Amid health and safety concerns, Attorney General Todd Rokita investigates potential labor trafficking networks in local communities
AG Rokita sends civil investigative demands (CIDs) to officials, employers and non-profits in Evansville, Logansport and Seymour
As residents and elected officeholders continue reporting concerns about the largescale influx of illegal aliens and “legal migrants” into their cities and towns, Attorney General Todd Rokita is launching investigations into this growing issue in Evansville, Logansport and Seymour.
The entities receiving CIDs are the Cass County Health Department, Logansport Community School Corp., Berry Global Group Inc., Tent Partnership for Refugees, God is Good, and Jackson County Industrial Development Corp.
“Illegal immigration caused by “border czar” Kamala Harris’ perversion and misapplication of federal law has made every state a border state and imposed unsustainable costs on Logansport and other cities across the nation,” Attorney General Rokita said. “It has also created serious sex and labor trafficking risks in all communities. I’m creatively trying to use every tool in the law to stop the Left’s intentional destruction of Indiana.”
Attorney General Rokita is investigating coordinated efforts among international and local nonprofit “refugee resettlement” organizations and employers to bring large numbers of migrants to Indiana communities.
The rapid growth of alien populations in certain communities has caused overcrowding in housing facilities as multiple families and sometimes dozens of individuals reportedly share space in structures intended to be single-family dwellings. It also has raised concerns about potential labor trafficking.
Attorney General Rokita’s office is conducting these investigations pursuant to its authority under Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act and indecent nuisance statute.
“The influx of these illegal aliens, which are coming from over 150 different countries, have strained our schools and the children of taxpayers are suffering as a result. It has caused unneeded stress on law enforcement, local hospitals and healthcare facilities, and our housing and labor markets,” Attorney General Rokita said. It also raises serious questions about how these individuals’ arrival in Indiana is being facilitated.
###
In lawsuit, Attorney General Todd Rokita alleges that home-improvement contractor is scamming Hoosiers
Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a lawsuit alleging that an Indianapolis home improvement contractor is scamming Hoosiers by taking money from consumers as deposits, starting work, then abandoning projects without issuing refunds — leaving consumers with partially finished conditions they must pay someone else to fix.
The lawsuit alleges that Hank Eversole – doing business as All Services Construction and Nationwide Construction – has violated Indiana law through such misconduct.
“Hoosiers looking to make repairs or improvements to their homes shouldn’t have to worry about being shafted by unscrupulous contractors,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We will continue working to hold accountable any contractor trying to take advantage of hardworking homeowners in this manner.”
This lawsuit alleges that Hank Eversole violated the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act and the Indiana Home Improvement Act. Attorney General Rokita is seeking injunctive relief, consumer restitution, penalties, costs and other relief.
This is not the first time this year Attorney General Rokita has filed a lawsuit to protect consumers against contractors who take money and then fail to complete projects.
Earlier this year, Attorney General Rokita filed suit against Exact Loss Consulting, Storm Solutions Pros, and Adam Greer alleging that they entered into home improvement contracts with consumers for storm-related damage to their homes and then failed to complete the work as contracted and failed to comply with consumers’ requests for refunds.
Attorney General Rokita also obtained a judgment against another set of companies doing business as Quest Exteriors that repeatedly entered into contracts to perform concrete and other exterior work on Hoosiers’ homes and failed to complete the work.
To prevent the headache of being scammed by a contractor, Attorney General Rokita offers the following tips to avoid falling victim to a home repair scam:
- Ask your family, friends and co-workers for contractors they have used who have done good work.
- Before signing a contract or making a payment, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and the Better Business Bureau for complaint information on contractors you are considering.
- Get multiple bids from local contractors.
- Avoid contractors who spontaneously show up at your door offering a “bargain” price for painting, driveway sealing, roof repairs, etc.
- Never pay for the entire project before the work begins.
- Don’t make the final payment to the contractor until you know all suppliers of materials and all subcontractors have been paid.
