Attorney General's News Release

July 14, 1999

Nixon sues Osage Beach business that fraudulently sold ads to vacation resort property owners

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon this week filed a lawsuit in Camden County Circuit Court against Retirement Homesites Inc. and several individuals associated with the Osage Beach business for fraudulently selling advertising to consumers.

Nixon is charging Retirement Homesites and Camden County residents Gary B. Mosenfelder, Louis A. Harris, Merideth A. Lizdas and Wayne Burns with using fraudulent means to solicit advertising listings to consumers from around the country who wanted to sell vacation resort property.

The lawsuit states that the defendants sold their advertising services for as much as $292 but then did little to advertise the properties in the widespread manner that was promised. Property owners were told by Retirement Homesites telemarketers that the business had prospective buyers eager to purchase the property, which often was undeveloped or otherwise difficult to sell.

Consumers also were told falsely that Retirement Homesites limited the number of properties it advertised. Nixon said more than 3,000 consumers bought the advertising services in 1998 and 1999.

"These consumers often were looking for any means possible to sell their property, and they jumped at the chance when Retirement Homesites made their sales pitch," Nixon said. "The vast majority had little or nothing to show for their $300 payment to this business."

Nixon is asking the court to order the defendants to cease their telemarketing sales, to freeze their assets, and to require the defendants to provide the Attorney General's Office with full and immediate access to their records. Nixon also is asking for a permanent injunction against the defendants to prevent them from violating Missouri consumer laws in the future, as well as appropriate restitution, penalties and costs.

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 Press Secretary John Fougere.

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