State claims couple scammed adult group home workers
Sep 2, 2014, 3:51 PM | Updated: 4:51 pm
The state of Washington is suing a Pierce County couple, claiming they sold bogus training certificates to employees of adult group homes.
The lawsuit claims Dennis and Jennifer Lalander kept track of when group homes and their employees needed to update their training and then cold-called them, offering the phoney certificates.
“They’d say, ‘hey, we are a business that can provide this training to you, the employee,’ but when you actually give them the 72 bucks, the certificate they provide to you is no good, it’s bogus and they sold hundreds of these at 72-bucks a pop,” said State Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
The couple is accused of violating the state’s Consumer Protection Act. Ferguson said the Lalander’s are not authorized to sell the training and certification packets.
Employees of the adult group homes are required to complete 12 hours of approved continuing education training each year.
“So, folks pay their 72-bucks and what they get is a worthless certificate,” said Ferguson.
He’s seeking refunds, penalties, and an order preventing the Lalanders from involvement with any company providing continuing education materials to adult group homes in Washington.
