The state attorney general’s office has dropped a complaint that alleged phone book advertising by paralegal Jerry O’Neil of Columbia Falls deceived people about his practice.
A complaint filed against O’Neil in June 2007 alleged he violated the state’s Unfair Trade and Consumer Protection Act with an ad in the attorney’s section of the yellow pages identifying himself as an independent paralegal who offered low-cost divorces.
District Judge Jeffrey Sherlock of Helena denied a state request for summary judgment in April. The judge gave the state until May 24 to respond to O’Neil’s request to identify someone who claimed to have been deceived by his advertising.
The state did not respond and instead an assistant attorney general signed an agreement dismissing the case.