Attorney General's News Release

April 16, 2001

Nixon asks court to stop unlicensed Springfield accountant and his firm from offering CPA services

Springfield, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today asked the Greene County Circuit Court to issue an injunction preventing an unlicensed Springfield accountant and his firm from offering accounting services in Missouri.

Nixon filed the lawsuit against Murphy Hubbard and The Hubbard Group P.C. because neither Hubbard nor his business currently have permits to practice as certified public accountants. Their permits to practice accounting expired in the fall of 1998; Hubbard and his firm both have continued to advertise themselves as certified public accountants.

"At a time when many Missourians are looking for guidance on their finances from qualified professionals, Mr. Hubbard continues to misrepresent himself as being a CPA," Nixon said. "Neither he nor his firm should be allowed to continue to perpetrate this misrepresentation."

Nixon is asking the court to issue an order prohibiting the defendants from providing or offering public accountancy or accounting services in Missouri and requiring them to submit to a complete investigation of their practices by the Missouri State Board of Accountancy. The lawsuit also asks the court to order the defendants to provide the Board with a list of all current clients, so the Board can contact the clients and inform them that Hubbard and his firm have been enjoined from practicing accounting.

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