SEMIANNUAL FEDERAL COURT 

LITIGATION STATUS REPORT 

Office of the General Counsel 

Bureau of Competition 

Bureau of Consumer Protection 

Regional Offices 

June 30, 2018 

No. 134 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

SUMMARY OF CASES................................................................................................................. ii 

PETITIONS FOR REVIEW ........................................................................................................... 1 

A) Orders to Cease and Desist ............................................................................................ 1 

B) Rulemakings ................................................................................................................... 2 

INJUNCTION AND CONSUMER REDRESS CASES ................................................................ 2 

A) Preliminary Injunctions (Mergers/Acquisitions) ............................................................ 2 

B) Preliminary Injunctions (Other) ..................................................................................... 3 

C) Permanent Injunctions/Consumer Redress ..................................................................... 3 

CIVIL PENALTY AND ENFORCEMENT CASES ................................................................... 70 

A) Consumer Protection .................................................................................................... 70 

B) Competition .................................................................................................................. 75 

SUBPOENA AND CID ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS ..................................................... 75 

SUITS TO ENJOIN FTC ACTION AND OTHER DEFENSIVE LITIGATION ....................... 77 

AMICUS CURIAE BRIEFS ......................................................................................................... 83 
SUMMARY OF CASES 

D. Ct. Ct. App.*

 S. Ct. Total 

PETITIONS FOR REVIEW 0 2 0 2 

INJUNCTION AND 

CONSUMER REDRESS CASES 

71 11 0 82 

CIVIL PENALTY AND 

ENFORCEMENT CASES 

6 1 0 7 

SUBPOENA AND CID 

ENFORCEMENTS 

4 1 0 5 

SUITS TO ENJOIN FTC 

ACTION AND OTHER 

DEFENSIVE LITIGATION 

12 2 0 14 

AMICUS CURIAE BRIEFS 1 2 2 5 

TOTALS 94 19 2 115 

* Includes all cases in which appellate proceedings have taken place during the reporting 

period or are pending; these cases are not counted in the District Court column, even if such proceedings are going on simultaneously. 

ii 
 

PETITIONS FOR REVIEW 

(A) Orders to Cease and Desist 

LABMD, INC. v. FTC, No. 16-16270 (11th Cir.) 

Parties: LabMD, Inc. 

Assigned Attorneys: Jack Metzler (OGC) 

Matthew Hoffman 

Joel Marcus 

Nature of Action: Petition for review of final Commission order. 

Status: Petition for review filed 9/29/16. 

Order granting stay entered 11/10/16. 

Petitioner’s opening brief filed 12/27/16. 

Commission’s brief filed 2/9/17. 

Petitioner’s reply brief filed 3/9/17. 

Oral argument heard 6/21/17. 

Opinion in favor of petitioner, vacating Commission’s order, entered 

6/6/18. 

LOUISIANA REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS BOARD v. FTC, No. 18-60291 (5th Cir.) 

Parties: Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board 

Assigned Attorneys: Mark Hegedus (OGC) 

Michele Arington 

Joel Marcus 

Alleged Conduct: Petition for review of Commission’s order denying LREAB’s motion to 

dismiss administrative complaint and granting Complaint Counsel’s 

motion for partial summary decision. 

Status: Petition for review filed 4/19/18. 

Petitioner’s motion to stay administrative proceedings pending appeal 

filed 6/11/18; Commission’s response in opposition filed 6/21/18; 

Petitioner’s reply filed 6/28/18. 

Petitioner’s opening brief due on 7/5/18. 

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(B) Rulemakings 

(None Pending) 

INJUNCTION AND CONSUMER REDRESS CASES 

(A)Preliminary Injunctions (Mergers/Acquisitions) 

FTC v. SANFORD HEALTH, No. 17-3783 (8th Cir.); No. 1:17-cv-133 (D.N. Dak.) 

Parties: Sanford Health 

Sanford Bismarck 

Mid Dakota Clinic, P.C. 

State of North Dakota (Plaintiff) 

Assigned Attorneys: Kevin Hahm (BC/Mergers IV) 

Michele Arington (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Action for preliminary injunction of Sanford Health’s proposed 

acquisition of Mid Dakota Clinic as a violation of Section 5 of the FTC 

Act and Section 7 of the Clayton Act. 

Status: Complaint filed 6/22/17. 

TRO entered 6/22/17. 

Evidentiary hearing held 10/30/17-11/3/17. 

 Order granting preliminary injunction entered 12/13/17. 

Notice of appeal filed 12/15/17. 

Appellants’ opening brief filed 1/29/18; Commission’s answering brief 

filed 3/5/18; appellants’ reply brief filed 3/22/18. 

FTC v. WILHELM WILHELMSEN, No. 1:18-cv-414 (D.D.C.) 

Parties: Wilhelm Wilhelmsen 

Wilhelmsen Maritime Services 

Resolute Fund II, L.P. 

Drew Marine Intermediate II B.V. 

Drew Marine Group Inc. 

Wilh, Wilhelmsen Holding ASA 

Assigned Attorneys: Thomas Dillickrath (BC) 

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Alleged Conduct: Action for an order preliminarily enjoining the proposed acquisition 

between defendants as a violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act and Section 

7 of the Clayton Act. 

Status: Complaint filed 2/23/18; amended complaint filed 4/2/18. 

TRO entered 2/23/18. 

Evidentiary hearing held 5/29/18-6/13/18; closing arguments presented 

6/18/18. 

(B) Preliminary Injunctions (Other) 

(None pending) 

(C) Permanent Injunctions/Consumer Redress* 

FTC v. 4 STAR RESOLUTION, LLC, No. 1:15-cv-112 (W.D.N.Y.) 

Parties: 4 Star Resolution, LLC d/b/a Consumer Recovery Group d/b/a Four Star 

 Capital Services d/b/a Four Star Resolution Services, LLC d/b/a FS 

Mediation Group 

 Profile Management, Inc. 

 International Recovery Service, LLC 

Check Solutions Services, Inc. 

 Check Fraud Service, LLC 

Merchant Recovery Service, Inc. 

 Fourstar Revenue Management, LLC 

 Travell Thomas 

Maurice Sessum 

 Charles Blakely, III 

Assigned Attorneys: Brian N. Lasky (NER) 

Karen A. Dahlberg 

Robin E. Eichen 

 Laura Zuckerwise 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act 

and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in connection with the 

collection of debt or purported debt. 

*

 Unless otherwise noted, cases involve suits for permanent injunction and other equitable 

relief. Post-judgment proceedings in district court are not generally reported. 

3 
 

 

Status: Complaint filed 2/9/15. 

TRO entered 2/9/15. 

 Stipulated preliminary injunction entered 6/2/15. 

Commission’s motion for preliminary injunction with asset freeze filed 

8/5/15; memorandum in opposition by Charles Blakely filed 

9/15/15; memorandum in opposition by 4 Star Resolution, LLC 

filed 9/23/15. 

Preliminary injunction with asset freeze entered 11/21/15. 

Order modifying terms of preliminary injunction with asset freeze and 

retention of records by financial institutions and other third parties 

entered 2/17/16. 

Stipulated orders for permanent injunction and monetary judgment against 

all defendants entered 3/20/18. 

FTC v. 9140-9201 QUÉBEC INC., No. 1:18-cv-4115 (N.D. Ill.) 

Parties: 9140-9201 Quebec Inc. d/b/a Ameteck Group d/b/a Marketing Midwest 

d/b/a Midwest Marketing d/b/a Midwest Marketing Inc. 

Midwest Advertising & Publishing Inc. d/b/a Midwestern Advertising and 

Publishing d/b/a Global Site Design 

The Local Business Pages 

Premium Business Pages Inc. 

Ametech Group LLC, a dissolved Nev. LLC 

Ameteck Group LLC, a Del. LLC 

Data Net Technologies, LLC 

Remy Munilla 

Carol Beaudoin 

Assigned Attorneys: William J. Hodor (MWR) 

John C. Hallerud 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act in 

connection with defendants’ unsolicited calls to small businesses to induce 

them to pay for unordered Internet directory listings, search engine 

optimization services or website design and hosting services. 

Status: Complaint filed 6/13/18. 

TRO entered 6/15/18. 

Preliminary injunction with asset freeze and other equitable relief entered 

6/29/18. 

FTC v. A1 JANITORIAL SUPPLY CORP., No. 1:17-cv-7790 (N.D. Ill.) 

Parties: A1 Janitorial Supply Corp. d/b/a A One Janitorial 

Century Manufacturing Corp. d/b/a A-1 Janitorial Supply 

4 
Commercial Maintenance Chemical Corp. d/b/a CMC 

Global Direct Resources, Inc. d/b/a A-1 Janitorial d/b/a Century 

Manufacturing d/b/a Commercial Maintenance Chemical d/b/a 

Target Supplies 

Eric Sternberg 

Matthew Sternberg 

Assigned Attorneys: John C. Hallerud (MWR) 

Guy G. Ward 

Roberto C. Menjivar 

Nathaniel Al-Najjar 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, the 

FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, and the Unordered Merchandise Statute 

in connection with in connection with the telemarketing of nondurable 

office and cleaning supplies. 

Status: Complaint filed 10/30/17. 

TRO entered 11/1/17. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction entered 11/21/17. 

FTC v. A1 DOCPREP INC., No. 2:17-cv-7044 (C.D. Cal.) 

Parties: A1 Docprep Inc

 Stream Lined Marketing d/b/a Project Uplift Students 

d/b/a Project Uplift America 

Bloom Law Group PC d/b/a Home Shield Network d/b/a Keep Your 

Home USA 

 Homan Ardalan 

Assigned Attorneys: K. Michelle Grajales (BCP/FP) 

 Lisa Anne Rothfarb 

 John D. Jacobs (WRLA) 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, the 

Telemarketing Sales Rule, and the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services 

Rule in connection with the marketing and sale of student loan debt relief 

and mortgage assistance relief services. 

Status: Complaint filed 9/27/17. 

Ex parte TRO with asset freeze, appointment of receiver, and other 

equitable relief entered 9/28/17. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction entered 10/17/17. 

Stipulated permanent injunction and monetary judgment as to defendant 

Bloom Law Group PC entered 5/9/18. 

Trial scheduled for 12/18/18. 

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FTC v. ABBVIE, INC., No. 2:14-cv-5151 (E.D. Pa.) 

Parties: AbbVie, Inc. 

Abbott Laboratories 

 Unimed Pharmaceuticals, LLC 

Besins Healthcare, Inc. 

 Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. 

