Ithaca auctioneer ordered to pay nearly $250,000 in restitution, fines
An Ithaca-based auction house has been ordered to pay nearly $250,000 in restitution and fines after the state Attorney General's Office obtained a judgment for failing to pay consignment fees to customers.
The judgment means Finger Lakes Estate and Auction, and owner Charles Dorsey must pay $237,739 in full consumer restitution for profits from sales of consigned items that were never paid, as well as $12,000 in civil penalties. The auction house also must retain a trustee to handle all of the money from future auction sales to ensure that the proceeds go to the consigning consumers.
“New York consumers rely on companies to be trustworthy and responsible,” said Attorney General Barbara Underwood. “No matter the industry, my office will continue to protect New Yorkers from businesses that defraud their customers.”
The Better Business Bureau gives Finger Lakes Estate and Auction an "F" rating. The company's profile lists eight unanswered complaints dating back to 2016, many of which allege mishandling of estate and consignment sales.
Read more: https://www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/2018/11/13/ithaca-auctioneer-nearly-250-000-judgment-state-attorney-general-finger-lakes-dorsey/1991060002/
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