For Immediate Release:
May 30, 2025
For press inquiries only, contact:
Amanda Priest (334) 322-5694
William Califf (334) 604-3230
(Montgomery, Ala.) – Attorney General Steve Marshall announced today that a judge granted a preliminary injunction against a Baldwin County company for falsely claiming to be certified to sell nursery plants and other agricultural products in violation of Alabama’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act. In March, Attorney General Marshall filed a complaint against AKME Group, LLC and AKME, LLC (collectively known as AKME Gardens), Adam Karsten Morck, and Kristina Nis Dias, alleging the company scammed consumers across the United States by falsely claiming to be certified to sell nursery products and seeds and by repeatedly accepted payment for orders without ever delivering products. The order issued by Baldwin County Circuit Judge J. Clark Stankoski prohibits AKME Gardens and its owners named from operating any type of business in the State of Alabama. This prohibition includes Ride Doctors LLC, a new company opened by Adam Morck in August 2024.
“Falsely claiming to be an Alabama-certified nursery and accepting money for products that were never delivered isn’t just unethical — it’s illegal. Let this serve as a warning to any business looking to make a quick profit at the expense of hardworking Alabamians: if you steal from consumers, we will find you and hold you accountable,” stated Attorney General Marshall. “We urge anyone impacted by the defendants’ practices to contact our office immediately.”
AKME Gardens has not been certified by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries to sell nursery stock since 2022, and it has not been certified to sell seeds for at least the last three years, if ever. Additionally, the Attorney General’s Office has identified several consumer complaints dating back to 2021 where AKME Gardens accepted payments from those consumers without bothering to provide any products.
The defendants are accused of 24 violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act for false claims about their alleged certifications to sell nursery products and seeds. The defendants are accused of another 13 violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act for taking payment for orders they never delivered. In filing the complaint, Attorney General Marshall seeks restitution to the identified consumers, a halt of all business activities in the state, the maximum civil penalties, and attorneys’ fees.
Attorney General Marshall appreciates the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries for their assistance on the case.
Impacted consumers are urged to visit https://www.alabamaag.gov or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-5658.
-30-