Assigned Attorneys: Markus Meier (BC) 

 Patricia M. McDermott 

Kara Monahan 

Peter Taylor 

Alleged Conduct: Unfair methods of competition in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act 

arising from baseless patent infringement lawsuits against potential 

generic competitors. 

Status: Complaint filed 9/8/14. 

 Defendants’ motion to dismiss filed 11/12/14; Commission’s brief in 

 opposition filed 12/12/14. 

Order granting defendants’ motion to dismiss Count II of the complaint 

entered 5/6/15. 

Commission’s motion for entry of judgment under Rule 54(b) filed 6/5/15; 

response in opposition by Abbott Laboratories, Abbvie, Inc. and 

Unimed Pharmaceuticals filed 6/25/15; Commission’s reply filed 

7/2/15. 

Order holding Commission’s pending Rule 54(b) motion in abeyance 

entered 7/8/15. 

 Commission’s motion for reconsideration of dismissal filed 7/20/15; 

defendant’s response filed 7/31/15; reply filed 8/7/15. 

Motion for reconsideration denied 8/25/15. 

Motion to direct entry of partial final judgment under Rule 54(b) denied 

8/26/15. 

 Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on Count 1 of complaint filed 

6/5/17; Commission’s response in opposition filed 7/11/17; reply 

filed 7/26/17; order denying motion entered 9/15/17. 

Commission’s motion for partial summary judgment filed 6/5/17; 

defendants AbbVie, Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Unimed 

Pharmaceuticals, LLC, and Besins Healthcare, Inc.’s response in 

opposition filed 7/10/17; reply filed 7/27/17; order granting motion 

entered 9/15/17. 

Trial held 2/7/18- 3/1/18. 

Defendants’ motion for reconsideration of 9/15/17 order filed 3/23/18; 

Commission’s response filed 4/4/18; reply filed 4/8/18. 

6 
FTC v. ACDI GROUP LLC, No. 3:17-cv-340 (W.D.N.C.) 

Parties: ACDI Group LLC

 Solutions to Portfolios LLC 

 Anthony Swatsworth 

Assigned Attorneys: Nikhil Singhvi (BCP/FP) 

 Michael White 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in connection with defendants’ debt 

collection practices. 

Status: Complaint filed 6/22/17. 

Commission’s motion for summary judgment filed 11/16/17; response in 

opposition filed 12/22/17; reply to response filed 1/12/18; 

Commission’s and defendants’ supplemental briefs as to motion 

filed 5/16/18. 

Trial set for 9/10/18 

FTC v. ACTAVIS, INC. (formerly WATSON PHARMS., INC.), No. 12-416 (S. 

Ct.); Nos. 12-16488, No. 10-12729 (11th Cir.); No. 1:09-CV-955 (N.D. Ga.), formerly 

No. 2:09-CV-598 (C.D. Cal.) 

Parties: Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Par Pharmaceuticals Companies, Inc. 

Paddock Laboratories, Inc. 

Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Assigned Attorneys: Markus Meier (BC) 

Saralisa Brau 

Cynthia A. Liebes (SER) 

Mark S. Hegedus (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Action for a permanent injunction and other equitable relief for violations 

of the Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act and Section 5 of the FTC Act 

in connection with agreement between brand name drug manufacturer and 

generic manufacturers delaying entry of generic drug. 

Status: Complaint in C.D. Cal. filed 1/27/09. 

Amended complaint filed 2/12/09. 

Defendants’ motion to transfer case to Northern District of Georgia filed 

2/27/09; Commission’s opposition filed 3/16/09; defendants’ reply 

filed 3/23/09; order transferring case to N.D. Ga. entered 4/9/09. 

Second amended complaint filed 5/28/09. 

Commission’s motion to stay proceeding filed 6/15/09; defendants’ 

7 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

opposition filed 6/17/09; Commission’s reply filed 7/6/09; order 

denying motion entered 7/17/09. 

Defendants’ motions to dismiss second amended complaint filed 7/20/09; 

Commission’s opposition filed 8/21/09; defendants’ replies filed 

9/11/09. 

Order granting motion to dismiss Commission’s second amended 

complaint entered 2/22/10. 

Judgment dismissing Commission’s claims with prejudice entered 4/21/10 

Notice of appeal filed 6/10/10. 

Commission’s opening brief filed 7/26/10. 

Defendants’ answering brief filed 11/10/10. 

Commission’s reply brief filed 12/15/10. 

Oral argument heard 5/13/11. 

Opinion affirming district court issued on 4/25/12. 

Commission’s petition for rehearing en banc filed 6/11/12. 

Order denying petition for rehearing en banc entered 7/18/12. 

Commission’s petition for writ of certiorari filed 10/4/12. 

Petition granted 12/7/12. 

Commission’s petition to district court to unseal document filed 12/10/12; 

motion granted and temporary stay pending appeal entered 

12/19/12. 

Notice of appeal of order unsealing document by AbbVie Products 

filed 12/21/12; emergency motion to expedite briefing and stay 

unsealing order filed 12/26/12; granted 1/10/13. 

Commission’s Supreme Court merits brief filed 1/22/13. 

 AbbVie Products’ opening brief in 11th Circuit filed 1/31/13; 

 Commission’s response filed 2/7/13; AbbVie Products’ reply filed 

2/19/13. 

 Respondents’ Supreme Court briefs filed 2/21/13. 

 Commission’s Supreme Court reply brief filed 3/18/13. 

 Oral argument in 11th Circuit held 3/20/13. 

 11th Circuit opinion affirming district court order lifting seal 

and dissolving stay filed 3/21/13. 

 Supreme Court grant of Solicitor General’s motion to lift seal on sealed

 volume of joint appendix entered 3/22/13.

 Supreme Court oral argument heard 3/25/13. 

 Supreme Court decision in favor of the FTC, reversing the 

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and remanding the case for 

 further proceedings consistent with its opinion entered 6/17/13. 

Eleventh Circuit order vacating the district court judgment and remanding 

the case to the district court entered 9/9/13. 

Order making Eleventh Circuit’s mandate the judgment of the district 

court entered 11/15/13. 

Motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim filed 1/15/14; Commission’s 

opposition filed 2/14/14; defendant’s reply brief filed 3/3/14. 

Order denying motion to dismiss entered 4/21/14. 

8 
 

 

 

 

Motion for interlocutory appeal by Paddock Laboratories, Inc. and Par 

Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. filed 4/22/14; Commission’s 

opposition filed 5/6/14; oral argument heard 5/9/14; motion denied

 5/9/14. 

Motion for summary judgment by Actavis Holdco U.S. filed 10/4/16; 

Commission’s opposition filed 12/1/16; reply filed 12/9/16; order 

denying motion entered 6/2/17. 

Commission’s unopposed motion to dismiss with prejudice as to 

defendants Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. and Paddock 

Holdings LLC entered 2/2/17; order granting motion entered 

2/7/17. 

Defendant Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc’s motion for summary judgment 

filed 9/29/17; notice of joinder by defendants Actavis Holdco U.S., 

Inc. and Actavis, Inc. filed 9/29/17; response in opposition filed 

1/18/18; reply filed 2/20/18; order denying defendant’s motion 

entered 6/14/18. 

FTC v. ADEPT MANAGEMENT, INC., No. 1:16-cv-720 (D. Ore.) 

Parties: Adept Management, Inc. 

 Anchor Publishing Group, Inc. 

 Associated Publishers Network, Inc. 

 Atlas Business Consulting, LLC 

 Clarity Group, LLC 

Consolidated Publishers Exchange, Inc. d/b/a Premier Subscription 

Services, Processing Express Solutions 

 Crown Resource Management, LLC 

 Customer Access Services, Inc.

 Express Publishers Service, Inc. d/b/a Associated Billing Service, 

 Associated Periodical Network, Associated Publishers 

Readership, Billing Services of Circulation, Circulation 

Billing Marketplace, Circulation Network Services d/b/a Global Billing 

Service d/b/a Lakeshore Publishers Billing, Magazine Billing Network, 

Magazine Distribution Marketplace, Magazine Payment Processing, 

National Magazine Network, Publication Network Services, Publishers 

Billing Marketplace, Publishers Distribution Network, Publishers 

Magazine Services, Readers Magazine Services, Readers Payment 

Network, Subscription Billing Agency, Subscription Billing Network, 

United Billing Service, United Publishers Agency 

 HCG, Inc.

 Henry Cricket Group, LLC 

 Hoyal & Associates, Inc. 

Liberty Publishers Service, Inc. d/b/a Allied Publishing Services, American 

Consumer Publishers Association, Associated Publishers Services, 

Billing Services of America, Bradford Publishing Service, 

9 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Assigned Attorneys: 

Alleged Conduct: 

Circulation Billing Services, Global Publishers Center, Lakeshore 

Publishers Service, Magazine Billing Services, Magazine Distribution 

Service, Magazine Payment Services, Magazine Subscriber Services, 

Magazine Subscriptions Center, National Magazine Services, Periodical 

Billing Services, Platinum Subscription Service, Publication Service 

Networks, Publishers Access Services, Publishers Billing Services, 

Publishers Consolidated Subscription Services, Publishers Distribution 

Center, Publishers Education Services, Publishers Magazine Billing, 

Publishers Magazine Payment, Publishers Marketplace Services, 

Publishers Network Exchange, Publishers Payment Services, Publishers 

Periodical Service, Publishers Processing Service, Publishers Services 

Exchange, Readers Billing Services, Readers Payment Service, 

Seascape Publishers Network, Slo Call Center, Subscription Billing 

Service, Subscription Payment Exchange, Subscription Payment 

Services, United Publishers Services 

 Magazine Clearing Exchange 

 Magazine Link, Inc. 

Maximillian, Inc. d/b/a Maxmillian, Inc. 

 Northwest Data Services, LLC 

 PPP Magazines, Inc. 

 Publishers Payment Processing, Inc. 

 Reality Kats, LLC 

 Specialties, Inc. 

 Subscription House Agency, Inc. 

United Publishers Exchange, Inc. d/b/a Associated Publishers Network, 

Circulation Billing Network, Magazine Billing Associates, 

Premier Subscription Network, Publishers Billing Network, Publishers 

Magazine Exchange 

 Wineoceros Wine Club, Inc. 

