Attorney General's News Release

February 24, 2006

Nixon sues unlicensed land surveyor for doing survey work in Jackson, Cass counties

Kansas City, Mo. — A Lee's Summit man who performed land survey work since 2001 without a license has been sued by Attorney General Jay Nixon for the unauthorized practice of land surveying and for violating Missouri consumer protection laws. Nixon filed the lawsuit against Richard L. Ferguson, who signed and sealed land plats that were filed with the recorders despite the fact his land surveyor's license expired at the end of 2001.

Nixon is representing the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Landscape Architects on the issue of the authorized practice of land surveying. The lawsuit contends Ferguson also violated consumer protection laws by misrepresenting to landowners that he was licensed as a land surveyor.

"Land surveying is an exact science, and property owners have to have professionalism and accuracy so there are no questions where boundaries lie," Nixon said. "Mr. Ferguson is defrauding these landowners by telling them he is licensed to do the work he is doing."

The lawsuit lists six plats in Jackson County and three in Cass County that Ferguson submitted since 2002 without being licensed.

Nixon is asking the court to order Ferguson to stop practicing land surveying in Missouri and to reimburse or refund all fees or compensation he received or collected while he was practicing land surveying without a license. The lawsuit also asks the court to order him to pay appropriate penalties to the state.

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