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.