TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a consent judgment against Alumni Research Inc. and its CEO Robert Laping for allegedly violating the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and the Florida Telemarketing Act.
Alumni Research allegedly solicited over-the-phone payments for high school and college alumni directory books, yet failed to publish the directories on time or at all. Its business practices harmed more than 26,000 consumers nationwide, Bondi’s office claims.
Due to the consent judgment, the defendants cannot market and sell alumni directory books nor can they engage in telemarketing or over-the-phone solicitation. The defendants are also mandated to pay close to $4.5 million, including penalties, which would go toward consumer restitution and civil penalties. The current insolvency of the business, however, will likely prevent these payments.
Bondi’s office plans to continue to seek funds for consumers harmed by the company’s alleged actions through post-judgment proceedings. It will look for any evidence of available assets.