State files suit against man who owns 3 USA Baby sites

10/6/2005

COLUMBUS - Attorney General Jim Petro yesterday filed suit in Lucas County Common Pleas Court against Jim Lankey of Perrysburg Township and three USA Baby stores he operates, charging that the stores provided substandard customer service, violating state consumer protection laws.

Also named as defendants were:

●Naby Bucks Inc., 5630 North Main St., Sylvania, doing business as USA Baby, 5549 Monroe St., Sylvania.

●NEO Baby Inc., 7654 West Bancroft St., Sylvania Township, doing business as USA Baby, Westlake, Ohio.

●Sunshiny Day Inc., 28923 Simmons Rd., Perrysburg Township, doing business as USA Baby, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Mr. Petro also alleged that Mr. Lankey failed to provide goods and services to consumers out of the now-closed USA Baby store in Powell, Ohio.

Consumer complaints filed with the attorney general's office stated the stores failed to deliver merchandise and failed to provide refunds on undelivered items.

In the suit, the attorney general alleges that Mr. Lankey's businesses accepted money for baby furniture and accessories knowing they were in a precarious financial position that could result in the consumers not receiving their purchased goods.

The suit asks the court to order Mr. Lankey, of 28923 Simmons, to pay restitution to consumers who made purchases at his USA Baby stores but didn't get their merchandise or a refund.

The lawsuit also seeks civil penalties of $25,000 for each violation.