Blumenthal, Dept Of Higher Education Obtain Order Closing Unlicensed Tractor Trailer School
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Department of Higher Education (DHE) Commissioner Michael P. Meotti today - after a recent undercover sting by DHE - announced a court order temporarily shutting down a tractor trailer school operating without a state license in Bridgeport.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Department of Higher Education ( DHE ) Commissioner Michael P. Meotti today - after a recent undercover sting by DHE - announced a court order temporarily shutting down a tractor trailer school operating without a state license in Bridgeport.
Blumenthal and Meotti sought the temporary injunction against D&L Tractor Trailer Training School and its owner, C. Donald Lane, Jr., for operating a private occupational school without a certificate of authorization issued by the Commissioner of The Department of Higher Education.
D&L failed to renew its prior state certificate after it expired Feb. 28. Even after the state notified D&L of its expired license on March 19, D&L continued to operate the school and it enrolled an undercover DHE employee posing as a prospective student on May 1.
Blumenthal and Meotti said the temporary order is vital because D&L's lack of certificate would render students ineligible for licensure as a tractor trailer truck driver; and jeopardize the records and financial interest of hundreds of D&L students who paid more than $4,000 each in tuition.
"This order stops dead D&L's wrong way detour - down a road that disregards the law and its own students," Blumenthal said, "D&L knew it was operating unlawfully without a certificate, but continued to enroll students and collect thousands of dollars in tuition. This deliberate defiance jeopardized student funds because its lack of a certificate may make students ineligible to recover money through a student protection fund established by the state. My office will fight vigorously in court for penalties and a permanent injunction."
Meotti said, "D & L's conduct is outrageous and puts students at risk. This school has readily accepted students - even our own staff member posing as a potential student - despite its lack of a state license. It knowingly endangered the future of hundreds of students and their financial well-being."
Any student who has not completed his or her training at D&L is encouraged to call the Department's toll-free Hotline at 1( 800 )842-0229 for advice on filing complaints.
Under state law, any Connecticut student enrolled in a private occupational school who is unable to complete the course of study due to the school's cessation of operation or insolvency and who has paid tuition, may apply to the DHE Commissioner for a tuition refund from state-established Private Occupational School Student Protection Account.
Several students have outstanding complaints and claims against D&L, which are under investigation.
The temporary injunction, granted Tuesday, requires that D&L:
immediately cease operating its school;
not disburse or distribute any funds from its business, pending further court order;
not destroy, obliterate or in any way alter any of its files regarding financial records and any information involving students records;
provide by May 14 all student files from 1997 to the present;
not collect any fees from any students enrolled on or after Feb. 29;
and immediately shut down its website advertising its school.
Published by:
ct.gov
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