NORTHWEST, Ind. (Legal Newsline) -- Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter has filed a lawsuit against Denise B. Murphy, a Merrilville resident accused of practicing real estate without a license.

In a suit filed in the Lake Superior Court, Carter alleges that Murphy received more than $3,000 in commission fees from the sale of property in northwest Indiana.

"We will not stand for individuals conducting business as a real estate agent without a license," Carter said. "Performing such consumer transactions without the proper credentials undermines the profession and manipulates the system."

Murphy allegedly represented a buyer in the purchase of a property in February 2007. She signed the Purchase Agreement as the selling agent and indicated that "Priority Plus" was the selling brokerage company.

A commission check was made out to that entity and endorsed by Murphy. However, the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency has no record of such entity in the state.

Carter is seeking a permanent injunction against Murphy, restitution to be determined at trial and civil penalties up to $5,500 per violation.