News
Court sanctions against unlicensed tractor trailer school and owner announced
By Attorney General's office
Jul 21, 2008 - 2:15:25 PM

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Department of Higher Education (DHE) Commissioner Michael P. Meotti today announced that an unlicensed tractor trailer school has received steep sanctions after defying court orders to cease operating and to provide student records to the state.

Under a recent contempt order issued by the Superior Court, D&L Tractor Trailer Training School of Bridgeport and owner C. Donald Lane received contempt fines of more than $100,000 -- a number that will grow by $2,500 each day that D&L continues to defy the court’s orders.

Blumenthal said, “These steep sanctions should put emergency brakes on a rogue, runaway trucking school. The court has recognized D&L’s defiance and arrogance -- a complete disregard for repeated court orders to stop operating and to produce student records. The victims of Lane’s lawless defiance are students who have paid thousands of dollars in tuition and invested countless hours to obtain certificates. We will fight vigorously to pursue penalties and refunds to students harmed by D&L.

“The larger lesson here is that students should check on an occupational school’s credentials before they invest valuable money and time – and schools should note that certification laws will be enforced.”

Meotti said, “D&L and Don Lane have exhausted all opportunities and our best efforts to bring this school into compliance with Connecticut statutes. Willful misconduct and open disregard for students and state laws simply will not be tolerated as evidenced by these serious consequences.”

In May, Blumenthal and Meotti -- after an undercover sting by DHE -- won a court order shutting down the tractor trailer school for operating without a certificate of authorization issued by the Commissioner of Higher Education. The court also ordered Lane and D&L to provide DHE with all of its student records.

Lane has continued to enroll students, despite the court’s order and repeated warnings by the state. The school also has defied orders to turn over its student records, and Lane failed to appear for a scheduled deposition as part of a state investigation. The court ordered Lane to submit to a deposition by July 30.

Under state law, any Connecticut student enrolled in a private occupational school who is unable to complete the course of study due to the school’s cessation of operation or insolvency and who has paid tuition, may be eligible to apply to the Commissioner of Higher Education for a tuition refund from the state’s Private Occupational School Student Protection Account.

D&L’s lack of certificate to operate may make students ineligible to recover money through the Student Protection Account. Meanwhile, Blumenthal’s office and the DHE are continuing their investigation into numerous student complaints against Lane and D&L.

In a separate matter, on June 4, Lane pled guilty in federal court to two felonies: willfully attempting to evade income tax and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is scheduled to be sentenced on these convictions on Aug. 27.

Any student who has not completed his or her training at D&L is encouraged to call DHE’s toll-free hotline at 1(800)842-0229 and should register his or her information at www.ctdhe.org. Agency staff will notify students about the status of their complaints and requests for refunds once DHE receives student records from D&L.

Blumenthal thanked Assistant Attorney General Daniel R. Shapiro who is working on the case.

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