Linda Babb 

Shannon Bacon a/k/a Shannon Balero, Shannon Gordon 

Jeffrey Hoyal 

Lori Hoyal 

Colleen Kaylor 

Laura Lovrien a/k/a Laura Babb 

Noel Parducci a/k/a Noel Littlefield, Noelle Littlefield 

Lydia Pugsley a/k/a Lydia Babb 

Dennis Simpson 

William Strickler 

Krista Bush (NWR) 

 Laura Solis

 Richard McKewen 

Connor Shively 

Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act 

10 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in connection with a nationwide campaign relying on misrepresentations 

to solicit newspaper renewals and new subscriptions from consumers. 

Status: Complaint filed 4/27/16. 

Motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim filed 6/27/16; Commission’s 

opposition filed 7/11/16; order denying motion to dismiss entered 

11/3/16. 

 Motions for stay pending resolution of criminal proceedings filed 

1/27/17; Commission’s response filed 1/31/17; replies filed 

2/17/17; motions denied 2/23/17. 

 Motion for summary judgment filed 4/14/17; Commission’s opposition 

filed 5/4/17; reply filed 5/26/17; motion deferred 6/13/17. 

Default judgment as to defendants Adept Management, Inc., Anchor 

Publishing Group, Inc., Associated Publishers Network, Inc., Atlas 

Business Consulting LLC, Clarity Group, Inc., Consolidated 

Publishers Exchange, Inc., Crown Resource Management LLC, 

Customer Access Services, Inc., Express Publishers Service, Inc., 

HCG, Inc., Henry Cricket Group, LLC, Liberty Publishers Service, 

Inc., Magazine Clearing Exchange, Inc., Magazine Link, Inc., 

Maximillian, Inc., North West Data Services LLC, PPP 

Magazines, Inc., Publishers Payment Processing, Inc., Publishers 

Payment Processing, Inc., Specialties, Inc., Subscription House 

Agency, Inc., United Publishers Exchange, Inc., and Wineoceros 

Wine Club, Inc. (“Defaulting Defendants”) entered 8/7/17. 

Commission’s motion for default judgment and permanent injunction 

order as to Defaulting Defendants filed 3/13/18; response in 

opposition to motion by defendants Jeffrey Hoyal, Lori Hoyal, 

Hoyal & Associates, Inc. filed 3/27/18; Commission’s reply filed 

3/30/18; response in opposition to motion by defendants Reality 

Kats, LLC, Dennis Simpson filed 4/6/18; Commission’s reply filed 

4/12/18. 

Trial set for 10/29/18. 

FTC v. ALLIANCE DOCUMENT PREPARATION, No. 2:17-cv-7048 (C.D. Cal.) 

Parties: Alliance Document Preparation d/b/a EZ Doc Preps d/b/a Grads Aid d/b/a 

First Document Aid 

Sbs Capital Group, Inc. d/b/a Grads United Discharge 

Sbb Holdings, LLC d/b/a EZ Doc Preps d/b/a Allied Doc Prep 

d/b/a Post Grad Services 

First Student Aid, LLC 

United Legal Center, LLC d/b/a Post Grad Aid d/b/a Alumni Aid 

Assistance d/b/a United Legal Discharge 

Elite Consulting Service LLC d/b/a First Grad Aid 

Grads Doc Prep, LLC d/b/a Academic Aid Center d/b/a Academic 

Protection d/b/a Academy Doc Prep d/b/a Academic Discharge 

11 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elite Doc Prep, LLC d/b/a Premier Student Aid 

Benjamin Naderi aka Benjamin Pournaderi aka Benjamin Brooks 

Shawn Gabbaie aka Shawn Goodman 

Avinadav Rubeni aka Avi Rubeni 

 Michael Ratliff 

Ramiar Reuveni aka Rami Reuveni 

 Farzan Azinkhan 

Direct Consulting Service, LLC 

Capital Doc Prep, Inc. 

Assigned Attorneys: Eleanor Durham (NWR) 

Nadine S. Samter 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

the Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with the marketing and sale of 

student loan debt relief services. 

Status: Complaint filed 9/27/17. 

TRO entered 9/28/2017. 

Preliminary injunction and other equitable relief and appointment of 

receiver entered 11/2/17; amended preliminary injunction as to 

Alliance Document Preparation, LLC; SBS Capital Group, Inc.; 

First Student Aid, LLC; Elite Consulting Service, LLC; Elite Doc 

Prep, LLC; Benjamin Naderi; Direct Consulting Service, LLC; and 

Capital Doc Prep, Inc. entered 11/3/17; Commission’s ex parte 

application to amend the asset freeze provisions of the preliminary 

injunction filed 11/20/17; order granting application to amend 

entered 11/22/17. 

Third application for clerk’s entry of default against defendant Elite 

Consulting Service LLC filed 12/11/17; default by clerk entered 

12/11/17. 

FTC v. AMERICAN FINANCIAL BENEFITS CENTER, No. 4:18-cv-806 (N.D. Cal.) 

Parties: American Financial Benefits Center 

 Ameritech Financial 

Financial Education Benefits Center 

Brandon Demond Frere 

Assigned Attorneys: Sarah Schroeder (WRSF) 

 Roberta Tonelli

 Evan Rose

 Boris Yankilovich 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act in 

connection with the marketing of student loan debt relief. 

12 
 

 

Status: Complaint filed 2/7/18. 

Commission’s motion for preliminary injunction filed 3/2/18; opposition 

filed 3/30/18. 

Defendants’ motion to dismiss filed 4/23/18; Commission’s opposition 

filed 5/16/18; defendant’s reply filed 5/30/18. 

FTC v. AMERICAN HOME SERVICING CENTER, LLC, No. 8:18-cv-597 (C.D. Cal.) 

Parties: American Home Servicing Center, LLC 

Capital Home Advocacy Center 

National Advocacy Center, LLC 

Jaime Aburto 

Marcus Fierro, Jr. 

Eve Christine Rodriguez 

Sergio Lorenzo Rodriguez 

Assigned Attorneys: Barbara Chun (WRLA) 

Elsie B Kappler (BCP/ENF) 

Sangjoon Han 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule in connection with the 

marketing and sale of mortgage assistance relief services. 

Status: Complaint filed 4/12/18. 

Ex parte TRO with asset freeze and appointment of temporary receiver 

entered 4/13/18. 

Preliminary injunction as to defendants American Home Servicing Center, 

LLC; Capital Home Advocacy Center; National Advocacy Center, 

LLC; and Marcus Fierro entered 4/27/18. 

Preliminary injunction as to defendants Eve Christine Rodriguez and 

Sergio Lorenzo Rodriguez entered 6/12/18. 

FTC v. AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES, LLC, No. 1:16-cv-281 (D. Md.) 

Parties: American Industrial Enterprises, LLC 

 Easton Chemical Supply, Inc. 

 Lighting X-Change Company, LLC 

LMS Lighting and Maintenance Solutions, LLC 

 Werner International Enterprises, Inc. 

 Benjamin Cox 

 Vincent Stapleton

 John Tharrington 

 TBC Companies, Inc. (relief defendant) 

13 
 

 

 

 

Assigned Attorneys: Jonathan Kessler (ECR) 

 Maria Del Monaco

 Michael Rose 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, 

 the Telemarketing Sales Rule and the Unordered Merchandise Statute in 

connection with the sale of nondurable office or cleaning supplies through 

 interstate telephone calls. 

Status: Complaint filed 2/1/16. 

Ex parte TRO with asset freeze entered 2/2/16.

 Stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendants John Tharrington and 

 Vincent Stapleton entered 2/29/16. 

 Preliminary injunction as to defendants Lighting X-Change Company, 

American Industrial Enterprises, LLC, Easton Chemical Supply, 

Inc., LMS Lighting & Maintenance Solutions, LLC and Werner 

International Enterprises entered 2/29/16. 

Settlement agreement with defendants Lighting X-Change, Vincent 

Stapleton and John Tharrington filed 9/23/16. 

Stipulated final order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment as 

to defendant Vincent Stapleton and John Tharrington entered 

12/22/16. 

Stipulated final order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment as 

to defendant Benjamin Cox and relief defendant TBC Companies 

entered 6/8/17. 

Default judgment against defendants American Industrial Enterprises, 

Easton Chemical Supply, LMS Lighting & Maintenance Solutions, 

and Werner International Enterprises entered 10/4/17. 

FTC v. AMERICAN STUDENT LOAN CONSOLIDATORS, LLC, No. 0:17-cv-61862 (S.D. 

Fla.) 

Parties: American Student Loan Consolidators, LLC d/b/a ASLC Processing 

Bbnd Marketing, LLC d/b/a United Processing Center, United SL 

Processing, and United Student Loan Processing 

Daniel Upbin 

Patrick O’Deady 

Assigned Attorneys: Harold E. Kirtz (SER) 

Nicholas May 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

the FTC’S Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with the marketing and 

sale of student loan debt relief services. 

Status: Complaint filed 9/25/17. 

14 
 

 

Ex parte motion for TRO, asset freeze, appointment of receiver, and other 

equitable relief filed 9/25/17; order granting motion and order to 

show cause why a preliminary injunction should not issue entered 

09/26/17. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction entered 10/26/17. 

Trial set for 3/4/19. 

FTC v. AMG SERVICES, INC., Nos. 16-17197, 14-16468 (9th Cir.); No. 2:12-cv-536 (D. 

Nev.) 

Parties: AMG Services, Inc. 

Red Cedar Services, Inc., d/b/a 500FastCash 

SFS, Inc., d/b/a OneClickCash 

Tribal Financial Services, Inc., d/b/a Ameriloan, d/b/a UnitedCashLoan, 

d/b/a USFastCash, d/b/a Miami Nation Enterprises. 

AMG Capital Management, LLC 

Level 5 Motorsports, LLC 

Lead Flash Consulting, LLC 

Black Creek Capital Corporation 

Broadmoor Capital Partners, LLC 

Muir Law Firm, LLC 

Scott A. Tucker 

Blaine A. Tucker 

Timothy J. Muir 

Don E. Brady 

Robert D. Campbell 

Troy L. LittleAxe 

Park 269 LLC 

Kim C. Tucker 

Assigned Attorneys: Nikhil Singhvi (BCP/FP) 

Iona Rusu 

Jason Schall 

Jack Metzler (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5, the Truth in Lending 

Act, and the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, in connection with offering and 

extending credit, payday loans, and the collection of those loans. 

Status: Complaint filed 4/2/12. 

Motion to dismiss by all defendants filed 5/25/12; Commission’s response 

filed 6/11/12. 

Partial withdrawals of motions to dismiss filed 10/15/12 and 10/16/12. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction entered 12/27/12. 

Commission’s amended motion for partial summary judgment filed 

3/7/13; defendants’ responses filed 3/25/13. 

