News/Events

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge’s U.S. Supreme Court case, Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, will be livestreamed on C-SPAN on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. central time to ensure the court is open to the general public. Due to COVID-19, the case will be argued by telephone. Nicholas Bronni, Solicitor General of the Attorney General’s Office will be arguing from Little Rock for the Attorney General.

“With arguments to be aired live on C-SPAN, all Americans will have the opportunity to hear how we are protecting local pharmacists who play the vital role as frontline healthcare providers in rural Arkansas and across the country every day,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Despite the delays, our critical fight to protect Arkansans’ access to affordable prescription drugs will finally have its day before the Supreme Court.”

In the U.S. Supreme Court, Attorney General Rutledge is supported by the U.S. Solicitor General and a bipartisan coalition led by California that includes 44 other states and the District of Columbia.

In 2015, PCMA filed a lawsuit to block enforcement of Act 900, which regulates pharmacy benefit managers, who act as prescription-drug middlemen, reimbursing pharmacists for prescription drugs dispensed to insurance beneficiaries. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas ruled in 2017 that Act 900 was preempted by the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that decision in 2018.

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed suit today against Robert Walley of Center Ridge and owner of The Iron Shop of Arkansas, for violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Walley failed to complete the work that was agreed upon after requesting upfront payments for material to build ornamental iron fence projects for Arkansans.

“Arkansans should be cautious of any business demanding upfront payments for projects or repairs,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “Let us do the fighting for you when dealing with businesses that fail to follow through on promises, correct mistakes or complete projects.”

Walley, doing business as The Iron Shop of Arkansas, sells and installs ornamental iron fences and other iron fixtures to consumers. Rutledge received seven unresolved consumer complaints since 2019 regarding Walley’s deceptive business practices. Consumers report Walley failed to complete work, provided inferior products differing from those ordered by customers, and failed to follow through on his promises to return to consumers’ homes to complete or correct projects. Other consumers have reported that Walley requested partial, upfront payments for materials and failed to purchase the materials or even begin the work.

Walley is not licensed to conduct residential home improvement work as required by the Arkansas Residential Contractors Board. He was fined and ordered to cease and desist conducting business by the Board on January 22, 2020, and June 24, 2020. Walley failed to attend either hearing.

Attorney General Rutledge filed the case in Pulaski County and is requesting restitution, civil penalties, injunctive relief and demands a jury trial.

Consumers who have been affected by the Iron Shop of Arkansas or experienced similar deceptive practices should contact the office at (800) 482-8982 or visit ArkansasAG.gov.

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced a lawsuit against Arkansas Regenerative Medical Center LTD (ARMC), the firm’s medical director Sarah Knife Chief, M.D., and chiropractor Serge Francois, D.C. for fraudulently promoting to Northwest Arkansas’s Latino community expensive stem cell and ozone therapies, costing upwards of $3,000, to combat COVID-19.

“I will not allow Arkansans to fall prey to fraudulent COVID cures, especially when the scams take advantage of a language and cultural barrier,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “This business preyed on public fear and targeted a minority community for personal gain. I will continue to work to hold accountable those who exploit consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In early 2020, ARMC, Chief, and Francois used a popular Hispanic radio station and even employed the station’s DJ in an effort to reach Latino consumers, who were being disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. ARMC advertised on its website and Facebook page stem cell treatments and ozone therapy, claiming that they were “very effective” against COVID-19 and would allow employees to return to work more quickly. Consumers were charged upwards of $3,000 for the useless treatments. The CDC states there are no known drugs or other therapeutics presently approved by the FDA to prevent or treat COVID-19.

The lawsuit was filed in Washington County Circuit Court under the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Rutledge seeks restitution for affected consumers, civil penalties, injunctive relief and other costs and fees incurred by the State of Arkansas in resolving this issue for consumers.

If you are a consumer who has been impacted by similar actions, Rutledge encourages you to contact the Attorney General’s Office at (800) 482-8982 or visit ArkansasAG.gov.