News/Events

Says, ‘Alder deceived and took advantage of consumers and violated Arkansas law’

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed a lawsuit against Utah-based Alder Holdings, LLC, Alarm Protection Technology Arkansas LLC and Alarm Protection Arkansas LLC for violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the Home Solicitation Sales Act and the Automatic Renewal of Professional Home Security Contracts Prohibition.

“Alder deceived and took advantage of consumers and violated Arkansas law,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “The company’s door-to-door sales representatives preyed on elderly Arkansans, lied about whom they represented, and even forged a homeowner’s signature on a contract. Arkansas law also requires a three-day ‘cooling off’ period allowing consumers to cancel services purchased from a door-to-door sales representation. But Alder, in some cases, installed their systems the same day it was purchased. Companies like Alder should not be allowed to engage in high pressure sales tactics that violate Arkansas law.”

To date, 56 instances have been identified where Alder violated Arkansas law.

According to the complaint, which was filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court, on numerous occasions the home security and alarm company failed to provide consumers with completed contracts at the time of sale, failed to honor timely cancellation notifications, made false statements regarding its identity, the terms and conditions of its contracts and misled consumers into entering contracts with Alder while the consumers were currently contracted to another alarm company.

Rutledge is asking the court to order Alder to pay restitution to affected consumers, impose civil penalties, and for other relief against Alder.

If you are a consumer who has been impacted by the actions of Alder, Rutledge encourages you to contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 482-8982.

Roundtable meeting held with law enforcement leaders and families impacted

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Senator Tom Cotton today discussed the coordinated state and federal efforts in combatting the opioid epidemic and how it has created a surge in the use of stronger drugs, like fentanyl, in Arkansas and nationwide.

“When Arkansans with opioid addictions can no longer afford to buy pain pills, they often turn to the street for heroin or fentanyl, which offers a similar high at a fraction of the price but at a much higher cost — their lives,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “This is a multi-faceted problem, and I am committed to an all-of-the-above approach that includes more stringent punishment for criminal activity, educational tools to empower future generations to help them make responsible decisions about prescription drug use, and litigation that will hold companies responsible for the damage they have brought to our State.”

“Fentanyl is one of the most dangerous drugs there is. It killed more than 20,000 Americans last year and has been a driving force behind the opioid crisis in the United States. But while the epidemic has spiraled, our drug laws have been stuck in the past. The legislation I’ve introduced will make sure, when it comes to opioid distribution and trafficking, the punishment fits the crime. I look forward to working with Attorney General Rutledge and Arkansas law enforcement to protect Arkansans from these terrible drugs,” said Senator Cotton.

Rutledge is suing the opioid manufacturers who created the problem in Arkansas for violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Arkansas Medicaid Fraud False Claims Act. This lawsuit is just the newest step in Rutledge’s multi-faceted approach to solving the opioid crisis. Last fall Rutledge launched Prescription for Life, a first-in-the-nation educational tool offered at no cost to all high school students in the State to help them understand the dangers of prescription drug misuse and how to prevent abuse. To date, it has been launched in 49 schools across 44 counties and reached over 3,800 students with an additional 20 schools committed to launch the program this fall. Each year, Rutledge has partnered with a number of agencies in hosting the Arkansas Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Summit, a free training and educational opportunity for law enforcement officers, medical professionals, pharmacists and educators. And in addition to the bi-annual Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Rutledge began partnering in 2016 with local law enforcement across the State to provide prescription drug take back boxes at every mobile office, held annually in all 75 counties. To date, nearly 500 pounds of prescription drugs have been collected and disposed of safely – keeping them out of the hands of children and those with addictions.

Senator Cotton’s legislation aims to correct the disparity between the lethal nature of fentanyl and the punishments set in the U.S. Criminal Code. The legislation also provides guidance and funding to the U.S. Postal Service to purchase additional chemical-screening devices that can prevent the illegal smuggling of fentanyl and other opiates through our postal system.

Earlier Wednesday, Rutledge and Cotton met with families of Arkansans who lost their battle with opioid addiction. Also present were law enforcement, State lawmakers and county prosecutors during a roundtable discussion centered on finding a solution to this problem.

