FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov
PUC INVESTIGATION LEADS TO CRIMINAL CHARGES
AGAINST ILLEGAL MOVING COMPANY
24-HOUR MOVING SERVICES/POOR MAN'S MOVER
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 30, 2004 - The California Public Utilities Commission's (PUC) Consumer Protection and Safety Division today announced that a staff investigation found that John Elliot Kahn, owner of 24-Hour Moving Service and Poor Man's Mover, continued to perform moving services without a valid PUC household goods permit.
The PUC staff investigation also uncovered violations of PUC consumer protection rules that movers are required to follow. In April 2004, the PUC submitted the results of its investigation to the Attorney General's Office and requested that a criminal complaint be filed against Kahn.
On July 29, 2004, the Attorney General's Office charged Kahn with 162 counts of Public Utilities Code, Penal Code, Business and Profession Code, and Commission tariff rules, including: grand theft (4 counts); petty theft (1 count); operating a moving company without a permit (32 counts); false and misleading advertising and unfair business practices (32 counts); failure to file evidence of public liability, cargo and workers' compensation insurance (6 counts); failing to follow consumer protection rules and regulations established in PUC tariffs (85 counts); and failure to display a Cal-T number on the door of the cab of the vehicle (2 counts).
Kahn was arrested in early September 2004. On Nov. 16, 2004, a pre-trial hearing was held at the Newport Beach Harbor Court in Newport Beach. Kahn pled guilty to four counts of operating a moving company without a permit, false and misleading advertising, failure to secure workers' compensation insurance, and failure to issue a complete Agreement for Services. Kahn was also placed on six months summary probation, ordered to pay $1,521 in restitution to four consumers; $1,500 in investigation cost to the PUC; $1,000 in fines and $121 in court fee to the Newport Beach Court, and ordered to terminate all business phone lines.
The Public Utilities Code makes it a crime to engage or attempt to engage in transporting used household goods without a valid PUC license. The PUC suggests that consumers check to see whether a moving company is licensed with the Commission before contracting with the company by calling the Commission at 1-800-877-8867. If consumers have a complaint about a move that they cannot resolve with the mover, call the Commission at 1-800-366-4782 to file a complaint.
For more information on the PUC, please visit: www.cpuc.ca.gov.
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