In a decisive blow against deceptive business practices, Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson has secured a court order against Labor Law Poster Service, a company accused of scamming local businesses with fraudulent schemes. The King County Superior Court placed a preliminary injunction on the Michigan-based operation, effectively halting the company's ability to contact or take payment from Washington businesses. The injunction was a result of Ferguson's assertion that the poster seller repeatedly violated both state consumer protection laws and previous court orders.

According to an announcement made by Ferguson's office, the Labor Law Poster Service and its owners, dubbed repeat scammers, have been sending out mass mailings designed to appear like official government demands. These solicitations, Ferguson claims, mislead business owners into paying for workplace posters that are freely available, exploiting small businesses out of hard-earned cash. The postal grift seemingly became an embedded tactic for the Fata family, who continued to perfectly play the game despite earlier penalties exceeding $1.2 million.

Judge Sandra Widlan, convinced by the state's case, agreed that the company's mailers were indeed deceptive. A full written order detailing her decision is expected soon, with a trial set in January 2025. The lawsuit seeks restitution for impacted businesses, as well as civil penalties for each deceptive letter sent and breaches of previous court orders. "Small business owners work hard to follow the law and earn an honest living," Ferguson said. "We will not stop fighting to protect Washington business owners from harmful scammers," as reported by the Attorney General's website,

The Fata family seems to have made a business out of breaching the law, continuing their schemes under new company names and narrowly skirting past legal repercussions. Ferguson's legal fight, detailed on the Attorney General's website, highlights the persistent nature of the deception. The repeated scams have landed the Fatas in court multiple times across the country, with lawsuits and sizeable judgements in Tennessee, Arizona, Delaware, and Wisconsin painting a national picture of their fraudulent enterprise.

If business owners believe they've been targeted by Labor Law Poster Service or similar schemes, the Washington Attorney General's Office is urging them to step forward. Complaints can be filed online or by calling a toll-free number. In an age where the fine print can too quickly be overlooked, Ferguson's office stands as a sentry, warning that these schemes prey on the uninformed, but those responsible will not go unchecked.