AG Shapiro Tells Two PA Price Gougers To Turn Over Documents or Go To Court

September 2, 2020 | Topic: Consumers

HARRISBURG―Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced that the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General has filed two requests with Pennsylvania courts to require businesses to turn over documents related to their alleged price gouging efforts. The actions were filed after Jenkintown Pharmacy of Montgomery County, and Jane Sutter, a Chambersburg eBay seller, refused to comply with subpoenas.

“Businesses cannot price gouge Pennsylvanians, full stop. Any seller, big or small, who is given the opportunity to comply with consumer law, and anyone who doesn’t, could have to face me in court,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “When millions are out of work and millions more are struggling to pay for basic necessities, price gouging consumers—and then trying to hide your actions when asked to stop—is unethical and illegal.”

The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General filed the enforcement actions after Ms. Sutter and Jenkintown Pharmacy both failed to comply with subpoenas issued and served in recent months. The subpoena was served to Ms. Sutter after the Office received tips alleging that she was selling numerous household products, ranging from cleaning supplies to thermometers, on eBay at excessive prices.

Jenkintown Pharmacy, similarly, was the subject of tips alleging the sale of excessively priced PPE, such as disinfectants and face masks.

Under the Price Gouging Act, a price increase of more than 20 percent during a declared state of emergency is considered price gouging. The enforcement actions require that Ms. Sutter and Jenkintown Pharmacy, respectively, fully comply with the requests for information and documents contained in the previously-issued subpoenas.

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