15 
 Motion for legal determination on tribal sovereign immunity by 

defendants AMG Services, Inc., Red Cedar Services, Inc., SFS, 

Inc., and Tribal Financial Services filed 4/8/13; cross-motion for 

legal determination by defendant Troy Little Axe filed 4/10/13; 

Commission’s response filed 4/19/13. 

Commission’s amended complaint filed 4/12/13. 

Report and recommendation by magistrate that Commission’s motion for 

partial summary judgment and defendant’s motion for legal 

determination on tribal sovereign immunity be granted in part and 

denied in part entered 7/16/13. 

Joint motion for permanent injunction and judgment as to defendants 

AMG Services, SFS, Inc., MNE Services, Inc., AMG Capital 

Management, LLC, Level 5 MotorSports, LLC, LeadFlash 

Consulting, LLC, Black Creek Capital Corp., Broadmoor Capital 

Partners, LLC, Scott A. Tucker, Blaine A. Tucker, Don E. Brady, 

Robert D. Campbell, and Troy L. Little Axe, Jr. filed 7/18/13. 

Motion for summary judgment by Commission filed 9/30/13; Muir 

defendants’ opposition filed 11/29/13; remaining defendants’ 

opposition filed 12/4/13; Commission’s reply filed 12/20/13. 

Motions for summary judgment by defendants filed 9/30/13; 

Commission’s opposition filed 12/4/13; defendants’ reply filed 

12/20/13. 

Order granting joint motion for permanent injunction and judgment as to 

defendants AMG Services, SFS, Inc., MNE Services, Inc., AMG 

Capital Management, LLC, Level 5 MotorSports, LLC, LeadFlash 

Consulting, LLC, Black Creek Capital Corp., Broadmoor Capital 

Partners, LLC, Scott A. Tucker, Blaine A. Tucker, Don E. Brady, 

Robert D. Campbell, and Troy L. Little Axe, Jr. entered 10/8/13. 

Report and recommendation by magistrate that Commission’s motion for 

summary judgment be granted in part and denied in part, and that 

defendant’s motion for summary judgment be denied, entered 

1/28/14; defendant’s objections filed 2/14/14; Commission’s 

response filed 3/2/14. 

Order adopting magistrate’s 7/16/13 report and recommendations entered 

3/7/14. 

Order adopting magistrate’s 1/28/14 report and recommendations entered 

5/29/14. 

Stipulation and order to dismiss defendants Timothy J. Muir and the Muir 

Law Firm, LLC entered 9/8/14. 

Order denying settling defendants’ motion to enforce settlement entered 

7/16/14; notice of appeal filed 7/30/14; Ninth Circuit order 

dismissing appeal for lack of jurisdiction entered 10/30/14. 

Stipulated permanent injunction and monetary judgment as to defendants 

AMG Services and MNE Services, Inc. entered 1/23/15. 

16 
 

 

Stipulated permanent injunction and monetary judgment against 

defendants Troy Little Axe, Jr., Don Brady and Robert Campbell 

entered 3/17/15. 

Motion for preliminary injunction by the Commission filed 5/8/15; 

responses filed 5/26/15. 

Stipulated orders for permanent injunction and equitable monetary relief 

as to defendants Red Cedar Services, Inc. and SFS, Inc. entered 

11/25/15. 

Motion for summary judgment by Commission filed 1/20/16; defendants’ 

opposition filed 2/26/16; Commission’s reply filed 3/18/16. 

Motion for summary judgment by defendants filed 1/20/16; Commission’s 

opposition filed 2/26/16; defendants’ reply filed 3/18/16. 

Order granting Commission’s motion for summary judgment, denying 

defendants’ motion for summary judgment, and awarding 

permanent injunction and monetary relief of $1.3 billion entered 

9/30/16. 

Notice of appeal filed 11/29/16. 

Appellant’s opening brief filed 7/21/17; Commission’s answering brief 

filed 12/11/17; reply brief filed 1/16/18. 

Oral argument set for 8/15/18. 

FTC v. APPLY KNOWLEDGE, LLC, No. 2:14-cv-88 (D. Utah) 

Parties: Apply Knowledge, LLC, d/b/a Apply Knowledge Institute and Coaching 

Dept. 

 Dahm International, LLC 

 Dominion of Virgo Investments, Inc. 

 Ecommerce Support, LLC 

Essent Media, LLC 

Evertex Solutions, LLC 

 EVI LLC, d/b/a Members Learning Center 

 Nemrow Consulting, LLC

 Novus North, LLC, d/b/a Mymentoring, Yes International, LLC and 

 Your Ecommerce Support International, LLC 

Purple Buffalo, LLC, d/b/a NetMarketing 

Supplier Source, LLC 

 365 Dailyfit, LLC, d/b/a Net Training 

Vensure International 

VI Education, LLC 

David Gregory Bevan 

Jessia Bjarnson 

Phillip Edward Gannuscia 

Chad Huntsman 

 Richard Nemrow 

Jeffrey Nicol 

 Thomas Riskas 

17 
 

 

 

 Babata Sonnenberg 

Ken Sonnenberg 

Assigned Attorneys: Connell McNulty (BCP/MP) 

 Benjamin Davidson 

 Thomas Biesty

 Collot Guerard

 Michael D. Bergman (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5 and the 

Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud Abuse and Prevention Act in 

connection with work-from-home business opportunity scheme. 

Status: Complaint filed 2/10/14. 

TRO entered 2/11/14. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction and asset freeze as to defendant David 

Bevan entered 3/20/14. 

Commission’s motion to dismiss Sonnenberg defendants’ counterclaim

 filed 5/27/14; motion granted without prejudice on 1/30/15. 

Order granting Motion to Dismiss Sonnenberg defendants' counterclaim

 entered 4/9/15. 

Amended complaint filed 5/14/15. 

Notice of death of defendant Chad Huntsman filed 6/9/15. 

Permanent injunction and monetary judgment as to David Bevan entered 

6/24/15. 

Stipulated settlement order as to defendants Apply Knowledge, Evertex 

Solutions, Suppler Source, and Ken Sonnenberg entered 2/17/16. 

Stipulated settlement order as to defendant VI Education LLC entered 

7/21/16. 

Commission’s motion for summary judgment against remaining corporate 

defendants and remaining individual defendants filed 12/5/16; 

opposition filed 5/27/17; reply filed 6/30/17; oral argument held 

12/12/17. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment as to 

defendants Dahm International LLC; Dominion of Virgo 

Investments Inc.; Essent Media LLC; EVI LLC; Nemrow 

Consulting LLC; Novus North LLC; Purple Buffalo LLC; 

365DailyFit LLC; Vensure International LLC; Jessica Bjarnson; 

Phillip Edward Gannuscia II; Richard Scott Nemrow; Jeffrey 

Nicol; and Thomas J. Riskas IIII entered 4/27/18. 

Final judgment and order for permanent injunction and monetary 

judgment as to eCommerce Support LLC entered 4/30/18. 

FTC v. AT&T MOBILITY LLC, No. 15-16585 (9th Cir.); No. 3:14-cv-4785 (N.D. Cal.) 

Parties: AT&T Mobility, LLC 

18 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Assigned Attorneys: Evan Rose (WRSF) 

Matthew D. Gold 

 Laura Fremont 

Emily Burton 

Maricela Segura (WRLA) 

 Joel Marcus (OGC) 

 Matthew Hoffman 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive and unfair acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the 

 FTC Act in connection with the marketing of wireless broadband internet 

 access service for smartphones. 

Status: Complaint filed 10/28/14. 

 Motion to dismiss by AT&T Mobility filed 1/5/15. 

Order denying motion to dismiss entered 3/31/15. 

AT&T Mobility’s motion for leave to take interlocutory appeal filed 

 4/9/15; Commission’s response filed 4/23/15; AT&T Mobility’s

 reply filed 4/30/15. 

Order granting AT&T Mobility’s motion to appeal entered 5/15/15. 

Petition to Ninth Circuit for permission to appeal by AT&T Mobility filed 

 5/26/15; Commission’s response filed 6/8/15. 

Order granting interlocutory review entered 8/10/15. 

Motion to stay pending appeal filed 8/18/15. 

Stay denied 9/25/15. 

Appellant’s opening brief filed 11/18/15; Commission’s answering brief 

 filed 2/3/16; Appellant’s reply brief filed 2/22/16. 

Oral argument heard 6/17/16. 

Opinion reversing the district court and ordering that the Commission’s 

complaint be dismissed entered 8/29/16. 

 Commission’s petition for rehearing en banc filed 10/13/16; 

AT&T’s response filed 11/8/16; petition granted 5/9/17. 

 Oral argument held 9/19/17. 

En banc opinion affirming district court’s denial of AT&T’s motion to 

dismiss and remanding for further proceedings entered 2/26/18. 

FTC v. AWS, LLC, No. 2:18-cv-442 (D. Nev.) 

Parties: Adam S. Bowser 

Christopher F. Bowser 

Jeffrey A. Gomez 

Jody L. Marshall 

Adams Consulting, LLC 

AWS, LLC 

FBA Distributors, LLC 

FBA Stores, LLC 

19 
 

 

 

 

Global Marketing Services LLC 

Info Pros, LLC 

Info Solutions, LLC 

Online Auction Learning Center, Inc. (Mass. Corp.) 

Online Auction Learning Center, Inc. (Nev. Corp.) 

Assigned Attorneys: Roberto Anguizola (BCP/MP) 

Miry Kim 

Gregory Evans 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act and 

the Business Opportunity Rule by, among other things: making false or 

unsubstantiated earnings claims regarding defendants’ business 

opportunities; and failing to furnish prospective purchasers of defendants’ 

business opportunities with the required disclosure documents. 

Status: Complaint filed 3/12/18. 

 TRO entered 3/14/18. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment as to 

defendants AWS, LLC, FBA Distributors, LLC, FBA Stores, LLC, 

Info Pros, LLC, Info Solutions, LLC, Online Auction Learning 

Center, Inc. (Mass. Corp.), and Online Auction Learning Center, 

Inc. (Nev. Corp.), Christopher F. Bowser, Adam S. Bowser, and 

Jody L. Marshall entered 6/15/18. 

FTC v. BLUE SAGUARO MARKETING, LLC, No. 2:16-cv-3406 (D. Ariz.) 

