Arkansas Sues Adoption Agency

The State of Arkansas has filed a consumer protection lawsuit against a now-defunct Little Rock adoption agency, its owners, and a former employee.

The lawsuit names Adoption Advantage, Inc., its owners, Ed Webb and Donna Gail Webb, and former employee Jaclyn Potter, accusing them of lying to prospective parents.

The complaint alleges that the defendants, who claimed they specialized in domestic infant adoptions, deceived prospective adoptive families with false promises of available birth mothers seeking adoptive families for their infants and that the defendants charged thousands of dollars in up-front fees.

The company allegedly promised that if couples would sign a contract and wire the money they could "immediately" adopt a child. These promises were made when no infant was then available for adoption and the company had no expectation of providing the services contracted for.

"Many of these consumers gave their entire savings to Adoption Advantage in hopes of finding a baby to adopt," said Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said. "This company has not only deceived consumers and taken money, they have crushed the hopes and dreams of individuals hoping to complete their families." 

The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to bar the defendants from representing that they can facilitate adoptions and from charging or collecting any fees in connection with such services.

In addition, the lawsuit requests restitution for affected consumers and asks the court to impose civil penalties upon the defendants.