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The Office of the Attorney General annually reports its activities and concerns regarding numerous consumer concerns and anti-trust matters.




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October 11, 2001

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Cameron Scott McKinney
1-304-558-8986
1-800-368-8808




ATTORNEY GENERAL DARRELL V. McGRAW, JR.
ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT WITH TYLER
COUNTY POETRY PUBLISHING COMPANY



     The Attorney General's office announced today that it has signed an agreement with Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum, Inc. of Sistersville, West Virginia, whereby Sparrowgrass promises to pay $4,183.84 in refunds to consumers who ordered poetry books but never received the merchandise.

     For a period of more than 10 years, Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum published over 60 collections of poems that were submitted from across the country. Sparrowgrass sponsored poetry contests and advertised in nationally-circulated magazines. According to Sparrowgrass's President, Jerome P. Welch, the publisher experienced an unanticipated decline in business and a series of unfortunate financial circumstances and was unable to fill orders placed early this year.

     "It is unfortunate that Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum fell into financial straits. However, when facing financial hardship, Sparrowgrass neglected its most important obligations--its obligations to consumers," said Attorney General McGraw. Mr. Welch and Sparrowgrass have agreed to pay the refunds in three monthly installments with the last installment due on December 31, 2001. The Attorney General's office anticipates forwarding the appropriate refunds to each of the 27 consumers in January, 2002. In addition, Sparrowgrass's parent company, Prospect Publishers of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has agreed to honor three Sparrowgrass contracts to print individuals' collections of poems.

     Consumers who have ordered and paid for books from Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum but never received those books should contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 1-304-558-8986 or 1-800-368-8808.
    

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