INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed a lawsuit Tuesday against a Missouri-based air duct cleaning company that allegedly robo-called more than 430 Indiana residents.
Noach Palatnik, doing business as Air Duct Cleaning, allegedly started calling Indiana residents in April. Palatnik allegedly called some individuals who were on Indiana's Do Not Call list.
The automated calls offered air duct cleaning services for $59.95, in addition to free dryer vent and furnace inspections.
"My office is working hard to identify ways to better trace illegal calls and prosecute violators," Zoeller said. "This lawsuit is part of that effort and we will continue to use the resources available to protect Indiana's consumers from unwanted calls."
Palatnik allegedly made calls to residents of Shelby, Morgan, Marion, Madison, Johnson, Hendricks, Hancock, Hamilton and Boone counties.
In the state of Indiana, most robo-calls are considered illegal regardless of whether or not companies call individuals on the Do Not Call list. Exceptions include calls from businesses advising employees of work schedules and from school districts to students, employees or parents. Robo-calls are also legal if a live phone operator first obtains permission prior to playing a pre-recorded message.
The lawsuit alleges Palatnik and Air Duct Cleaning violated Indiana's Do Not Call law and Autodialer law. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties, a permanent injunction against future Do Not Call violations and attorney fees.
Indiana AG files lawsuit against robo-caller
