Stumbo Announces Suit Against Yellow Pages, Inc.

FRANKFORT KY (March 16, 2005) - Attorney General Greg Stumbo announced today the filing of a civil lawsuit against four defendants in California who send small checks to hundreds of Kentucky consumers as part of an illegal solicitation. The lawsuit, filed today in Jefferson Circuit Court, alleges that when the checks for $3.47 were cashed, the defendants claimed the consumers were obligated to pay $177 for Internet directory services. The checks were sent from Yellow Pages, Inc. When consumers did not pay the bill, it was turned over to a collection agency, Continental Recovery and Filing Solutions.

The defendants are Yellow Pages, Inc., which is a Nevada Corporation but operates from Anaheim CA, and its President, John Wurth, and Continental Recovery and Filing Solutions, of Simi Valley CA and Marwan Kashou, its President.

Under Kentucky Statute, KRS 372.160, checks being mailed as a solicitation must contain certain mandatory disclosures. The lawsuit alleges all defendants failed to follow the terms of the statute and also violated the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act. Kentucky is the only state with this statute but, due to this type of solicitation, several other states have introduced similar legislation using the Commonwealth’s statute as a model.

“Kentucky consumers were cheated in this scam. This lawsuit will help deter others who are seeking to profit through deceptive and misleading practices," Attorney General Stumbo said.
To date, Texas and Washington have also sued Yellow Pages, Inc and its President. Illinois has sued Yellow Pages, Inc, its President, as well as Continental Recovery and Filing and its President.