Couple sued for running alleged scam against seniors
Published 5:29 pm Thursday, June 11, 2015
EVERETT — The state attorney general has filed a lawsuit alleging a husband-and-wife consulting company scammed elderly clients applying for Medicaid and veterans benefits.
The 13-page complaint was filed June 5 in Snohomish County Superior Court.
State Attorney General Bob Ferguson alleges that Peter and Carolyn Cook of C&C Consulting violated the state Consumer Protection Act and misrepresented to their clients that they were qualified to provide Medicaid and Veteran Administration aid planning services.
“I will not tolerate scammers that prey on the elderly and those who served our country,” Ferguson said in a press release. “I intend to hold Peter and Carolyn Cook accountable for their unlawful actions that hurt Washington seniors.”
Their clients were concerned about their dwindling resources in the final years of their lives, the lawsuit said. They were looking for help obtaining government need-based benefits while preserving assets for their families.
The Cooks charged fees from $2,500 to $5,900 to more than 75 clients since 2008, at least 10 of whom were veterans. Many Medicaid and VA aid applications they submitted for clients were either delayed or denied.
Contract language between the company and its clients stated that “a portion of the fee to C&C Consulting will be paid to your C&C Consulting-appointed attorney for legal services.” State attorneys allege that the company never paid any lawyers any such fees.
There also are allegations that the company was offering VA consulting services for a fee without Veterans Administration accreditation, which is against the law.
The company reportedly sold annuity policies at “an unconscionably low zero percent” that was not approved by the state insurance commissioner, the lawsuit said.
Peter Cook also hasn’t had a license to work as an insurance agent since 2007 yet has continued to so, the lawsuit alleged.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com