If you ever suspect a scam of any type, file a complaint at indianaconsumer.com or call Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office at 1-800-382-5516.
The lawsuit against Hank Eversole is attached.
###
Tricks are fun, but unclaimed treats are to die for!
Attorney General Todd Rokita and Sammy Terry team up again for Halloween to reunite Hoosiers with unclaimed property
This Halloween season, Indiana icon Sammy Terry — the longest-running TV horror host in the world — is again partnering with the Attorney General’s Office to remind Hoosiers to search for unclaimed treats at IndianaUnclaimed.gov.
“Despite his scary reputation, Sammy is helping hardworking Hoosiers dig up treats, not tricks, this Halloween,” Attorney General Todd Rokita said. “What’s yours is yours, and it belongs with you rather than with goblins, gremlins or the government.”
Under Attorney General Rokita’s leadership, the office’s Unclaimed Property Division returned a record-breaking $81 million to hardworking Hoosiers in 2023. Hundreds of millions remain to be claimed.
Sammy Terry is featured in a digital advertising campaign calling all Hoosiers around the state to text SAMMY to 46220 and search your name for unclaimed property.
“Go, my minions, to Indianaunclaimed.gov and hunt for any unclaimed pleasant nightmares just waiting to be claimed by you,” Sammy Terry said. “Indiana Unclaimed returns well over $1 million every week to Hoosiers across the state. It’s easy, quick and free to search!”
Unclaimed property is any financial asset with no activity by its owner for an extended period of time. This can include unclaimed wages or commissions, money orders, safety deposit box contents, savings and checking accounts, refunds and overpayments.
Attorney General Rokita’s office conducts outreach efforts to locate the rightful owners or heirs. Individuals and/or businesses have 25 years to claim money once it is reported to the state.
Please contact the Attorney General’s Unclaimed Property Division at 1-866-462-5246 or updmail@atg.in.gov with any questions.
Click here to view one of these ads.
###
Attorney General Todd Rokita secures suspension of Indy doctor’s medical license following unlawful prescribing and other violations
Attorney General Todd Rokita has secured a suspension of the medical license of an Indianapolis doctor charged with 114 counts of violating laws regulating his medical practice and controlled substance prescribing.
“Hoosier patients have the right to expect their doctors to put their safety and well-being at the top of the priority list,” Attorney General Rokita said. “When a physician performing surgery demonstrates reckless disregard for basic standards of care, he or she must be held accountable.”
On Oct. 24, the Medical Licensing Board suspended Dr. Scott Mimms’ license for a minimum of two years. Attorney General Rokita’s office filed an administrative complaint against Dr. Mimms with the board on April 24, 2024.
The Indiana Medical Licensing Board found that Dr. Mimms failed to exercise reasonable care and diligence; unlawfully prescribed Schedule II controlled substances for weight loss; and administered anesthesia in a facility without the proper accreditation to do so and without any additional providers trained in anesthesia present at the time of the surgeries.
Attorney General Rokita’s office investigates complaints against licensed professionals and entities across the state. They received the first consumer complaint against Dr. Mimms in August of 2022 — and 34 additional complaints thereafter.
Hoosiers can file a consumer complaint with the Attorney General’s office here.
Attorney General Rokita expressed gratitude for the diligent work on this matter by Investigators Delaney Walter and Cassie McDaniel and Deputy Attorneys General Carah Rochester and Amy Osborne.
A copy of the administrative complaint is attached.
###
Attorney General Todd Rokita delivers another blow to Big Pharma, announces $49.1 million national settlement to resolve price-fixing allegations involving generic drugs
If you bought certain generic prescription drugs in the US from 2010 to 2018, you could be eligible for money
Attorney General Todd Rokita, as part of a coalition of 46 states and four territories, has secured $49.1 million in settlements to resolve allegations that two companies engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade with regard to numerous generic prescription drugs.
The two companies represent only a fraction of those implicated in such alleged misconduct. Indiana and other states are pressing forward with lawsuits against the remaining companies not participating in the settlements.
