BOISE, Idaho (Legal Newsline) – The owners of an Idaho Falls, Idaho-based company that published lifestyle magazines has reached a settlement agreement with the state's attorney general over claims the magazine took funds for advertising space from businesses and never published.
According to Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, who announced the settlement Aug. 24, the owners of Idaho Life LLC, Gary and Sharon Mueller, allegedly sold advertising space to small businesses in 2016 and 2017.
After receiving complaints from several small businesses that they had paid for ads and the magazine was never published, the attorney general's office contacted the Muellers. The pair explained that they had to stop publishing the magazine due to health and financial issues, the attorney general's office said.
“This settlement accomplishes two important goals,” Wasden said in a statement. “It addresses concerns my office had with the Muellers’ business practices and it provides for payment of restitution to injured consumers.”
The settlement includes the Muellers paying $8,400 in refunds to the businesses as well as $1,000 to cover the state's fees and investigation costs. The Muellers are also prohibited from selling advertisements to Idaho consumers, according to the attorney general's office.