Vermont's attorney general is suing a local business, alleging it engaged in a price-gouging scheme against a Washington County hospital. Attorney General T.J. Donovan said the owner of Big Brother Security Programs re-sold surgical masks to Central Vermont Medical Center for $2.50 each; at least a 500% markup from their original buying price of 10 cents. GET THE LATEST: Download the MyNBC5 appThe company's owner, Shelly Palmer, of Williston, now faces a lawsuit accusing them of price-gouging during a public health emergency. “Protecting hospitals and medical professionals from unfair practices involving medical equipment is a top priority,” Donovan said. “These folks are on the front lines saving lives during a public health emergency. We need to do everything we can to protect them so that they can continue to protect us.”Vermont defines price-gouging as an "unconscionable" increase in the cost of goods during a declared emergency. The attorney general's office said that even as prices of medical supplies continue to increase, $2.50 for a mask is too much. "Even if material, labor, and other legitimate supply chain costs increased such that mask costs increased to 40 cents or 50 cents each, $2.50 is unconscionable," the office wrote in a release. In addition to asking that the process stop, Donovan is also asking the company to pay the difference back to the hospital.An emergency hearing has been scheduled for April 22 at the Chittenden Superior Court.Reports of potential price gouging can be made by contacting the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424 or AGO.CAP@vermont.gov.

Vermont's attorney general is suing a local business, alleging it engaged in a price-gouging scheme against a Washington County hospital.

Attorney General T.J. Donovan said the owner of Big Brother Security Programs re-sold surgical masks to Central Vermont Medical Center for $2.50 each; at least a 500% markup from their original buying price of 10 cents.




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The company's owner, Shelly Palmer, of Williston, now faces a lawsuit accusing them of price-gouging during a public health emergency.

“Protecting hospitals and medical professionals from unfair practices involving medical equipment is a top priority,” Donovan said. “These folks are on the front lines saving lives during a public health emergency. We need to do everything we can to protect them so that they can continue to protect us.”

Vermont defines price-gouging as an "unconscionable" increase in the cost of goods during a declared emergency. The attorney general's office said that even as prices of medical supplies continue to increase, $2.50 for a mask is too much.

"Even if material, labor, and other legitimate supply chain costs increased such that mask costs increased to 40 cents or 50 cents each, $2.50 is unconscionable," the office wrote in a release.

In addition to asking that the process stop, Donovan is also asking the company to pay the difference back to the hospital.

An emergency hearing has been scheduled for April 22 at the Chittenden Superior Court.

Reports of potential price gouging can be made by contacting the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424 or AGO.CAP@vermont.gov.