Attorney General's News Release

June 20, 2008

Nixon obtains court order preventing Michigan company from continued phone harassment of Missourians

St. Louis, Mo. - Attorney General Jay Nixon on Thursday (June 19) obtained a temporary restraining order against an out of state telemarketer preventing the company from continuing to engage in manipulative, high pressure fundraising tactics when calling Missourians who asked not to be called. Circuit Judge Edward Sweeney signed the order in St. Louis City Court against Associated Community Services of Southfield, Mich., and its owner Robert Burland.

Nixon says the Attorney General's Office received complaints from consumers about the defendants, who have made unsolicited telephone calls to Missouri consumers requesting donations on behalf of certain third party entities since at least February 2006. Some of the organizations that the defendants solicited donations for included the Cancer Fund of America, National Children's Leukemia Foundation, National Breast Cancer Society, and various charities for veterans and firefighters.

According to the Attorney General, the defendants used manipulative, high pressure sales techniques through the use of repeated, harassing phone calls to consumers who had previously requested to be placed on the defendants' do not call list. Some consumers complained that the callers were belligerent and rude, using obscenities and intimidation, and would call sometimes in excess of two times a day.

Today's court order prohibits the defendants from continuing to violate the law by repeatedly contacting Missouri consumers who had asked not to be called. Nixon is also requesting that the defendants are ordered to pay restitution, appropriate civil penalties and all court costs in the case.

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