Parties: Blue Saguaro, LLC d/b/a Blue Saguaro Grant Program, Gera Grant, 

 Government Grant Service, Grant Center, Grant Resources 

 Marketing Ways, LLC d/b/a Amazon.com Associates Program

 Max Results Marketing, LLC d/b/a Amazon.com Associates Program, 

 Amazon Affiliate Program, Amazon Associates Central, Gera 

Grant, Grant Strategy Solutions 

Oro Canyon Marketing II, LLC 

 Paramount Business Services, LLC d/b/a Paramount Business Resources 

Stephanie A. Bateluna 

Stacey C. Vela 

Carl E. Morris, Jr. 

Assigned Attorneys: Elsie Kappler (BCP/ENF)

 Hong Park 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act 

 and the Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with the sale and 

 offering for sale of grants and home-based internet business 

opportunities. 

20 
 

 

 

 

 

Status: Complaint filed 10/7/16. 

Ex parte TRO entered 10/11/16. 

Order extending ex parte TRO entered 10/25/16. 

 Preliminary injunction as to defendants Blue Saguaro, Marketing Ways, 

 Max Results Marketing, Oro Canyon Marketing, Paramount 

 Business Services, Carl Morris, Jr., and Stephanie Bateluna 

entered 10/28/16. 

 Clerk’s entry of default as to Blue Saguaro, Marketing Ways, Max 

 Results Marketing, and Oro Canyon entered 11/28/16. 

 Order granting joint motion to stay case for 75 days entered 7/26/17; 

order lifting stay entered 10/16/17. 

 Stipulated orders for permanent injunctions and monetary judgments as 

to defendants Stephanie A. Bateluna, Paramount Business 

Services, LLC, Stacey A. Vela entered 8/11/17.

 Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment as to 

defendant Carl E. Morris, Jr. entered 8/30/17. 

Motion for default judgment as to defendants Blue Saguaro Marketing 

LLC, Marketing Ways.com LLC, Max Results Marketing LLC, 

and Oro Canyon Marketing II LLC filed 9/12/17. 

FTC v. BLUEHIPPO FUNDING, LLC, Nos. 11-374, 16-1599, 17-1587, 17-669 (2d Cir.); No. 

1:08-cv-1819 (S.D.N.Y.) 

Parties: BlueHippo Funding, LLC 

BlueHippo Capital LLC 

Joseph K. Rensin 

Assigned Attorneys: Amanda C. Basta (BCP/ENF) 

Michael D. Bergman (OGC) 

Michele Arington 

Imad Dean Abyad 

Alleged Conduct: Contempt proceeding for violations of a permanent injunction in 

connection with the sale of personal computers, televisions, and other 

consumer electronics. 

Status: Complaint filed 2/22/08. 

Stipulated final judgment and order for permanent injunction entered 

4/9/08. 

Motions for contempt and to modify permanent injunction against 

BlueHippo Funding, LLC, BlueHippo Capital LLC, and Joseph K. 

Rensin filed 11/17/09. 

 Order to show cause why defendants should not be held in contempt 

entered 11/16/09; modified 11/18/09. 

Defendants’ memoranda of law filed 12/7/09 and 12/11/09; Commission’s 

21 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reply memoranda of law filed 12/11/09 and 12/12/09. 

Trial held 2/9/10-2/11/10; closing argument held 2/19/10. 

Order granting motion for contempt entered 7/27/10; judgment entered 

7/30/10. 

Commission’s motion to amend/correct judgment and order filed 8/27/10; 

defendants’ opposition filed 9/24/10; Commission’s reply filed 

10/8/10. 

Order denying Commission’s motion to amend/correct judgment and order 

entered 12/1/10. 

Commission’s notice of appeal re contempt order filed 1/28/11. 

Notice of appeal filed 2/1/11. 

Commission’s brief filed 5/16/11. 

Appellee’s brief filed 8/15/11. 

Commission’s reply brief filed 9/12/11. 

Argument held 2/23/12. 

Opinion vacating the district court’s judgment and remanding the case to 

the district court entered 8/12/14. 

 Appellee Joseph Rensin’s petition for rehearing filed 9/25/14. 

 Order denying Joseph Rensin’s petition for rehearing entered 11/17/14. 

Oral argument before the district court concerning applicability of 

presumption of reliance held 6/4/15. 

 Opinion and order ruling that Commission is entitled to presumption of 

consumer reliance entered 11/6/15. 

 Final judgment imposing compensatory contempt sanctions entered 

4/19/16. 

Notice of appeal by Rensin filed 5/18/16. 

Appellant’s opening brief filed 8/29/16; Commission’s answering brief 

 filed 11/28/16; appellant’s reply brief filed 12/9/16. 

Suggestion of bankruptcy and automatic stay by Rensin filed 2/15/17; 

 Commission’s opposition filed 2/16/17; reply filed 2/27/17. 

Order rejecting application of automatic bankruptcy stay entered 3/6/17. 

Notice of appeal filed 3/7/17. 

 Motion to stay contempt proceeding pending appeal filed 3/10/17; 

 Commission’s opposition filed 3/23/17; reply filed 3/29/17; 

 temporary stay entered 3/27/17; motion for stay granted 5/2/17. 

 District court order finding defendant Rensin in contempt, but staying 

 order due to appeals court’s temporary stay order entered 3/28/17. 

Second Circuit opinion affirming district court judgment imposing 

compensatory contempt sanctions entered 4/12/17. 

Notice of appeal of 3/28/17 order filed by Joseph Rensin on 5/16/17; order 

holding appeal in abeyance entered 5/31/17. 

Appellant’s opening brief (No. 17-669) filed 4/10/17; Commission’s 

answering brief filed 6/9/17; reply brief filed 7/6/17. 

Oral argument heard on 2/15/18. 

Supplemental briefs filed 2/19/18. 

22 
 

 

 

FTC v. BUNZAI MEDIA GROUP, Nos. 2:17-cv-08374, 2:15-cv-4527 (C.D. Cal.) 

Parties: Bunzai Media Group, Inc., d/b/a Aura Vie, Miracle Face Kit, 

 Attitude Cosmetics 

 Pinnacle Logistics, Inc.

 DSA Holdings, Inc. 

 Lifestyle Media Brands, Inc. 

 Agoa Holdings, Inc. 

 Zen Mobile Media, Inc. 

 Safehaven Ventures, Inc. 

 Heritage Alliance Group, Inc.

 AMD Financial Network, Inc. 

 SBM Management, Inc. 

 Media Urge, Inc. 

 Adageo, LLC 

 Calenergy, Inc. 

 Kai Media, Inc. 

 Insight Media, Inc. 

 Alon Nottea 

 Motti Nottea

 Doron Nottea 

 Igor Latsanovski 

 Oz Mizrahi 

 Roi Reuveni 

 Kristopher Bond 

 Charlene C. Koonce 

 Focus Media Solutions, Inc.

 Secured Commerce, LLC 

 Secured Merchants, LLC 

 USM Products, Inc. 

 Merchant Leverage Group 

 DMA Media Holdings, Inc. 

 Shalita Holdings, Inc. 

All Star Beauty Products, Inc. 

 Alan Argaman 

 Paul Medina 

 Chargeback Armor, Inc. (relief defendant) 

Assigned Attorneys: Reid Tepfer (SWR) 

Luis Gallegos 

Raymond McKown 

Burke Kappler (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act, 

the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act, and the Electronic Fund 

Transfer Act. 

23 
 

 

 

 

Status: Complaint filed 6/15/15. 

TRO entered 6/16/15. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction as to Oz Mizrahi entered 7/23/15. 

Preliminary injunction as to Alon Nottea and Roi Reveni entered 7/23/15. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction as to Doran Nottea and Motti Nottea

 entered 7/24/15. 

Order that TRO will continue as to defendants Calenergy, 

 Inc. and Igor Latsanovski entered 8/6/15. 

Default as to Adageo, LLC, Agoa Holdings, Inc, Bunzai Media Group, 

 Inc, also doing business as Aura Vie doing business as Miracle Face 

 Kit doing business as Attitude Cosmetics., DSA Holdings, Inc., 

 Heritage Alliance Group, also doing business as Aura Vie 

 Distribution, Inc, Insight Media, Inc., Kai Media, Inc., Lifestyle 

 Media Brands, Inc, Media Urge, Inc, Safehaven Ventures, Inc, SBM 

 Management, Inc, and Zen Mobile Media, Inc. entered by the clerk 

8/13/15. 

Preliminary injunction as to defendants Igor Latsanovski and Calenergy, 

Inc. entered 9/9/15. 

Amended complaint filed 10/9/15. 

Protective Order entered 2/8/16. 

Motion for summary judgment by defendants Igor Latsanovski and 

Calenergy, Inc. filed 4/18/16. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment as to 

Defendants Oz Mizrahi, Motti Nottea, and Paul Median entered 

5/17/16. 

 Commission’s motion for partial summary judgment filed 6/6/16. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment as to 

defendant Roi Reuveni entered 7/19/16. 

Default judgment and order for permanent injunction and other equitable 

relief as to defendants Bunzai Media Group, Inc., Pinnacle 

Logistics, Inc., DSA Holdings, Inc., Lifestyle Media Brands, Inc., 

Agoa Holdings, Inc., Safehaven Ventures, Inc., Heritage Alliance 

Group, Inc., SBM Management, Inc., Media Urge, Inc., Kai 

Media, Inc., Insight Media, Inc., Secured Commerce, LLC, 

Secured Commerce, LLC, Shalita Holdings, Inc., USM Products, 

Inc., All Star Beauty Products, Inc., AMD Financial Network, Inc., 

DMA Media Holdings, Inc., Focus Media Solutions, Inc., and 

Merchant Leverage Group, Inc. entered 8/22/16. 

 Commission’s renewed motion for summary judgment as to defendants 

Alan Argaman and Secured Merchants, LLC filed 9/19/16. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary relief as to 

defendants Adageo, LLC, Calenergy, Inc., Zen Mobile Media, Inc., 

Alon Nottea, Doron Nottea, and Igor Latsanovski entered 9/26/16. 

Clerk’s entry of default as to Khristopher Bond entered 1/27/17. 

Motion for default judgment as to Khristopher Bond filed 6/14/17. 

Default judgement and order for permanent injunction and other equitable 

24 
relief as to defendant Kristopher Bond entered 7/27/17. 

Notice of bankruptcy petition (No. 1:17-bk-12058) by defendant Secured 

Merchants, LLC, and automatic stay entered 8/3/17. 

Commission’s motion for order to determine that automatic 

bankruptcy stay has no effect on its enforcement action filed 

8/28/17; opposition to Commission’s motion filed 9/9/17; 

Commission’s reply in support of its motion filed 9/15/17. 

