FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

DATE: February 21, 2002 
CONTACT: Olha N.M. Rybakoff, Deputy Attorney General 
(302)577-8513 


ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY MEETING TO ADDRESS MILFORD SPA CLOSING

(Milford, DE) -- Attorney General M. Jane Brady today announced that she will convene a special community meeting regarding the Images II Health Spa closing tomorrow, Friday, February 22, 2002, at 9:00 a.m., at Nancy's Riverfront Café, 1 North Walnut Street, Milford, Delaware. Consumers who have suffered losses as a result of the closing are encouraged to attend and bring any documentation with them regarding their contracts with the spa. 

Images II, formerly located at 219 North Rehoboth Boulevard, closed its doors on December 14, 2002, leaving a number of customers with outstanding long-term membership contracts with the spa. 

At the meeting, the Attorney General and members of her Consumer Protection Unit will outline special remedies for health spa consumers that are available under Delaware law. This law provides for restitution for consumers out of a special Health Spa Guarantee Fund in cases where a health spa closes and does not have an alternate facility within 15 miles of the closed location. That fund is comprised of annual fees paid by health spas throughout the state. 

"Special consumer protection laws apply here, which enable my Office to reimburse consumers for balances remaining on paid contracts," said Attorney General M. Jane Brady. "Consumers also need to know they can check the registration status of a health spa with my Consumer Protection Unit before they join any health spa in Delaware." 

Consumer Protection Director and Deputy Attorney General Olha Rybkaoff and Special Investigator Ed Petka, as well as other staff from the Consumer Protection Unit will be on hand at Friday's meeting to distribute claim forms, answer questions and process claims. Additional information regarding the Health Spa Regulation law, or how to submit a restitution claim to the Attorney General's Office may be obtained at Friday's meeting, or by calling the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit at (800) 220-5424. Complaints can also be filed online at attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/