MAGAZINE SWEEP STATE ACTIONS

MAY 22, 1997

ILLINOIS

The Attorney General of Illinois, Jim Ryan, filed a complaint against Ed Dantuma Enterprises, doing business as Publishers Direct Services and Publishers Direct Services of St. Paul and its corporate officers. The complaint alleges the defendants failed to notify consumers of the total costs and duration of magazine subscriptions, failed to inform consumers of their right to cancel subscriptions and failed to inform consumers of the cancellation policy of the company, in violation of the Telemarketing Rule and Illinois state law. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Springfield Division.

Media contact:
Abdul-Hakim Shabazz or Jerry Owens
Office of the Illinois Attorney General
217-782-1973

NEW JERSEY

The New Jersey Attorney General joined as co-plaintiff with the FTC in its action against National Scholastic Society, Inc. and David C. Beasley, Jr., described above.

Media contact:
Pamela McClure,
Office of the New Jersey Attorney General
201- 504-6315

NEW YORK

Attorney General Dennis C.Vacco filed suit against Kevin Jay Lipsitz, of Staten Island, New York, doing business as Collegtown Magazine Subscription Services, Krazy Kevin’s Magazine Club, Magazine Club Inquiry Center, Tempting Tear-outs, and SI Mag Sub Service, Inc. In the suit the Attorney General alleges that Lipsitz deceptively markets magazine subscriptions by e-mail but never places the subscription orders with the magazine publishers or does so only after an extensive delay.

Media contact:

Jennifer Farina
Office of New York Attorney General
212-416-8060

PENNSYLVANIA

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, acting by Attorney General D. Michael Fisher, filed a complaint against United Publishers Service, Inc., headquartered in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. The complaint was filed in federal district court in the Western District of Pennsylvania on May 13, 1996. The Pennsylvania Attorney General alleges that the company violated the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule and Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices Act. The complaint alleges the company failed to disclose the costs of its subscriptions and that the company had a policy of not allowing cancellations. In addition, the complaint alleges that the company misled consumers about its offer of "free" coupons.

Media contact:
Sean Duffy
Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General
717-787-5211

WEST VIRGINIA

Attorney General Darrell V. McGraw, Jr. obtained an assurance of discontinuance on May 5, 1997 against United Publishers Service, Inc. The company is headquartered in Pennsylvania. The assurance bars the company from denying cancellation requests or failing to honor the buyer’s right to cancel certain subscriptions under West Virginia law.

Media contact:
Gretchen Murphy
Office of the West Virginia Attorney General
(304) 558-8986.