Defendant Secured Merchants, LLC’s motion in bankruptcy case for 

sanctions against the Commission for violating the automatic stay 

filed 9/2/17; Commission’s response filed 9/13/17; defendant’s 

reply filed 9/19/17; bankruptcy court’s order denying defendant’s 

motion entered 10/2/17. 

Notice of appeal to bankruptcy appellate panel (BAP) filed 10/13/17; 

Commission’s statement of election to have defendant’s appeal 

heard by U.S. district court rather than by BAP filed 11/1/17; 

notice of transfer of appeal to district court (No. 2:17-cv-8374) 

entered 11/20/2017. 

Stipulation to dismiss bankruptcy appeal filed 4/19/18; order dismissing 

appeal entered 4/25/18. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary relief as to 

Defendants Argaman and Secured Merchants, LLC entered 

6/27/2018. 

FTC v. CELLMARK BIOPHARMA, LLC, No. 2:18-cv-014 (M.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Cellmark Biopharma, LLC 

Derek E. Vest 

Attorneys: Carolyn Hann (BCP/AP) 

Edwin Rodriguez 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Sections 5(a) and 12 of the FTC 

Act in connection with the advertising and sale of health products 

marketed to cancer patients experiencing malnutrition and cognitive 

dysfunction. 

Status: Complaint filed 1/9/18. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction entered 1/12/18. 

Judgment in favor of the Commission entered 2/27/18. 

FTC v. CONSUMER DEFENSE, LLC, No. 18-15462 (9th Cir.); No. 2:18-cv-030 (D. Nev.) 

Parties: Consumer Defense, LLC 

Consumer Link, Inc. 

Preferred Law, PLLC 

American Home Loan Counselors 

25 
Consumer Defense Group, LLC (formerly known as Modification Review 

Board, LLC) 

Consumer Defense, LLC 

Brown Legal, Inc. 

AM Property Management, LLC 

Fmg Partners, LLC 

Zinly, LLC 

Jonathan P. Hanley 

Benjamin R Horton 

Sandra X Hanley 

American Home Loans, LLC 

Assigned Attorneys: Adam Wesolowski (BCP/FP) 

Gregory Ashe 

Imad Abyad (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

the Mortgage Assistance Relief Service Rule in connection with the 

marketing and sale of mortgage assistance relief. 

Status: Complaint filed 1/8/18. 

TRO entered 1/10/18. 

Preliminary injunction entered 2/20/18. 

Defendant Benjamin R Horton’s motion to dismiss filed 1/22/18; 

Commission’s response to motion filed 2/5/18; reply filed 2/15/18; 

motion denied 6/7/18 

Defendants AM Property Management, LLC, American Home Loan 

Counselors, American Home Loans, LLC, Brown Legal, Inc, 

Consumer Defense Group, LLC, Consumer Defense, LLC, FMG 

Partners, LLC, Jonathan P. Hanley, Sandra X Hanley, Prefered 

Law, PLLC, Zinly, LLC’s motions to dismiss filed 2/12/18; 

Commission’s responses to motions filed 2/26/18; replies filed 

3/5/18; motion denied 6/7/18. 

Notice of appeal of preliminary injunction filed 03/21/18. 

Appellants’ opening brief filed 4/18/18; Commission’s answering brief 

filed 5/16/18; reply brief filed 6/6/18. 

Order granting stipulated consent judgment for permanent injunction and 

monetary judgment as to defendant Benjamin Horton entered 

6/5/18. 

Ninth Circuit oral argument scheduled for 9/14/18. 

FTC v. CONSUMER HEALTH BENEFITS ASS’N, No. 1:10-CV-3551 (E.D.N.Y.) 

Parties: Consumer Health Benefits Association John Schwartz 

Jeffery Burman Barbara Taube 

Century Senior Services Rita B. Werner 

26 
 

 

Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Ronald K. Werner 

Richard Holson III Vantage America Solutions 

Louis Leo Windi Tow 

National Association for Americans 

National Benefits Consultants, LLC 

National Benefits Solutions, LLC 

Assigned Attorneys: Karen Dahlberg O’Connell (NER) 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5 and the 

Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with defendants’ marketing, 

distribution, and sale of medical discount plans. 

Status: Complaint filed 8/03/10. 

Stipulation and order modifying ex parte TRO as to defendant Louis Leo 

entered 8/25/10. 

Stipulation and order modifying ex parte TRO as to defendants Ron 

Werner and Rita Werner entered 8/25/10. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction order as to defendant Louis J. Leo 

entered 9/21/10. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendants Ron Werner and Rita 

Werner entered 10/01/10. 

Preliminary injunction as to corporate defendants entered 10/5/10. 

Clerk’s entry of default as to corporate defendants 11/15/10. 

Stipulation and order modifying the preliminary injunction order as to 

defendants Louis Leo, Rita and Ronald Werner entered 3/31/11. 

Commission’s motion for leave to amend complaint naming additional 

defendants filed 5/06/11; magistrate judge’s decision granting 

motion entered 8/18/11. 

Appeals of magistrate judge’s decision by proposed defendants filed 

9/06/11. 

Commission’s amended complaint filed 10/13/11. 

Motions to dismiss by filed 11/22/11; Commission’s response in 

opposition filed 12/13/11. 

Orders denying all motions to dismiss entered 5/23/12 & 5/24/12. 

Commission’s motion for summary judgment filed 7/23/2013; opposition 

by John Schwartz and Wendi Tow filed 8/30/13 and 11/7/13; 

partial oppositions by Rita Brum Werner, Ronald Kent Werner, 

Jeffrey Burman, Century Senior Services, Guarantee Trust Life 

Insurance Company, Richard Holson, III, Barbara Taube, Vantage 

America Solutions, Inc. filed 11/6/13; cross-motions for summary 

judgment by Rita Werner, GTL, Vantage, Century, Rick Holson, 

Jeff Burman, and Barbara Taube filed 9/4/13, 9/5/13 and 9/6/13. 

 Order granting motion by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to modify 

 the stipulated order of preliminary injunction entered 12/5/13. 

27 
 

 

FTC v. CREDIT BUREAU CENTER, LLC, No. 1:17-cv-194 (N.D. Ill.) 

Parties: Credit Bureau Center, LLC, f/k/a MyScore, LLC d/b/a efreescore.com, 

credit updates.com, and freecreditnation.com 

 Michael Brown 

 Danny Pierce 

 Andrew Lloyd 

Assigned Attorneys: Guy Ward (MWR)

 Douglas McKenney 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, 

the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act, and the Fair Credit 

Reporting Act in connection with the marketing of credit monitoring 

services. 

Status: Complaint filed 1/10/17. 

Ex parte TRO entered 1/11/17. 

 Stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendants Danny Pierce and 

Andrew Lloyd entered 2/8/17. 

 Stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendants Michael Brown and 

Credit Bureau Center entered 2/21/17. 

 Order finding defendant Michael Brown in civil contempt entered 6/28/17. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment as to 

defendants Danny Pierce and Andrew Lloyd entered 10/26/17. 

Commission’s motion for summary judgment against remaining 

defendants Michael Brown and Credit Bureau Center, LLC filed 

3/2/18; defendants’ response filed 3/12/18; order granting motion 

for summary judgment entered 6/26/18. 

FTC v. DIGITAL ALTITUDE LLC, No. 2:18-cv-729 (C.D. Cal.) 

Parties: Digital Altitude LLC 

Digital Altitude Limited 

Aspire Processing LLC 

Aspire Processing Limited 

Aspire Ventures Ltd 

Disc Enterprises Inc. 

RISE Systems & Enterprise LLC, a Utah LLC 

RISE Systems & Enterprise LLC, a Nevada LLC 

Soar International Limited Liability Company 

The Upside, LLC 

Thermography for Life, LLC d/b/a Living Exceptionally, Inc. 

Michael Force 

Mary Dee 

Morgan Johnson 

28 
Alan Moore 

Sean Brown 

Assigned Attorneys: Andrew Hudson (BCP/MP) 

Jody Goodman 

Laura Basford 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act in 

connection with the marketing, advertising, promotion, and sale of an 

online business-coaching scheme. 

Status: Complaint filed 1/29/18. 

Stipulated preliminary injunctions against defendants Sean Brown, 

Morgan Johnson, and Alan Moore entered 3/1/18. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction against defendant The Upside, LLC 

entered 3/6/18. 

Preliminary injunction against defendants Michael Force, Mary Dee, 

Thermography For Life, and Digital Attitude entered 3/9/18. 

Stay to allow Commission approval of proposed settlements with 

defendants The Upside, LLC and Morgan Johnson entered 5/3/18. 

Motion for default judgements against corporate defendants filed 5/14/18 

Application for court approval of stipulated final orders for permanent 

injunction and monetary judgment against defendants The Upside 

LLC and Morgan Johnson filed 6/29/18. 

FTC v. DIRECTV, INC., No. 4:15-cv-1129 (N.D. Cal.) 

Parties: DirecTV, Inc. 

DirecTV, LLC 

Assigned Attorneys: Eric D. Edmondson (WRSF) 

Boris Yankilovich 

 Erika R. Wodinsky 

 Stacy R. Procter (WRLA) 

 Kenneth Abbe 

 Faye Chen Barnouw 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violations of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act 

and Section 4 of the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act in 

connection with the marketing of multi-channel video programming 

subscription service. 

Status: Complaint filed 3/11/15. 

 Motion for partial summary judgment by DirecTV filed 10/13/15; 

Commission’s response filed 11/24/15; DirecTV’s reply filed 

1/25/16. 

29 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Oral argument on defendants’ partial motion for summary judgment held 

3/4/16. 

Commission’s motion for partial summary judgment filed 9/22/16; order 

 granting in part and denying in part partial motion for summary 

 judgment entered 11/26/16. 

Defendants’ motion to dismiss, and alternatively, for partial summary 

 judgment filed 12/01/16; Commission’s response filed 12/26/16; 

 motion denied 12/27/16. 

 Trial conducted 8/14/17-8/29/17. 

Defendants DIRECTV and DIRECTV, LLC’s motion for judgment 

pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(c) filed 9/11/17; Commission’s 

opposition filed 9/25/17. 

FTC v. D-LINK SYSTEMS, INC., No. 3:17-cv-039 (N.D. Cal.) 

Parties: D-Link Systems, Inc. 

Assigned Attorneys: Kevin Moriarty (BCP/DPIP) 

Cathlin Tully 

Jarad Brown 

Katherine McCarron 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act 

 in connection with the design, marketing, and sale of routers and internet 

 protocol cameras. 

