State officials reach settlement with Mich. company

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster and Secretary of State Jason Kander last week reached a settlement with a Michigan company accused of misleading businesses in the Show-Me State.

The settlement resolves allegations that The Mandatory Poster Agency Inc., dba Corporate Records Service, and owner Thomas Fata, of Lansing, Mich., offered to prepare and file annual corporate meeting minutes by designing mailings to look like government documents and falsely implied Missouri corporations are required to submit the minutes to the state, according to a news release.

According to a lawsuit filed by Koster in April, the conduct violated the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act prohibiting deception and false representations in solicitations.

Koster filed the suit after receiving a notice from Kander, whose office received several inquiries from Missouri corporations, the release said.

“I’m glad Attorney General Koster and I were able to stop this company from misleading Missouri business owners about state requirements,” Kander said in the release. “Our offices will continue working together to protect businesses from being scammed.”

As part of the settlement, Corporate Records Service and Fata agreed to comply with Missouri's solicitation laws, clearly indicate its mailings aren't affiliated with the state and include language in the solicitations stating the service is not required by Missouri law.

Corporate Records Service also agreed to issue a letter to each Missouri business it solicited for the service and offer a refund to those who purchased it. The company also will pay the state $2,000 to reimburse costs associated with the lawsuit and a $3,000 fine, which will be placed in the state's education fund, the release said.[[In-content Ad]]