Illinois Attorney General Sues Closed Dog Grooming School for Swindling Students

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — The state is suing a now-closed Arlington Heights dog grooming school, accusing its owner of swindling students out of more than $85,000, according to the Illinois Attorney General's office.

The lawsuit against the Academy of Dog Grooming Arts Ltd., was filed Wednesday, Nov. 23, by Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and it demands that the academy give full refunds to students. The school's owner and president, Sharron Panther, and its secretary, Mike Panther, also are included in the suit.

According to the lawsuit, the Panthers, who are married, misrepresented the school's qualifications to students by operating without the necessary permit that would allow students to earn the proper certificate. Without the permit, the certificates the students obtained were "worthless," but the couple still accepted a variety of fees which totaled more than $6,000 per student in some cases, the lawsuit states.

“This school took advantage of students who paid thousands of dollars to pursue a career in animal grooming, but only received a worthless certificate,” Madigan said in a statement.

The academy was shut down by the Illinois Board of Higher Education earlier this year, and the board ordered the school to turn over all academic records, something it still hasn't done, according to Madigan's office. Along with the refunds, the lawsuit also is seeking for the records to be immediately released.

photo via Shutterstock

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