PRELIMINARY HEARING FOR APPLIANCE DOCTOR; STATE SEEKS PERMANENT INJUNCTION 

(Pierre) – Attorney General Larry Long said today that his Division of Consumer Protection has filed a lawsuit against the owner of Appliance Doctor. 

Long said the suit was filed against Larry Haynes, the owner of Appliance Doctor, claiming violation of the South Dakota Deceptive Trade Practices Act. 

According to investigators, the defendant used deceptive trade practices by taking money up front from consumers for service work, but then failed to perform the service work. 

The lawsuit asks the court to issue a permanent injunction prohibiting the defendant from engaging in any service or repair work for compensation and prohibiting Appliance Doctor from collecting on any service work previously performed. The Attorney General also seeks disclosure of information regarding consumers who have paid any compensation since July 1, 2003 and asks that Qwest temporarily suspend service for the Appliance Doctor’s telephone number until further notice by the court. 

The hearing is scheduled for Monday December 15 at 10:00 a.m. at the courthouse in Ft. Pierre South Dakota. Consumers who have done business with Haynes or Appliance Doctor are asked to contact Delane Smith with the Division of Consumer Protection at 1-800-300-1986. 

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