Attorney General Sues Florida Fundraiser Under Ohio's Charitable Solicitations Act

On August 15, 2007, Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann sued a Florida company named Xentel Inc., alleging that it defrauded charities in violation of Ohio's Charitable Solicitation Act contained in ORC Chapter 1716. The case, which was filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, Case No. 07 CV 010900, was assigned to Judge Guy Reece. Among the entities Dann claims Xentel defrauded are the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, the Ohio Vietnam Veterans Assistance Council and the Ohio Narcotics Officers' Association. Since the case was just filed, the docket only reflects deadlines for a status conference, disclosure of witnesses, other pre-trial assignments, and a preliminary trial date of 9/22/08. The Attorney General's office maintains a Charitable Organizations Section which enforces the Charitable Solicitation Act and has issued an Information Sheet on the provisions of the Act. Click here to read an article about the suit from the Plain Dealer online.