BALTIMORE, Md. – Maryland’s Attorney General, Anthony G. Brown, announced today that a Final Order has been issued against Gerald Stringer, the proprietor of Tiffin Athletic Mats located in Elkton. This order requires him to pay a total of $314,000 in penalties and restitution due to his failure to deliver athletic equipment to schools, nonprofits, and individual consumers, as well as not issuing refunds.
The order, which comes from the Consumer Protection Division, imposes a penalty of $174,000 and requires Stringer to return $139,431.20 for payments he collected for athletic mats and other equipment that were never delivered. Additionally, the Division has prohibited Stringer from accepting any upfront payments from future customers unless he secures a $300,000 surety bond first.
“This case underscores our commitment to protecting Maryland consumers, including the schools and nonprofits that trusted this company with their hard-earned fundraising dollars,” said Attorney General Brown. “Tiffin Athletic Mats’ deceptive practices not only violated consumer protection laws but also betrayed the trust of young athletes and the communities that supported them.”
As per the Division, Stringer — who conducted business under various names like Tiffin Mats, Inc. and Tiffin Athletic Mats, Inc. — consistently accepted advance payments for equipment, misrepresented delivery schedules, and neglected to provide refunds. Many of the funds originated from school wrestling teams and cheer squads, who had to depend on outdated or borrowed mats due to the company’s shortcomings.
The recent decision comes after previous settlements were made with Daniel and Bradley Tiffin, the original owners of the company who transferred ownership to Stringer in 2017. Both Tiffins consented to offer restitution to the consumers affected in those distinct cases.
The Office of Administrative Hearings examined evidence and testimonies from 30 victims, which included individuals, schools, and nonprofits, prior to making the ruling.Consumers affected by or with questions about the case are encouraged to contact the Consumer Protection Division’s hotline at (410) 528-8662.
