A Baldwin County business accused of falsely claiming to be certified to sell nursery plants and other agricultural products has been barred from operating in Alabama under a preliminary injunction granted by Baldwin County Circuit Judge J. Clark Stankoski.

In a Friday, May 30, news release, Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the injunction against AKME Group LLC and AKME LLC, known collectively as AKME Gardens, along with owners Adam Karsten Morck and Kristina Nis Dias. The court order also prohibits Morck from running Ride Doctors LLC, a company he launched in August 2024.

The injunction follows a March complaint filed by Marshall’s office alleging AKME Gardens violated Alabama’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The complaint states the company falsely advertised itself as certified by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, sold nursery products and seeds without proper certification, and repeatedly took payments from consumers without delivering any products.

“Falsely claiming to be an Alabama-certified nursery and accepting money for products that were never delivered isn’t just unethical — it’s illegal,” Marshall said in the release. “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.”

According to an article reported by Gulf Coast Media in April, AKME Gardens has not held a valid certification to sell nursery stock since 2022 and has not been certified to sell seeds for at least three years. Investigators documented multiple consumer complaints dating back to 2021 alleging the company failed to fulfill orders after taking payment. Additionally, the article noted that a temporary restraining order had been issued against AKME Gardens at that time.

The state’s complaint accuses the defendants of 24 violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act related to false claims of certification and another 13 violations for accepting payment without providing goods. Marshall’s office is seeking restitution for affected consumers, maximum civil penalties, attorneys’ fees, and a permanent halt to business activities in the state.

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries assisted in the case.

Consumers who believe they were impacted by AKME Gardens are urged to contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 392-5658 or visit https://www.alabamaag.gov.