Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Florida AG sues over Caylee doll

|
|
 
  
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick leaves a press conference after making a statement after pleading guilty to federal dog-fighting charges in federal court in Richmond, Virginia, on August 27, 2007. Vick has been suspended from the NFL indefinitely and may receive one to five years in prison for his roll in financing the crime and killing several dogs. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) 
Published: April 9, 2009 at 9:15 PM

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., April 9 (UPI) -- The Florida attorney general is suing a company over its doll, made in the likeness of slain toddler Caylee Anthony, and its Michael Vick chew toys for dogs.

Legal Newsline reported Thursday that Attorney General Bill McCollum filed a lawsuit against Showbiz Promotions LLC, and its owner, Jaime Salcedo, for allegedly defrauding the public.

McCollum claims the company in Jacksonville, Fla., intentionally misled the public into believing that by purchasing a doll or a chew toy they were helping worthy causes.

The company said purchases of the Inspirational Caylee Sunshine Doll, would help raise money for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. As for the chew toys, the company said those proceeds would help animal shelters, the lawsuit contends.

"Any company that intentionally misleads innocent consumers to believe they are contributing to worthy charitable causes is absolutely reprehensible," McCollum said in a statement. "It is disgusting that a company would exploit a tragic situation for personal gain."

McCollum is seeking civil penalties in the amount of $10,000 per willful violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

Caylee's mother, Casey Anthony, 22, was charged in the death of her daughter. Vick, a former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, was sentenced in 2007 to 23 months in federal prison for his role in dogfighting and animal cruelty in Richmond, Va.

Recommended Stories
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 20
Syrian protests continue
View Caption
fark
Photoshop this topless athlete
Man rejects girlfriend's noodles, says toodles by leaving her in poodle of blood. Oodles of boodle...
Mormons tried to posthumously baptize Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel but were...
School principals should probably have background checks processed on them before they are hired...or...
Despite having a court order against her, man interrupts domestic battery case against his girlfriend...
Empire State building IPO issued. Subby also has a bridge to sell you as well