The owner of the Crystal Mall in Waterford, Connecticutt has agreed to pay nearly $309,000 to settle alleged violations of the state's gift-card laws, state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal said Monday that most of the money Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group and its SPGGC affiliate will pay will be in the form of refunds to thousands of consumers.

Blumenthal sued Simon Property Group in 2004 on behalf of the state Consumer Protection Department and state Treasurer Denise Nappier. The lawsuit alleged that the company illegally subjected consumers to inactivity fees on Simon gift cards from 2003 to 2005.

Wall Street Journal