Countywide : Firm Barred From Selling In-Home Care

A Lake Forest company accused of using misleading sales tactics to peddle an in-home care plan for senior citizens was ordered by a judge Thursday to cease efforts to sell, market or promote the plan.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Phillip E. Cox granted a preliminary injunction ordering Vanguard Assisted Care Inc. to stop sales of its companion-care plan. The injunction extends a similar court order issued by Cox in September.

Vanguard allegedly used high-pressure sales pitches peppered with misleading or false statements to get senior citizens, many in the Leisure World retirement community in Laguna Hills, to buy the plan, said Robert C. Gannon Jr., deputy district attorney.

The company will have the opportunity in court Jan. 28 to defend its actions or show that it has changed its sales approach to be fair and accurate, he said.

Gannon’s civil suit against Vanguard names company president Stanley Norman; his son and vice president, Jeffrey L. Norman; and company consultant Barbara Bufty. The suit was filed after investigative efforts by the district attorney’s office and the state Department of Insurance.

“Our business has been affected by these allegations and a lot of them are incorrect,” Jeffrey L. Norman said. He said the company would be vindicated after all the facts are laid out in court.