Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has sued a New York-based business for violating the Kansas No Call Act.
In 2014, the attorney general’s office received multiple complaints from Kansans who had received telemarketing calls from callers who identified themselves as representatives of “Farmway,” a local supplier with no connection to the defendants or the alleged telephone calls.
The callers were trying to sell agricultural chemicals. Schmidt filed suit against Carso Inc. d/b/a Supply House, d/b/a Coating and Chemicals, Donna Decianni Spano and Jack Caratozzolo, all of New York state. The suit was filed last week in Shawnee County District Court.
The lawsuit alleges the defendants violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act and the No Call Act by calling registered Kansas telephone numbers, willfully misrepresenting themselves as “Farmway” in order to mislead Kansas consumers, and knowingly misrepresenting their products as those of Farmway Co-op, Inc. The attorney general alleges the defendants in fact have no affiliation with Farmway Co-op, Inc. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, KCPA and No Call civil penalties, and investigative fees.
Consumers who have been called by or done business with any of the companies identified above may file a complaint with the attorney general’s Consumer Protection Division at www.InYourCornerKansas.org at (800) 432-2310.