Former Driving School Owner Ordered to Pay Penalties

The former owner of Cam's Auto School in Waltham has been ordered to pay $282,500 in claims that he did not refund money for driving classes that were not held, according to the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office. 

Frederick Lovely, the former sole owner of the driving school on Main Street, failed to provide classes to more than 500 students who had made upfront payments, according to the order filed in Suffolk Superior Court.

"The ...  judgment includes findings that Lovely knew he would not be able to provide the promised services when he obtained the fees because the business was already in dire financial circumstances," the AG's statement reads.

Lovely must pay $174,900 in restitution and $107,650 in civil penalties and fees, according to the AG’s office. As part of the order, Lovely is prohibited from discharging the penalties as a condition of his pending bankruptcy. Lovely has claimed he has no assets.

Lovely, who formerly had contracts with several area school districts including Lexington, is also barred from accepting money for driving education. 

 “This defendant falsely advertised and sold driving school services when he knew they could not be provided,” Attorney General Martha Coakley said in a statement. “We are pleased that this judgment orders full restitution for consumers who were harmed and prohibits the defendant from engaging in any driver education business in the state.”

The judgment comes after a December 2011 lawsuit alleging the school offered discounts to bolster enrollment in the weeks before it closed, according to the AG's office. In addition to the school, Lovely had contracts with school districts in Lexington, Natick, Needham, Wayland and Wellesley. The enrollments took place during signup sessions Lovely held at Natick High School.

Cam's Auto School closed in March 2011.