Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release
March 4, 2008
Media Contact: Sandi Copes
Phone: (850) 245-0150
Attorney General Sues Internet Furniture Seller for Deceptive Practices, Violation of Previous Agreement
~ Company previously settled allegations of fraud, but new complaints continue to come in ~
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Attorney General Bill McCollum today filed a lawsuit against a Duval County internet-based furniture business, stating the company has violated a prior settlement agreement and is continuing to engage in deceptive business practices. Leather Depot, which offers custom leather furniture for sale on its website, previously settled allegations of deceptive practices related to furniture delivery, but the Attorney General’s lawsuit alleges that the company did not make the requisite business changes and continues to defraud consumers.
Leather Depot advertises that the furniture is handcrafted and guarantees delivery within four to six weeks, but more than 30 consumers complained that the company and owner William Lyne withheld furniture from customers for lengthy periods of time, sometimes never delivering the furniture. The company settled these allegations in April 2006, but since that agreement an additional 20 complaints have been reported to the Attorney General’s Office. The complaints all involve consumers who have paid for custom leather furniture, but never received any merchandise or received only a portion of the order after several months of excuses for the delays. They have been defrauded a collective $22,000.
The Attorney General’s lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction prohibiting William Lyne and Leather Depot from engaging in any business activity within the State of Florida. In addition to full consumer restitution, the Attorney General is also seeking civil penalties in the amount of $10,000 per violation for consumers or $15,000 per violation if the victim is a senior citizen or disabled adult.
A copy of the lawsuit is available online at: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-7CEKBM/$file/LeatherDepotComplaint.PDF