DeWine
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a lawsuit on Monday against a California-based investment software company for allegedly calling Ohio consumers who were on the National Do Not Call Registry.
CTI Group LLC also allegedly violated the state's consumer laws.
CTI sells investment and trading software to consumers, including products such as automated robot trading software and Victory S&P E-Mini Trading Programs. The company's primary place of business is located in Manhattan Beach.
"This company is located in California but it was calling Ohio consumers and violating Ohio and federal laws," DeWine said. "Even if telemarketers are located in another state, they still have to comply with Ohio consumer laws in order to do business here."
CTI allegedly repeatedly called customers who were on the National Do Not Call Registry or who requested not to be called. In addition, CTI allegedly charged consumers' credit card accounts without their written consent after convincing consumers to buy its software programs over the phone. The company allegedly refused to issue refunds to customers who were unjustly charged.
The lawsuit alleges that CTI violated Ohio's Telephone Solicitations Sales Act and Consumer Sales Practices Act by failing to comply with do-not-call laws, failing to register as a telephone solicitor in the state and charging consumers' financial accounts without obtaining written sale confirmation. The lawsuit seeks consumer restitution, civil penalties and injunctive relief.