PA Attorney General's Elder Abuse Unit Files First Action, Makes First Arrest

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett announced yesterday (Thursday, August 31, 2006) that the new "Elder Abuse Unit", created in July, 2006, by the PA Attorney General's Office, initiated its first civil action and its first criminal arrest pursuant to its mission of prosecuting "elder abuse" in Pennsylvania.

The new "Elder Abuse Unit" was described in an earlier press release, entitled "Attorney General Corbett announces creation of Elder Abuse Unit", dated August 18, 2006, issued by that Office.

Corbett said, "By creating an Elder Abuse Unit, I am directing the Office in a new and focused initiative to fight the exploitation of our seniors.

The sole mission of the Elder Abuse Unit will be to investigate and prosecute all forms of abuse of the elderly including financial exploitation, physical abuse and sexual assault.

Corbett said, "Just as the Attorney General's Office has developed an expertise in fighting drug dealers throughout the state with prosecutors and narcotics agents who focus solely on drug investigations, the single purpose of prosecutors and the agents of the Elder Abuse Unit will be to pursue those who prey on our senior citizens."

Corbett explained that Pennsylvania has the third highest percentage of senior citizens in the nation with nearly 2 million residents over the age of 65. As our population of senior citizens continues to rise, Corbett said, unfortunately so does the number of crimes and scams directed at them. * * *

The activation of this new enforcement unit led to the two actions announced yesterday.

1) Hearing aid seller sued by AG's Elder Abuse Unit

Attorney General Tom Corbett announced a 19 count civil lawsuit against a York, PA hearing aid fitter and seller accused of practicing medicine without a license and defrauding consumers by making misleading or deceptive claims about the products, services, prices, and need for the hearing devices.

The suit is one of the largest civil actions filed by the Attorney General's office against a hearing aid dealer in Pennsylvania and is the first civil complaint filed by the Attorney General's newly created Elder Abuse Unit." * * *

Corbett noted that this is the first civil case being brought by the Attorney General's Elder Abuse Unit, which was created in July 2006 to address the growing number of crimes and scams targeted at Pennsylvania's nearly two-million seniors.

"The sole mission of the Elder Abuse Unit is to investigate and prosecute all forms of abuse of the elderly, including financial exploitation, physical abuse and sexual assault," Corbett said.

"Just as the Attorney General's Office has developed an expertise in fighting drug dealers with prosecutors and narcotics agents who focus solely on drug investigations, the single purpose of prosecutors and the agents of the Elder Abuse Unit will be to pursue those who prey on our senior citizens."

Consumers who suspect that they may be entitled to restitution in this case are urged to file a complaint with the Attorney General's Office by calling 1-877-888-4877 or visiting www.attorneygeneral.gov to file electronically.

The AG's website notes: "Copies of the lawsuit are available by contacting the Attorney General's Press Office at 717-787-5211."

The AG's complete Press Release on this first matter is available online here.

2) Attorney charged with stealing from older clients

Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Elder Abuse Unit have filed criminal charges against a Fayette County attorney accused of stealing nearly $100,000 in mortgage settlement payments from older clients. * * *

Corbett noted that this is the first criminal case being brought by the Attorney General's Elder Abuse Unit, which was created in July 2006 to address the growing number of crimes and scams targeted at Pennsylvania's nearly two-million seniors. * * *

The AG's website notes: "A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty."

The AG's complete Press Release on this second matter is available online here.

Update: 01/14/08:

The PA AG's Elder Abuse Task Force attained a consumer protection settlement with another Central Pennsylvania vendor of hearing aids sold to seniors. See: PA EE&F Law Blog posting "Hearing Aid Complaints, and a Settlement in PA" (01/14/08).

Update: 05/12/08:

On May 12, 2008, an article entitled "Lori Firestone gives up license to sell, fit hearing aids", was posted by the York Daily Record regarding the PA AG's action against Lori A. Firestone.

Lori Firestone gave up her license to sell hearing aids in Pennsylvania, state officials said.

Firestone, whose hearing aid business came under fire after a civil suit was filed against her in August 2006 by the Elder Abuse Unit of the state attorney general's office, closed her businesses in Hanover and West Manchester Township in the months after the charges were filed.

State officials accused the hearing aid fitter and seller of using "bait and switch" schemes and other fraudulent business practices.

In previous interviews, Firestone denied the charges. She and her attorney could not be reached for comment Friday.

Nils Hagen-Frederiksen, spokesman for the Pennsylvania attorney general's office, said Firestone voluntarily surrendered her license March 6. By turning in her license, Firestone is no longer allowed to sell or fit hearing aids in Pennsylvania, Hagen-Fredericksen said.

The state's case against Firestone is still in the court system, he said. * * *