Tom Corbett (R)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - A civil lawsuit has been filed by Attorney General Tom Corbett against a Philadelphia man and his pet supply company over false claims about charitable contributions and failure to provide refunds on returned items.
The lawsuit was filed against Joseph White, the owner of Furlong's Pet Supply, which used addresses in both Philadelphia and Wilmington, Del., and conducted sales on the internet. The business is also allegedly operated as Tapping Paw, though neither business name is properly registered in Pennsylvania.
White's pet supply website is alleged to have advertised that a charity called the Adopted Dog Training Association would receive ten percent of the proceeds from every sale. The charity allegedly provided obedience training to Philadelphia citizens who adopted dogs from animal shelters.
"In reality, this dog training 'charity' was little more than a sham, created by Mr. White, to lure sympathetic consumers into making purchases from his online business," Corbett said. "The organization was never registered as a charity in Pennsylvania and no money was ever donated to it."
In addition to the false claims of charitable contributions, White is also accused of failing to honor his stated return policy by not providing refunds for items returned within the specified 21-day return period.
Corbett's lawsuit seeks restitution for consumers who paid for products that they did not receive as well as refunds for items that consumers had returned properly.
The lawsuit also seeks penalties of as much as $1,000 for each violation of Pennsylvania's Consumer Protection Law or up to $3,000 for each violation involving a senior citizen.