Attorney General's News Release

December 7, 2004

St. Louis County court orders California blast faxer to pay $67,500 penalty in lawsuit brought by Nixon

St. Louis, Mo. —A California company that sent out unsolicited advertising by "blast faxing" the ads to Missouri consumers has been ordered to pay a $67,500 penalty, in a default judgment handed down Monday (Dec. 6).

St. Louis County Associate Circuit Judge Mary Bruntrager Schroeder issued a permanent injunction against QB Easy Inc., of Irvine, Calif., prohibiting the company or its employees from violating Missouri consumer protection laws by sending unsolicited fax advertisements to Missouri consumers. The judge also ordered the company to pay a civil penalty of $67,500 to the state of Missouri.

Attorney General Jay Nixon sued QB Easy in April 2004 after receiving complaints about 135 unsolicited fax ads that were sent advertising seminars titled "QuickBooks Training Made Easy." The defendants failed to respond to the lawsuit, and last month Nixon asked the court for a default judgment.

Nixon said some consumers continued to receive the unsolicited fax ads even after they called the opt-out number listed on the ad.

"Junk faxes are sent at the cost of the recipient," Nixon said. "This business continued its blast faxing to several consumers who asked that the faxes stop. Now QB Easy is looking at a hefty penalty in Missouri, and we will take whatever steps we need to in order to collect it."

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818