UST Development and David Bell, the company's owner, requiring them to pay $60,000 in civil penalties and $3,750 in attorney costs for allegedly distributing deceptive solicitations to Missouri government agencies and businesses. The solicitations allegedly looked like phone bills due for payment.
The judgment prohibited UST Development and Bell from doing business in Missouri and from sending solicitations to Missouri companies. Koster's Consumer Protection Division received 80 complaints related to the solicitations and UST Development is allegedly continuing to send the solicitations. If UST Development is still sending solicitations, the practice would violate the default judgment.
"My office will not tolerate businesses that attempt to deceive consumers into signing up for a service they do not want or paying money they do not owe," Koster said. "We will continue to protect Missouri consumers by pursuing individuals and companies that break the laws of our state."
Koster asked businesses receiving the solicitations to contact his office to file complaints against UST Development.
Mo. AG says Calif. firm may be violating default judgment
