Photographer accused of bilking leagues

ALBANY, N.Y. » The state Attorney General’s Office has filed a lawsuit against a Schenectady photographer who allegedly collected thousands of dollars for photo packages for youth baseball and softball players but failed to deliver.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Tuesday in a news release the suit filed in state Supreme Court in Albany County alleges GND Studios, a photography studio operating as Big League Pics, and its owner, Robert Dungan, photographed teams and individual players in May 2017 under a contract with the Niskayuna Baseball League and Niskayuna Softball League. Despite collecting thousands of dollars from parents for a variety of packages ranging in price from approximately $20 to $50, Dungan failed to deliver the photographs or make refunds, Schneiderman said.

“New Yorkers spent their hard-earned money to have a keepsake of their children’s baseball and softball experiences,” Schneiderman said in

the release. “Parents were right to cry foul when Big League Pics allegedly didn’t deliver, and my office will seek to hold the company responsible for depriving parents of both their dollars and their memories.”

According to court papers, league officials, other parents and a representative from the Attorney General’s Office all reached out to Dungan by telephone, email and U. S. mail after GND Studios failed to deliver the photographs. Despite several assurances that he would deliver the photos or provide refunds, Schneiderman said Dungan never

followed through.

The lawsuit seeks restitution, costs and penalties, Schneiderman said, as well as a permanent injunction banning Dungan from the photography business in New York state until he files a $25,000 performance bond.

Consumers who have had similar problems with Dungan or GND Studios are urged to file a complaint online at https:// forms.ag.ny.gov/CIS/consumer- complaints.jsp or call 1-800-771-7755.

Armenian church to mark Vartanantz Day

WATERVLIET, N.Y. » The Knights & Daughters of Vartan will host their annual Vartanantz Day commemoration at 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 25, at St. Peter Armenian Church, 100 Troy Schenectady Road.

The program will include dignitaries, entertainment and a guest speaker, Donald J. Tellalian, principal architect of the Boston Armenian Heritage Park. A full course Lenten fish luncheon, prepared by Chef Bill Nevins, will also be served.

Vartanantz Day celebrates the victory of an army of Christian Armenians over the Persian Empire in 451 AD to preserve Christianity.

The celebration is open to the public, with the cost for the luncheon $15 for adults, free for children younger than 12.

For more information, call Rafi Topalian at 518810-5018 or email rafitop@ aol.com.