(Des Moines, IA) -- The state of Iowa is suing a company, accused of selling stem cell therapy treatments door-to-door. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says more than 250-Iowans were sold fake stem cell therapies, totaling more than $1 million dollars. Bird says the company claimed the stem cells could find problems in the body, then repair, and regenerate damaged tissue.
The suit against Biologics Health, LLC, Summit Partners Group, LLC, Rylee Meek, and Scott Thomas challenges the defendants’ false advertisement of stem cell therapies and misleading claims regarding the effectiveness of their services.
The suit alleges the average Iowan paid approximately $9,000 for the service. Those named in the lawsuit allegedly targeted older Iowans by selling unproven and invasive therapies that exposed them to greater potential physical and other health-related harm.
“Taking advantage of Iowans suffering from health issues is illegal and dangerous,” said Attorney General Bird. “Iowans should not have to fear being ripped off for fake stem cell therapies that expose them to major health risks, such as life-threatening blood infections, blindness, and tumor formation. Our office will not stop fighting until those who prey on Iowans in need of medical treatment are held accountable.”
The lawsuit challenges the defendants’ violations of the Consumer Fraud Act and regulations involving door-to-door sale transactions. The suit also seeks to reimburse all Iowans who paid for the therapies, a court order permanently blocking the fraudulent activity in Iowa, and award civil penalties, attorney fees, and costs.
Attorney General Bird also announces today that Iowa settled claims against Definitive Wellness, LLC and its owner, Angela Jayes via an Assurance of Compliance for their role in delivering stem cell therapies to Iowans. The Assurance provides that both the company and Jayes will permanently stop providing stem cell therapy or administering “any essentially equivalent” products in Iowa.
The agreement means Definitive Wellness, LCC will also pay $58,000 to the consumer education and litigation fund. That amount represents essentially the gross amount of money Definitive Wellness collected as a result of Iowa operations conducted with the lawsuit Defendants.