I do believe the fault is in their not having responded to earlier correspondence. Given the way this particular letter is put together ~ or should I say chunked together ~ I have no doubt the people receiving the others had no idea at all they were supposed to answer it in some way.
The USDA could use my services, but first they will have to fire half the staff over there ~ when this kind of stuff goes out asking for that much money ~ on a billing that looks like one of those scam operations ~ that means the people behind it are INEDUCABLE!
I’m willing to bet a few dollars the family never received any sort of official notice that informed them they needed a license. If it was “multiple times” the USDA would send out letters certified mail and the USDA would be able to prove they were received.
The fine notice was sent certified. If the others were sent certified - as they should have been - I don’t think the family would publicly say they were never told what they were doing wrong.