Attorney General William Tong announced Thursday a $15,000 settlement with eLearning Systems LLC over the company’s misleading marketing of an online anti-domestic violence course.
The company falsely marketed its “Course for Violence” as meeting Connecticut’s pretrial Family Violence Education Program requirements for criminal domestic violence cases, according to the attorney general’s office.
The program also improperly displayed the Connecticut state seal on its website.
eLearning Systems is not endorsed by the state and does not qualify as a substitute for the state’s Family Violence Education Program, according to Tong’s office.
“This program was never vetted and never endorsed by the state for any court-related Family Violence Education Program,” Tong said. “That anyone would seek to mislead families and those in need with unqualified training is a sad and cynical affront to anyone who has experienced domestic violence or learned from these programs.”
Under the settlement terms, eLearning Systems must stop implying its course has state approval and cease using the Connecticut state seal. The company could see $10,000 of the settlement payment suspended if it complies with all agreement terms.
The settlement addresses concerns that individuals might unknowingly take an unqualified course believing it would fulfill court-mandated requirements in domestic violence cases.
