Attorney General Steve Marshall has secured a preliminary injunction against a Baldwin County company for falsely claiming to be certified to sell nursery plants and other agricultural products in violation of Alabama's Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Marshall filed the complaint earlier this year against AKME Group, LLC and AKME, LLC, collectively known as AKME Gardens. Also named in the complaint are the two presumptive owners, Adam Karsten Morck and Kristina Nis Dias.
According to Marshall's office, AKMR Gardens scammed consumers across the United States by falsely claiming to be certified to sell nursery products and seeds, and by repeatedly accepting payment for orders without ever delivering the products.
"Falsely claiming to be an Alabama-certified nursery and accepting money for products that were never delivered isn't just unethical — it's illegal," Marshall said. "Let this serve as a warning to any business looking to make a quick profit at the expense of hardworking Alabamians: if you steal from consumers, we will find you and hold you accountable. We urge anyone impacted by the defendants' practices to contact our office immediately."
AKME Gardens has not been certified by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries to sell nursery stock since 2022, and it has not been approved to sell seeds for at least the last three years. Additionally, the Marshall's Office claims to have identified several consumer complaints dating back to 2021 where AKME Gardens accepted payments without delivering any products.
Morck and Dias are charged with 24 violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act for false claims about their alleged certifications to sell nursery products and seeds. They're also accused of 13 additional violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act for allegedly accepting payment for orders they never fulfilled. In filing the complaint, Marshall seeks restitution for the identified consumers, a halt to all business activities in the state, and the maximum civil penalties and attorneys' fees.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