Says, ‘The reckless actions of these opioid manufacturers have wreaked havoc upon Arkansas and her citizens for far too long’

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge was joined by Governor Asa Hutchinson today announcing that she has filed a lawsuit against the opioid manufacturers Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson and Endo on behalf of the State of Arkansas. Rutledge and Hutchinson are united in their efforts to fight the opioid epidemic and will do everything in their powers to bring an end to this deadly issue, including legal action against the companies responsible for over-proliferation of opioids.

“The reckless actions of these opioid manufacturers have wreaked havoc upon Arkansas and her citizens for far too long,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “I will not stand idly by and allow companies to reap billions in profits at the expense of our health and safety. The marketing schemes and misinformation campaigns utilized by Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson and Endo are irresponsible and downright dangerous. This is a muti-faceted problem and we must take every action to solve it including holding those companies accountable that are responsible for the opioid epidemic.”

The opioid epidemic has devastated Arkansas and continues to cause lasting damage. The devastation began when opioid manufacturers intentionally started to mislead the medical community and public about the dangers of opioids. These manufacturers propagated use of opioids as a non-addictive treatment for chronic pain. This was a catastrophic lie. Rutledge is suing the opioid manufacturers who created the problem in Arkansas for violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Arkansas Medicaid Fraud False Claims Act. The suit is seeking restitution for the damage caused by opioid misuse, costs associated with ending the opioid epidemic and fines.

“Over the years, I have seen the drug fight as a community leader, as a member of Congress, as a federal prosecutor, as director of the DEA and now as governor,” Governor Asa Hutchinson said. “The opioid epidemic will not yield unless we continue taking critical steps to fight back. We have seen opioid abuse affect communities all across the country, including right here in Arkansas, and I am pleased that we are working to identify responsible partners who can make a difference in curtailing the abuse of opioids.”

This lawsuit is just the newest step in Rutledge’s multifaceted approach to solving the opioid crisis. Last fall Rutledge launched Prescription for Life, a first-in-the-nation educational tool offered at no cost to all high school students in the State to help them understand the dangers of prescription drug misuse and how to prevent abuse. To date, it has been launched in 49 schools across 44 counties and reached over 3,800 students with an additional 20 schools committed to launch the program this fall. Each year, Rutledge has partnered with a number of agencies in hosting the Arkansas Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Summit, a free training and educational opportunity for law enforcement officers, medical professionals, pharmacists and educators. And in addition to the bi-annual Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Rutledge began partnering in 2016 with local law enforcement across the State to provide prescription drug take back boxes at every mobile office, held yearly in all 75 counties. To date, nearly 500 pounds of prescription drugs and have been collected and disposed of safely – keeping them out of the hands of children and those with addictions.

Says, ‘California’s radical policies place all Arkansans and Americans in danger’

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today joined an 18-state coalition to file an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. The brief, led by the State of Texas, urges the court to block California’s attempts to shield illegal aliens by overriding the federal government’s immigration enforcement efforts.

“California’s radical policies place all Arkansans and Americans in danger,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “These policies provide safe havens for criminals and allow dangerous activities to spill into otherwise safe neighborhoods both near and far from California’s borders. Our country is built upon the rule of law and politicians cannot be allowed to unleash unconstitutional chaos by selectively choosing which laws fit their radical agendas and are worthy of being enforced.”

This case involves several California laws that directly obstruct the federal government’s ability to enforce federal immigration law. The brief argues that, although California may disagree with federal immigration policies, Congress and the Executive Branch are the appropriate bodies for deciding national policies and that federal laws preempt State policies.

As attorney general, Rutledge’s top priority is keeping Arkansans safe. Radical immigration and sanctuary policies are a direct threat to Arkansas’s law enforcement officers, citizens and communities because they provide safe havens for criminals and allow easy travel throughout the country. These policies also set a dangerous precedent allowing state and local entities to simply select which laws they will uphold.

Led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Rutledge is joined on the brief by attorneys general from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and West Virginia and the governors of Mississippi and Maine.