Koster
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a $29,000 judgment on Monday against a now-defunct Springfield consignment shop and its former president for allegedly failing to pay consignors or return their merchandise.
Scrapscrap Inc., doing business as the Queen City Emporium, and Jayne E. Wilson, its former president, allegedly engaged in multiple violations of state consumer protection laws.
In an April lawsuit, Koster alleged that the defendants failed to make payments to consignors after selling their merchandise, failed to return any or all of a consignor's unsold items and failed to deliver monthly statements to consignors.
"My office will continue to ensure a fair and honest marketplace by protecting consumers and seeking restitution from those who have been harmed," Koster said.
The Springfield retail shop sold handmade merchandise, including art work, healthcare products, food items, clothing and jewelry. To get the merchandise, the Queen City Emporium solicited sellers who sold their homemade goods online. The sellers then allowed Queen City Emporium to sell the merchandise on a consignment basis.
Under the terms of the judgment, issued on Aug. 27 by Greene County Associate Circuit Judge Dan Imhof, the defendants are permanently prohibited from selling merchandise on consignment. The judgment orders Wilson to pay consumers more than $12,300 in restitution, the state $11,300 in civil penalties and Koster's office more than $4,200 for attorney fees. Additionally, Wilson must pay Koster's office more than $1,200 for consumer education efforts.
Prior to the judgment, Koster's office recovered more than $85,500 worth of merchandise from the company. Koster's office has returned more than $53,500 of the merchandise to consignors. The judgment allows for the return of the remaining merchandise.