JANUARY 13, 2005JAMES MCKENNA, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, 207-626-8842

Attorney General Steven Rowe today announced that his office has filed unfair trade practice lawsuits against two brothers, Roland W. Hale, II, and Bryan Hale for delivering less firewood than consumers ordered and paid for. Roland W. Hale, II, does business as Friendly Firewood at 65 Winston Way in New Gloucester. Bryan Hale does business as Avery Acres Firewood at 12 Tammy Lane in Windham.

Attorney General Steven Rowe announced today that his office has filed suit against two Maine companies and their executives for unfair and deceptive trade practices in marketing and selling weight-loss patch products called Slim Patch and Bodylite Gel Patch. The defendants are: Brewer-based Integra Direct LLC; its president Vincent Wank; Scarborough-based Infinity Marketing LLC; and Gregory Fletcher, who ran Infinity Marketing with Wank.

Attorney General Steve Rowe announced today that Maine and forty-nine other states and commonwealths have settled a civil law enforcement action against Perrigo Company and Alpharma, Inc, both makers of the generic version of Children's Motrin?. The complaint charges the companies with antitrust violations that resulted in the destruction of competition in the market for over-the-counter generic store-brand versions of liquid suspension Children's Motrin?. The civil complaint and settlement order will be filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) last week awarded Maine Assistant Attorney General Melissa Reynolds O'Dea the 2004 Loveland Tobacco Award. The Loveland Award is awarded annually. The award is named for the late Laurie Loveland, who, as a North Dakota Assistant Attorney General and later a private attorney, played a very active role in negotiating the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between 47 states and the major tobacco manufacturers.

The KIDS LAW Conference being held today at the Augusta Civic Center from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. will stress cooperation between State officials, courts, schools, service providers, and advocates for children in protecting the legal rights of Maine children.

Attorney General Steven Rowe announced today that his office has filed in Kennebec County Superior Court an Unfair Trade Practices Act complaint and consent agreement settling claims against Ford Credit and Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers over Ford's "Red Carpet" leasing program. Thirty-seven other states filed similar documents today. The settlement will result in 595 Maine Ford consumers getting $100 refund checks from Ford Credit. Nine dealers in Maine have joined the settlement. Eligible consumers will be contacted directly by Ford Credit.

Attorney General Steven Rowe announced today that his office has settled claims of unfair trade practices against telemarketer Horizon E-Yellow Pages, Inc. (Horizon). The State alleged that Horizon was calling Maine businesses and giving the false impression that it was actually "Verizon" Yellow Pages. As a result, many Maine businesses were led to believe that they were paying for advertisements in the Verizon Yellow Pages. The business did not find out the truth of the matter until Horizon sent its bill, sometimes for as much as $399 per advertisement.

Attorney General Steven Rowe announced today that Teresa Sutherland, 37, of Winterport, was sentenced Tuesday in the Kennebec County Superior Court on a charge of aggravated trafficking in cocaine (class A).

The aftermath of a violent crime may leave victims and their families physically and emotionally traumatized, and with that trauma can come extraordinary bills and financial hardship. Since 1992, the Maine Victims' Compensation Fund has provided victims and families the means to minimize the financial impact of violent crime.

What's in a name? While a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, getting duped by a fake florist listing in your local phone book would stink.