Status: Complaint filed 1/5/17. 

 Motion to dismiss filed 1/31/17; Commission’s opposition filed 2/14/17; 

 reply filed 2/14/17; order granting in part and denying in part 

 entered 9/19/17. 

 D-Link Corporation’s motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction filed 

4/3/17; Commission’s opposition filed 4/17/17; reply filed 4/24. 

 Stipulated order dismissing D-Link Corporation without prejudice 

entered 5/15/17. 

 Trial set for 1/14/19. 

FTC v. DLUCA, No. 0:18-cv-60379 (S.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Thomas Dluca 

Louis Gatto 

Eric Pinkston 

Scott Chandler 

Assigned Attorneys: Jason Moon (SWR) 

M. Hasan Aijaz 

30 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Nature of Action: Deceptive cryptocurrency chain referral scheme and earnings 

representations in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act. 

Status: Complaint filed 2/20/18. 

TRO entered 3/12/18. 

Preliminary injunction as to defendants Dluca, Gatto, and Chandler 

entered 4/16/18. 

Defendants Chandler and Gatto’s motion to dismiss filed 4/19/18 

Stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendant Pinkston entered 

4/20/18. 

Motion for order to show cause why defendant Dluca should not be held 

in contempt filed 6/14/18. 

FTC v. DOTAUTHORITY.COM, INC., No. 0:16-cv-62186 (S.D. Fla.) 

Parties: DOTAuthority.com, Inc. d/b/a On-line Registration 

 DOTFilings.com, Inc. 

Excelsior Enterprises International, Inc. d/b/a DOTFilings.com, UCR 

 Registration, UCR Filings, James P. Lamb & Associates 

 JPL Enterprises International, Inc. d/b/a DOTAuthority.com, 

 DOTFilings.com, On-line Registration, Registration Services 

 Online, James P. Lamb & Associates 

 James P. Lamb 

Uliana Bogash a/k/a Juliana Bogash, Yuliana Bogash, Yana Bogash, 

Uliana Vogash 

Assigned Attorneys: Collot Guerard (BCP/MP) 

Connell McNulty 

Melissa Dickey 

Emily Wu 

Karen Hobbs 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act and 

 Section 4 of the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act in connection 

 with the use of deceptive marketing methods and sales tactics to trick 

 consumers into paying Defendants for so-called registration services. 

Status: Complaint filed 9/13/16. 

Ex parte TRO entered 9/19/16. 

Preliminary injunction hearing held 9/19/16. 

 Preliminary injunction entered 9/29/16. 

 Final stipulated judgment as to all parties entered 4/13/18. 

31 
FTC v. ELECTRONIC PAYMENT SOLUTIONS OF AMERICA, INC., No. 2:17-cv-2535 (D. 

Ariz) 

Parties: Electronic Payment Solutions of America, Inc. 

Electronic Payment Services, Inc. 

KMA Merchant Services, LLC 

Dynasty Merchants, LLC 

Jay Wigdore 

Michael Abelmesseh aka Michael Stewart 

Nikolas Mihilli 

Electronic Payment Systems, LLC 

Electronic Payment Transfer, LLC 

John Dorsey 

Thomas McCann 

Michael Peterson 

Assigned Attorneys: Bikram Bandy (BCP/MP) 

Karen Hobbs 

Michelle Chua 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with telemarketing 

scheme that told consumers they could earn thousands of dollars by 

lending money to small businesses. 

Status: Complaint filed 7/28/17. 

First amended complaint filed 3/9/18. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment against 

defendants KMA Merchant Services LLC and Michael 

Abdelmesseh entered 6/13/18. 

FTC v. EMP MEDIA, INC., No. 2:18-cv-035 (D. Nev.) 

Parties: EMP Media, Inc., also d/b/a as MyEx.com, Post My Ad, T&A Media, or 

Internet Secrets 

Aniello Infante 

Shad Applegate, a/k/a Shad Cotelli 

One Or More Unknown Parties d/b/a Yeicox Ltd. 

Nevada (Plaintiff) 

Assigned Attorneys: Megan Cox (BCP/DPIP) 

Allison Lefrak 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive and unfair practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act 

and in violation of state law in connection with the posting of intimate 

32 
 

 

 

images of people, together with their personal information, without their 

consent. 

Status: Complaint filed 1/9/18. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment as to 

defendant Aniello Infante entered 1/10/18. 

Motion for default judgment against defendants EMP Media, Inc. and 

Shad Applegate filed 6/14/18; motion granted and final order for 

permanent injunction and monetary judgment entered 6/18/18. 

FTC v. FEDERAL CHECK PROCESSING, INC., Nos. 16-3805, 16-3811 (2nd Cir.); No. 1:14-

cv-122 (W.D.N.Y.) 

Parties: Federal Check Processing, Inc. 

Federal Recoveries, LLC

 Federal Processing Services, Inc. 

Federal Processing, Inc. 

United Check Processing , Inc. 

Central Check Processing, Inc. 

Central Processing Services, Inc. 

 Nationwide Check Processing, Inc. 

 American Check Processing, Inc. 

State Check Processing, Inc. 

Check Processing, Inc. 

US Check Processing, Inc. 

 Flowing Streams, F.S., Inc. 

Mark Briandi 

 William Moses 

Empowered Racing, LLC, Relief Defendant 

Assigned Attorneys: Katherine M. Worthman (BCP/FP) 

 Colin A. Hector 

Michele Arington (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5 and the Fair Debt 

Collection Practices Act in connection with debt collection operation. 

Status: Complaint filed 2/24/14. 

Ex parte TRO entered 3/24/14. 

 Stipulated preliminary injunction entered 3/25/14. 

 Motion for summary judgment by Commission filed 8/27/15; opposition 

by William Moses filed 11/4/15; opposition by Mark Briandi filed

 12/3/15; Commission’s reply filed 1/12/16. 

 Order granting Commission’s motion for summary judgment entered 

8/12/16. 

Judgment and permanent injunction entered 10/13/16. 

33 
 

 

 

 

Notices of appeal filed 11/8/16. 

Briandi’s opening brief filed 5/24/17; Commission’s brief filed 8/23/17; 

submission to panel without argument set for 10/3/18. 

FTC v. GENIUS TECHS. LLC, No. 3:18-cv-1096 (N.D. Cal.) 

Parties: Genius Technologies, LLC 

Avangatee Services, LLC 

Parmjit Singh Brar 

Assigned Attorneys: Sophia Calderon (NWR) 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive and unfair acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the 

FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with the 

advertising, marketing, and sale of tech support services. 

Status: Complaint filed 2/21/18. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment against 

defendant Parmjit Singh Brar entered 6/20/18. 

FTC v. GERBER PRODUCTS, CO., No. 2:14-cv-6771 (D. N.J.) 

Parties: Gerber Products Co., d/b/a Nestle Nutrition, d/b/a Nestle Infant Nutrition, 

 d/b/a Nestle Nutrition North America 

Assigned Attorneys: Victor V. DeFrancis (BCP/AP) 

Michelle K. Rusk 

Ella Krainsky 

Andrew David Wone 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Sections 5(a) and 12 of the 

FTC Act in connection with the marketing of an infant formula purporting 

to prevent allergies. 

Status: Complaint filed 10/29/14. 

 Case stayed until 2/25/16. 

 Order extending stay of case entered 3/1/16. 

Final pretrial conference set for 1/16/19. 

FTC v. GLOBAL ACCESS TECHNICAL SUPPORT, No. 4:16-cv-1556 (E.D. Mo.) 

Parties: Global Access Technical Support, LLC d/b/a Global S Connect, Yubdata 

 Tech, Technolive 

Global SMind, LLC d/b/a Global S Connect 

Source Pundit LLC d/b/a OneSource Tech Support 

 Helios Digital Media LLC 

34 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 VGlobal Ites Private Limited 

Digicare Desk LLC 

 Rajiv Chhatwal 

 Rupinder Kaur 

 Neeraj Dubey 

 Harinder Singh 

Assigned Attorneys: Elizabeth Scott (MWR) 

 Samantha Gordon 

 Douglas McKenney 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act in 

 connection with a telemarketing scheme that deceives consumers into 

 purchasing unnecessary technical support or computer security services. 

Status: Complaint filed 10/3/16. 

Ex parte TRO entered 10/4/16. 

Order extending ex parte TRO with asset freeze, appointment of a receiver 

 and other equitable relief as to defendants Global SMind, 

 Neeraj Dubey, and VGlobal Ites Private Limited entered 

10/14/16. 

 Preliminary injunction as to defendants Neeraj Dubey, Global SMind, and 

VGlobal Ites Private Limited entered 10/28/16. 

 Stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendants Rupinder Kaur, Rajiv 

 Chhatwal, Global Access Technical Support, Source Pundit, and 

 Helios Digital Media entered 11/15/16. 

 Amended complaint filed 12/20/16. 

 Stipulated permanent injunction as to defendants Rupinder Kaur and 

 Harinder Singh entered 6/2/17. 

 Stipulated permanent injunction as to defendants Rajiv Chhatwal, Global 

 Access Technical Support, Source Pundit, Helios Digital 

Media, and Digicare Desk entered 6/6/17. 

Clerk’s entry of default as to defendant Global SMind entered 6/7/17. 

Motion for clerk’s entry of default as to defendants Neeraj Dubey and 

VGlobal Ites Private Limited filed 6/30/17. 

Default judgment and permanent injunction as to defendants Global 

SMind, LLC, Neeraj Dubey, and VGlobal ITES Private Limited 

entered 7/27/17. 

FTC v. GLOBAL CONCEPTS LTD., INC., No. 0:18-cv-60990 (S.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Global Concepts Limited, Inc. d/b/a Global TV Concepts, Ltd. 

GCL Product Holdings LLC 

MSA 30X LLC 

Laurie Braden 

35 
 

Assigned Attorneys: Michael Davis (DAP) 

Kristin Williams 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Sections 5(a) and 12 of the FTC 

Act in connection with the labeling, advertising, and sale of MSA 30X, a 

wearable sound amplifier product. 

Status: Complaint filed 5/2/18. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment entered 

5/4/18. 

FTC v. GLOBAL PROCESSING SOLUTIONS, LLC, No. 1:17-cv-4192 (N.D. Ga.) 

Parties: Global Processing Solutions, LLC 

Intrinsic Solutions, LLC 

North Center Collections, Inc. 

Diverse Financial Enterprises, Inc. 

