Court Opinion

ID: 7958061
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 00:22:37.22586+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:34:20.196448
License: Public Domain

Per Curiam.
Defendant is a licensed chiropractor, pursuant to MCLA 338.151 et seq.; MSA 14.591 et seq. He applied for a license under the physical therapy act, MCLA 338.321 et seq.; MSA 14.715(1) et seq., but was refused the license. Thus, he is not registered nor licensed as a physical therapist.
The defendant authorized and obtained a listing in the telephone directories of metropolitan Detroit which listed, inter alia, under "Atwell Zone Physiotherapy and Fx Massage System”: physical therapists; massage; suana baths; whirlpool baths; chiropractic physicians. The Attorney General, *221considering this listing to be improper, notified the defendant to cease and desist pursuant to provisions of the deceptive advertising act, MCLA 445.801 et seq.; MSA 19.853(1) et seq. Proper notice of this was given. Plaintiff, thereafter, commenced the present suit for injunctive relief in the Ingham County Circuit Court. Various prior suits have involved defendant, Michigan Bell Telephone Company, and the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. None of these suits were predicated upon the deceptive advertising act.
Plaintiff moved for summary judgment, which the trial judge granted. The court ordered:
"[T]hat defendant, Charles F. Atwell, D.C., shall be and hereby is permanently restrained and enjoined from advertising by using in connection with his name the words or letters 'physical therapist, physiotherapist, registered physical therapist, licensed physical therapist, physical therapy technician, P.T., R.P.T., L.P.T., P.T.T.’, or any other letters, words or insignia indicating or implying that he is a physical therapist, or in any other way, orally, in print, by sign, directly or by implication, representing himself as a physical therapist, in publications, including the Yellow Pages issued by the Michigan Bell Telephone directory placed before the public.”
From this determination the defendant appeals. We note that this sincere gentleman has appeared before this bench in propria persona.
We quickly dispense with certain assertions of defendant. US Const, Am V refers to crimes; as such, the provision that no person shall be put twice in. jeopardy for life or limb refers to criminal actions and not to the present action, as it is a civil complaint for an injunction. Secondly, the Attorney General may maintain an action under statute to enjoin unlawful, deceptive or misleading *222advertising. MCLA 445.807(1); MSA 19.853(7X1). Thirdly, MCLA 14.102; MSA 3.212, provides that an action at law may be brought by the Attorney General in the Circuit Court in and for the County of Ingham.
MCLA 338.321(a); MSA 14.715(l)(a), provides a definition for "physical therapy” or "physiotherapy”. MCLA 338.322; MSA 14.715(2), provides for a state board of physical therapy registration. Thereafter, provisions for registration of physical therapists via examination or without examination are set out. MCLA 338.326; MSA 14.715(6), and MCLA 338.327; MSA 14.715(7). MCLA 338.335; MSA 14.715(15), provides that a person not registered under the act or whose registration has been suspended or revoked, or whose registration has lapsed and has not been renewed shall not use in connection with his name the words physical therapist, physiotherapist, registered physiotherapist, licensed physical therapist, or any other letters, words or insignia indicating or implying that that person is a physical therapist, nor shall the individual in any other way, orally, in print, by sign, directly or by implication, represent himself as a physical therapist.
MCLA 445.801; MSA 19.853(1), provides that it shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to make, publish, disseminate, circulate or place before the public any advertisement which contains any statement or representation which is untrue, deceptive or misleading, etc.
It is obvious that: (1) defendant was not licensed as a physical therapist and (2) the telephone advertising implied, if not stated, that he or his agents were physical therapists. Thus, a prima facie case has been made. The injunction was properly granted and this Court aifirms.