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SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Washington Attorney General General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against a Pierce County couple who allegedly sold fake continuing education trainings and certificates to hundreds of adult family home employees.
Jennifer and Dennis Lalander allegedly violated the state Consumer Protection Act by selling home study packets and pre-signed certificates of completion. The Lalanders allegedly claimed the documents would satisfy employees' continuing education requirements when that was not the case.
“This company preyed on hundreds of care providers for vulnerable adults and endangered some adult family homes’ ability to operate,” Ferguson said. “I will not tolerate these deceptive business practices.”
In the state of Washington, adult family home employees must annually complete 12 hours of continuing education that is approved by the Department of Social and Health Services. An adult family home employing individuals who have not completed the required continuing education may lose its license to operate.
The Lalanders allegedly sold the bogus certificates to hundreds of adult family home employees.
Ferguson's lawsuit seeks restitution for affected consumers, civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation and a permanent injunction that will keep the Lalanders from being involved with entities selling or providing adult family home continuing education materials.