SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Easter Seal Society of Superior California has filed suit in Sacramento Superior Court alleging that its parent organization, Easter Seals, Inc. and others affiliated with the national organization, are guilty of violating several sections of the California Business & Professions Code for sending customized fundraising letters containing deceptive language and using local post office boxes to mislead donors into believing their donations would benefit the local affiliate. (Case No. 34-2014-00158464)
Easter Seal Society of Superior California serves children and adults with special needs in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. The suit was filed by Dennis Wilson of Wilson Law Firm, A Professional Corporation, which represents Easter Seal Society of Superior California in the matter.
"For the past five years, Easter Seal Society of Superior California has been requesting that Easter Seals Inc. conduct their fundraising in California ethically and in compliance with California law, to no avail," said Wilson. "Easter Seal Society of Superior California felt they were left with no choice but to file a lawsuit to stop deceptive local marketing practices by the national organization in order to maintain the public trust and loyalty they've worked so hard to establish over the years."
According to the complaint, defendant Easter Seals, Inc. and others sent fundraising letters to donors in Easter Seal Society of Superior California's territory that contain deceptive language, making it appear the letters are coming from the Sacramento affiliate. One letter even used the name and signature of Gary Kasai, Easter Seal Society of Superior California CEO. Donors are asked to send donations to a local post office box, which the suit alleges leads the donor to believe his or her donation is going to the local affiliate.
Until 2010, local donations made to Easter Seals, Inc. were funneled back to the local affiliates. Now, all donations to the national organization go toward its own programs. According to the suit, Easter Seal Society of Superior California believes it has lost $200,000 in donations to the national organization since 2010 and asks for an accounting to determine the exact amount.
Contact:
Dennis Wilson
Wilson Law Firm, A Professional Corporation
916-608-8891
Email