MAY 2022:
Attorney General Drew Wrigley today filed a civil action against Glasser Images, LLC and its owner, Jack Glasser, for allegedly defrauding consumers and subcontractors in multiple states, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Colorado.
The Attorney General initiated a consumer fraud investigation in October 2021, after Glasser Images abruptly closed its doors and posted notice that it would not provide refunds. To date the Attorney General’s office has received 539 complaints alleging claims of more than $1.4 million. The sudden closure of Glasser Images left wedding couples without photographers for immediately pending weddings, while other couples were denied the promised photos from a variety of special occasions.
Wrigley confirmed that the Consumer Protection Division has conducted an extensive investigation and found substantial evidence supporting the allegations in the Complaint. Investigators gathered financial and accounting records, internal and external communications, and testimony from approximately 20 witnesses.
“Our Complaint alleges that Glasser Images had been experiencing serious financial problems for years but falsely blamed the business closure on the pandemic,” said Wrigley. “Despite the business’s serious undercapitalization, Jack Glasser continued to borrow from banks, the government, friends, and family, while simultaneously enjoying a lifestyle of high-end dining, travel, and luxury vehicles, all at the expense of his business customers.”
The Attorney General’s lawsuit seeks to ban Glasser from providing future photography services, restitution for consumers and subcontractors, and appropriate civil penalties.
Read the Complaint: https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/sites/ag/files/documents/MediaAttachments/2022-05-03-Glasser-Complaint.pdf.
OCTOBER 2021:
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — An attorney for a North Dakota photography business that abruptly went out of business and left many wedding couples in limbo says the company is working to release photos and images, It’s unclear whether customers who paid in advance for uncompleted work will be refunded. Two state agencies are investigating the shutdown of Glasser Images last week and the business owner is facing several lawsuits. Fargo attorney Tim O’Keeffe said the photos and videos are being secured and “kept safely” on hard drives, but it’s a “logistical challenge” to get them to customers and it could take weeks. Glasser Images photographed weddings throughout the Dakotas, Minnesota and Colorado without charging for travel costs, according to the company website.
Comments