“Hoosiers deserve to know that the prices they pay for generic drugs arise from free and fair competition among pharmaceutical companies,” Attorney General Rokita said. “The fight is not over, and we continue to allege that company executives in this case colluded and conspired to keep prices high at their respective companies. We are holding them accountable for their egregious misconduct.”
As part of settlement agreements, the two companies have agreed to cooperate in ongoing multistate litigations against 30 corporate defendants and 25 individual executives. Both companies have further agreed to a series of internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws.
A $10 million settlement with Heritage Pharmaceuticals is being filed Oct. 31 in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in Hartford. A settlement with Apotex for $39.1 million will be finalized and filed in the U.S. District Court in the near future. The State of Connecticut has led the multistate litigation efforts.
Indiana residents’ ultimate share of the money will be determined by how many request refunds. If you purchased a generic prescription drug manufactured by Heritage or Apotex between 2010 and 2018, you may be eligible for compensation. Call 1-866-290-0182 (toll-free), email info@AGGenericDrugs.com or visit www.AGGenericDrugs.com to see if you are eligible.
A coalition of nearly all states and territories filed three antitrust complaints, starting first in 2016.
The first complaint included Heritage and 17 other corporate defendants, two individual defendants, and 15 generic drugs. Two former executives from Heritage Pharmaceuticals, Jeffery Glazer and Jason Malek, have since entered into settlement agreements and are cooperating.
The second complaint was filed in 2019 against Teva Pharmaceuticals and 19 of the nation’s largest generic drug manufacturers. The complaint names 16 individual senior executive defendants.
The third complaint, to be tried first, focuses on 80 topical generic drugs that account for billions of dollars of sales in the United States and names 26 corporate defendants and 10 individual defendants.
Six additional pharmaceutical executives have entered into settlement agreements with the states and have been cooperating to support the states’ claims in all three cases.
###
Attorney General Todd Rokita secures revocation of licensure against Evansville addiction counselor who illegally sold drugs to patients
Attorney General Todd Rokita has ensured an Evansville addiction counselor who illegally dealt drugs to his patients will no longer be licensed in Indiana to provide counseling.
Following an administrative complaint by Attorney General Rokita’s office, the Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board voted to revoke professional licensing held by Michael Hagedorn.
“Here we have a licensee who used his vulnerable patients for his own financial gain by feeding rather than treating their drug habits,” Attorney General Rokita said. “There is no world in which such a person deserves to work in the mental health and addiction field and thankfully they never will be able to again. We will continue standing up for vulnerable Hoosiers.”
Hagedorn is serving 16 years through the Indiana Department of Correction following convictions for dealing in methamphetamine and dealing in a narcotic drug. His sentence also involves a six-year enhancement for being a habitual criminal.
“Beyond the debt he is paying to society through the criminal justice system, this individual must also be kept far away from credentials that would enable him again to abuse patients from a position of trust,” Attorney General Rokita said.
The administrative complaint against Hagedorn is attached.
###
Don’t get tricked by flawed products this fall
Attorney General Todd Rokita warns consumers about products recalled in October
Attorney General Todd Rokita is alerting Hoosiers to important consumer protection concerns for products recalled in October. His office is encouraging consumers to take advantage of opportunities available to them to return, fix, dispose, return or replace a purchased recalled item that could be harmful to their families.
“Halloween may be over, but recalled products are still scary for your family,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Don’t get tricked into using a flawed product that could put your family in danger. Stop using recalled items immediately and pursue resolution from the manufacturer.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, click here to see the consumer products were recalled in October.
If you believe you recently purchased a recalled product, stop using it, and check its recall notice (linked above for all products). Then follow the notice’s instructions, including where to return the product, how to get the product fixed, how to dispose of the product, how to receive a refund for the product, or what steps must be taken to receive a replacement product.
To view recalls issued prior to October visit the Consumer Protection Safety Commission website.
|
