HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) — Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane has announced her office filed a civil lawsuit against Theodore J. Sopko of Dauphin County for allegedly advertising the sale of more than 30 vehicles throughout the past year without having the proper licenses.
The lawsuit seeks a court order that would ban Sopko from selling vehicles without proper licensing and recover restitution for consumers allegedly victimized by Sopko’s deceptive practices. It seeks $1,000 for every alleged violation of the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law and $3,000 for every alleged violation involving a consumer 60 or older.
Sopko, of Hershey, "has shown a remarkable unwillingness, inability or recalcitrance to running an automobile business in a lawful manner in the commonwealth,” the lawsuit states.
Sopko allegedly called himself a vehicle “broker,” which is a practice that is illegal under Pennsylvania law. Sopko advertised his vehicles on the Internet. However, the commonwealth charges he was not licensed as either a dealer or a salesman at any of the locations at which he conducted transactions.
Deputy attorney general Michael J. Rugnetta of the Office of Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection is handling the case.