Attorney General's News Release

May 14, 2007

Nixon moves to protect consumers who paid for but didn’t receive furniture from store in Joplin that closed suddenly

Joplin, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today obtained a temporary restraining order to freeze the assets of a Joplin furniture store that closed suddenly last week, leaving an unknown number of customers without refunds or the furniture they paid for. The order signed by Jasper County Circuit Judge David Mouton prevents the owners of the Ashley Furniture store at 1329 S. Rangeline from selling, transferring, liquidating, removing or hiding any of the assets of the business.

Named as defendants in Nixon’s lawsuit are D&L Ventures Inc., which does business as Ashley Furniture, and its officers Dennis A. Casey and Linda D. Casey of Joplin. The store reportedly closed without notice on or about May 9.

Since that time, at least 129 consumers have filed complaints with the Attorney General’s Office. Some of the consumers report they paid as much as $2,000 for furniture they have not received; other consumers complained they had ordered and paid for the furniture as far back as February or March of this year but had not received their purchases.

Nixon is asking the court for preliminary and permanent injunctions to prohibit the defendants from further violations of Missouri consumer protection laws and to order them to pay restitution to consumers harmed by their actions. The lawsuit also seeks appropriate penalties and costs from the defendants.

KODE-TV story and video on the Ashley Furniture store closing

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 the Press Secretary.

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