Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch has filed lawsuits against two companies for making nearly 1,000 unauthorized calls to residents on the state’s “Do Not Call” registry.
The lawsuit alleges that The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation as well as NaturaLawn of America violated the Mississippi Telephone Solicitation Act with the calls.
“Telemarketing calls are more than an inconvenience, they are often the gateway to scams,” Fitch said. “Protecting Mississippians from robocalls has long been a priority of my office, and I appreciate the Legislature giving us these new tools to investigate and prosecute those who willfully ignore and violate our telemarketing laws.”
House Bill 1225 took effect on Saturday, transferring authority for state telemarketing laws from the public service commission to the AG’s office. The legislation, in turn, made the AG’s office the sole enforcement agency in Mississippi for investigating and prosecuting those who violate telemarketing laws.
The newly-implemented law also gives Fitch’s office the authority to file suit against violators in chancery court.
According to the Fitch, the lawsuit against the two companies allegedly in violation of the law is ongoing.
“If you received calls from NaturaLawn of America or The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, please email my office at robo-scamcalls@ago.ms.gov,” Fitch continued. “Your tip can help us protect others and hold these violators accountable.”
Fitch has served as an executive committee member of the multistate Robocall Technology Working Group and as a member of the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force Committee.
