|
 Madigan filed the lawsuit in Sangamon County Circuit Court against John
Dickerson, of Virginia, Ill., for conning businesses and area residents into
paying to sponsor mixed martial arts events that never took place.
Madigan alleges Dickerson sold more than $1,200 worth of tickets for phony
events at Glenwood High School in Chatham and at the University of Illinois at
Springfield campus. As the events drew closer, Dickerson canceled or supposedly
delayed the events.
Consumers who inquired with the high school or college campus were told no
such event was planned. Madigan said after many consumers contacted Dickerson
for refunds of $15-$25 per ticket, he ceased all contact. A Springfield-area
business that paid Dickerson $500 to co-sponsor an event also never received a
refund.
"Dozens of Springfield area residents paid for what they thought were
legitimate events, only to discover it was a scam," Madigan said. "My office has
filed this lawsuit in an attempt to recoup the money they lost to this scam."
[to top of second column] |
 The attorney general's lawsuit asks the court to require Dickerson to pay
restitution to consumers affected by the scam and asks the court to impose civil
penalties on the defendant.
Madigan urged consumers who may have been victimized by this scam to contact
her office's Consumer Fraud hotline at 1-800-243-0618.
Assistant Attorney General Philip Heimlich is handling the case for Madigan's
Consumer Fraud Bureau.
[Text from file received from the office
of
Illinois Attorney General Lisa
Madigan] |
