State gets judgment against Hudson firm

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MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Justice has obtained a consent judgment against Great Lakes Wholesale Foods Inc., doing business as Great Lakes Distributors, located in Hudson.

Great Lakes, which is no longer operating, sold meat and seafood products door to door to residential customers in Wisconsin. The company is owned by James Anderson, who approved the settlement on its behalf.

“I am proud of the cooperative efforts to protect Wisconsin consumers and the clear message this result sends to those who will not follow the law,” said Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen.

The state filed a consumer protection lawsuit in Brown County Circuit Court alleging that Great Lakes violated Wisconsin consumer laws by failing to disclose to purchasers their right to cancel the transactions, and by failing to honor cancellation requests. State law gives consumers a right to cancel door-to-door sales transaction within three days.

The settlement was approved by Brown County Circuit Court Judge Timothy A. Hinkfuss. The judgment requires Great Lakes to pay the state $10,000 in forfeitures and reimbursement of the states expenses in bringing the action. It also prohibits Great Lakes from any future door-to-door sales activities in Wisconsin.

A copy of the stipulation for consent judgment is available at:

http://www.doj.state.wi.us/news/files/StipForConsentJudgment.pdf.

The case was referred to the Department of Justice by the Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection, and was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General John Greene.

Tags: business, hudson, wisconsin, great, lakes, wholesale, foods, lawsuit