HARRISBURG – A civil lawsuit has been filed by the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection against a private school in Bucks County that allegedly offered a Practical Nursing Program to prospective students despite not having state approval. The school is also accused of failing to refund tuition deposits to students who had enrolled in the training program.
Acting Attorney General Bill Ryan said the lawsuit was filed against America Health Care Inc., formerly located at 247 Mills St., Bristol, Bucks County, and the President of America Health Care; Jolayemi A. Oladimeji, also known as Oladimeji J. Adekunle of Bowie, Maryland.
According to the lawsuit, America Health Care falsely led prospective students to believe that they were authorized to provide a 12-month Practical Nursing Program to consumers, even though their application with the State Board of Nursing had not been approved.
Students were required to take a pre-entrance examination and pay a $1,000 tuition deposit to secure a place on the class schedule.
Ryan said that America Health Care sent letters congratulating students on their enrollment in the Practical Nursing Program, but suddenly closed their operation without ever holding a class and failed to provide full refunds to consumers.
Ryan said the violations of the Consumer Protection Law listed in the civil lawsuit include:
- Falsely representing their approval to offer a Practical Nursing Program to consumers.
- Taking money from consumers for, and enrolling consumers in, a Practical Nursing Program when not authorized to do so.
- Failure to respond, or respond in a timely manner, to consumer requests for refunds after the school closed.
- Failure to provide full refunds to consumers.
The civil lawsuit filed against American Health Care, Inc. and Oladimeji seeks the
following:
- Require defendants to provide full refunds to consumers.
- Permanently prohibit defendants from engaging in any conduct which violates the Consumer Protection Law.
- Civil penalties of $1,000 for each violation of the Consumer Protection Law, $3,000 for each violation involving a victim over 60 years old.
- Prohibit the defendants’ business from operating in Pennsylvania.
The lawsuit against America Health Care, Inc. and Jolayemi A. Oladimeji was filed today in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. The case will be handled by Deputy Attorney General Jacqueline M. D’Angelo of the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.