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MERRILLVILLE, Ind. -- Don't even think about cheating Girl Scouts out of their cookie money. They'll sue.
No merit badges are involved, but a Girl Scout council is suing 10 parents, claiming they kept more than $8,000 from cookie sales.
The Drifting Dunes Girl Scout Council in Merrillville filed civil lawsuits this week in small claims courts, alleging scout parents kept cookie money in 2004 and 2005.
Claims for individual parents range from $500 to more than $1,400.
The group's attorney said the council had debts of about $19,000 in 2004 and of more than $20,000 in 2005, primarily because of missing cookie money.
Parents have kept cookie sales money in past years, but the problem is getting worse. Scout officials have said the lawsuits against parents who owe significant amounts could help deter others from keeping cookie money.
http://www.wftv.com/foodnews/10210261/detail.html