SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) — Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson has announced LA Investors LLC has been ordered to pay more than $3.6 million by a Thurston County judge after allegations it scammed new Washington property owners into buying overpriced deeds.
LA Investors does business as Local Records Office, and, according to claims, it violated Washington’s Consumer Protection Act at least 256,998 times. The company allegedly sent official-looking notices to consumers, stating the consumers needed to pay $89 for their property deed.
“These fraudsters sought to line their pockets by selling government documents at a ridiculous markup,” Ferguson said. “Today they are being held accountable – victims will get their money back and these scammers will pay a substantial penalty.”
Of the $3.6 million summary judgment, $856,981 will be used for consumer restitution, $2,568,980 for civil penalties and $176,806 for costs associated with the case.
Victims will receive $89 refunds as a result of the decision.