American Credit Adjuster, LLC 

Advanced Mediation Group, LLC 

Apex National Services, LLC 

Capital Security Investments, LLC 

Mitchell & Maxwell, LLC 

Mirage Distribution, LLC 

Lamar Snow 

Glentis Wallace aka Glen Wallace 

Jahaan McDuffie 

Assigned Attorneys: Colin Hector (BCP/FP) 

Patrick Roy 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in connection with the collection of 

consumer debt. 

Status: Complaint filed 10/23/17. 

Ex Parte TRO entered 10/23/17. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendants Global Processing 

Solutions, LLC, Intrinsic Solutions, LLC, North Center 

Collections, Inc., Capital Security Investments, LLC, Diverse 

Financial Enterprises, Inc., LLC, Lamar Snow, Jahaan McDuffie, 

and Glentis Wallace entered 11/15/17. 

Unopposed preliminary injunction as to defendants American Credit 

Adjusters, LLC, Advanced Mediation Group, LLC, Apex National 

Services, LLC, Mitchell & MaxweU, LLC, and Mirage 

Distribution, LLC entered 11/17/17. 

36 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Order granting Commission’s motion to stay for 120 days pending final 

settlement entered 5/21/18. 

FTC v. HARDCO HOLDING GROUP LLC, No. 6:17-cv-1257 (M.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Hardco Holding Group LLC 

S & H Financial Group, Inc. 

 Daryl M. Hall 

 Dequan M. Sicard 

Assigned Attorneys: Gregory A. Ashe (BCP/FP) 

 Quinn Martin 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act 

and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in connection with misleading 

and abusive debt collection practices. 

Status: Complaint filed 07/10/17.

 TRO entered 07/17/17. 

 Stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendants 

Hardco Holding Group LLC. S&H Financial Group Inc., and Daryl 

 Hall entered 7/25/17. 

 Preliminary injunction against defendant Dequan Sicard entered 07/25/17. 

Commission motion for the clerk to enter default against Dequan Sicard 

 filed 10/05/17; order granting motion for entered 10/05/17; 

clerk’s entry of default entered 10/06/17. 

Joint motion to stay the case for 120 days to consider settlement as to 

 defendants Hardco Holding Group LLC, S&H Financial Group 

Inc., and Daryl Hall filed 10/16/17; order granting in part motion 

 and dismissing with prejudice entered 11/16/17. 

Motion to enter final order for permanent injunction and settlement of 

 claims as to defendants Hardco Holding Group LLC, S&H 

 Financial Group Inc, and Daryl Hall filed 11/29/17; order granting 

 motion entered 12/05/17. 

Motion for default judgment against defendant Dequan Sicard filed 

 11/22/17; order denying without prejudice motion entered 

 12/07/17; second motion default judgment filed 12/07/17; 

magistrate judge’s report and recommendation that motion be 

 granted entered 12/08/17; order adopting recommendations as to 

second motion for default entered 1/23/18. 

Motion for relief from judgment and order for permanent injunction by 

 defendant Dequan M. Sicard filed 12/26/17; response in opposition 

 filed 1/9/18; order denying motion entered 1/23/18. 

37 
FTC v. HEALTH RESEARCH LABORATORIES LLC, No. 2:17-cv-467 (D. Me.) 

Parties: Health Research Laboratories LLC 

Kramer Duhon 

Assigned Attorneys: Elizabeth K. Nach (BCP/AP) 

James A. Prunty 

Nature of Action: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Sections 5(a) and 12 of the FTC 

Act, the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, and the Electronic Fund 

Transfer Act and its implementing regulation in connection with the 

marketing and sale of products that purported to cause weight loss; and 

treat arthritis, joint and back pain, and memory loss. 

Status: Complaint filed 11/30/17. 

Joint motion for entry of stipulated final judgment and order permanent 

injunction and other equitable relief filed 11/30/17. 

Stipulated final judgment and order for permanent injunction and other 

equitable relief entered 1/17/18. 

FTC v. HIGHER GOALS MARKETING LLC, No. 6:17-cv-2048 (M.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Higher Goals Marketing LLC 

Sunshine Freedom Services LLC 

Brandun L Anderson 

Lea A. Brownell 

Melissa M. Deese 

Gerald D. Starr, Jr. 

Travis L. Teel 

Wayne T. Norris 

Assigned Attorneys: Tejasvi Srimushnam (BCP/MP) 

Joshua A. Doan 

Rhonda Perkins 

Nature of Action: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with the sale of 

interest-rate-reduction services to consumers struggling with credit card 

debt. 

Status: Complaint filed 11/29/17. 

Stipulated preliminary injunctions against all defendants and order 

appointing receiver entered 12/28/17. 

Order granting motion to stay proceedings pending Commission approval 

of proposed settlements entered 6/8/18. 

38 
FTC v. HORNBEAM SPECIAL SITUATIONS, LLC, No. 1:17-cv-3094 (N.D. Ga.) 

Parties: Hornbeam Special Situations, LLC 

Cardinal Points Holdings, LLC 

Cardinal Points Management, LLC d/b/a Clear Compass Digital Group 

Gyroscope Management Holdings, LLC 

EDebitPay, LLC 

Platinum Online Group, LLC d/b/a Premier Membership Clubs 

Clickxchange Media, LLC 

iStream Financial Services, Inc. 

Jerry L. Robinson 

Earl G. Robinson 

James McCarter 

Keith Merrill 

Mark Ward 

Dale Paul Cleveland 

William R. Wilson 

Kris Axberg 

Richard Joachim 

Chet Andrews 

Patricia Brandmeier Robinson [executor of estate of Jerry L. Robinson] 

Assigned Attorneys: R. Michael Waller (BCP/ENF) 

Korin Felix 

Elizabeth J. Averill 

Omolara Joseney 

Reenah L. Kim 

Hong Park 

Nature of Action: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, 

Section 4 of Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act, and the FTC’s 

Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with the marketing of various 

products or services, including memberships in online discount clubs, to 

consumers seeking payday, cash advance, or other subprime loans. 

Status: Complaint filed 8/15/17. 

Consent motion to stay case for 90 days as to defendant Keith Merrill filed 

10/6/17; order granting stay entered 10/11/17. 

Consent motion to stay case and suspend filing obligations upon the death 

of defendant Jerry L. Robinson filed 11/15/17; order granting 

consent motion entered 11/21/17. 

Motion to dismiss amended complaint for lack of subject matter 

jurisdiction by defendants Chet Andrews, Kris Axberg, Dale Paul 

Cleveland, EDebitPay,LLC, Richard Joachim, James McCarter, 

Earl G. Robinson, Patricia Brandmeier Robinson, Mark Ward, 

39 
 

 

William R. Wilson, iStream Financial Services, Inc. filed 4/20/18; 

response in opposition filed 5/4/18; reply filed 5/11/18. 

FTC v. HYLAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC, No. 1:18-cv-710 (W.D.N.Y.) 

Parties: Hylan Asset Management LLC 

Worldwide Processing Group LLC Worldwide Processing d/b/a Forward 

Movement Recovery d/b/a FMR 

Andrew Shaevel 

Frank A Ungaro, Jr. 

State of New York (Plaintiff) 

Assigned Attorneys: Michael White (BCP/FP) 

Matthew Wilshire 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in connection with the collection, 

marketing, and sale of phony and unauthorized debt portfolios. 

Status: Complaint filed 6/26/18. 

 Stipulated TRO entered 6/29/18. 

FTC v. INNOVATIVE DESIGNS, INC., No. 2:16-cv-1669 (W.D. Pa.) 

Parties: Innovative Designs, Inc. 

Assigned Attorneys: Alejandro Rosenberg (BCP/ENF)

 Omolara Bewaji Joseney 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act in 

connection with the advertising of Insultex House Wrap. 

Status: Complaint filed 11/3/16. 

 Trial set for 1/22/19. 

FTC v. INTERNET TEACHING & TRAINING SPECIALISTS, LLC, No. 2:17-cv-3047 (D. 

Nev.) 

Parties: Internet Teaching And Training Specialists, LLC d/b/a ITT Specialists 

Victoria A. Hansen 

David R. Coffin, Jr. 

Devan W. Leonard aka Devin Leonard 

Assigned Attorneys: Darren H. Lubetzky (NER) 

Savvas S. Diacosavvas 

Karen Dahlberg O’Connell 

40 
 

 

 

 

 

Christopher Y. Miller 

Nature of Action: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with the sale and use of 

a business-coaching program. 

Status: Complaint filed 12/12/17. 

Motion for entry of proposed stipulated order for permanent injunction 

and monetary judgment filed 12/12/17. 

Stipulated permanent injunction and monetary judgment entered 1/2/18. 

FTC v. J. WILLIAM ENTERPRISES, LLC, No. 6:16-cv-2123 (M.D. Fla.) 

Parties: J. William Enterprises, LLC d/b/a Pro Timeshare Resales 

Pro Timeshare Resales of Flagler Beach, LLC 

Jess Kinmont 

 John Wenz, Jr. 

Assigned Attorneys: Gideon Sinasohn (SER) 

Harold Kirtz 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

the Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with the marketing of 

timeshare resale or rental services. 

Status: Complaint filed 12/12/16. 

Ex parte TRO with injunction, asset freeze, appointment of receiver, and 

other equitable relief entered 12/13/16. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction with asset freeze, appointment of 

receiver, and other equitable relief entered 12/27/16. 

Clerk’s entry of default as to defendant Pro Timeshare Resales of 

Flagler Beach LLC entered 3/9/17. 

Commission’s motion for summary judgment filed 8/2/17; order granting 

in part and denying in part motion entered 11/7/17. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment entered 

4/25/18. 

FTC v. KUTZNER, Nos. 17-56455, 17-56476 (9th Cir.); No. 8:16-cv-999 (C.D. Cal.) 

Parties: Damian Kutzner 

 Vito Torchia, Jr. 

 Jonathan Tarkowski 

R. Geoffrey Broderick 

 Charles T. Marshall 

 Brookstone Law P.C. d/b/a Brookstone Law Group (California) 

 Brookstone Law P.C. d/b/a Brookstone Law Group (Nevada) 

41 
 

 

 

 

Assigned Attorneys: 

Alleged Conduct: 

Status: 

 Advantis Law P.C. 

Advantis Law Group P.C. 

Jeremy Foti 

Benjamin Theisman (BCP/ENF)

 Gregory Madden 

 Thomas Syta (WRLA) 

Michael Bergman (OGC) 

Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act 

and the Mortgage Relief Services Rule in connection with the 

marketing of mortgage assistance relief services. 

 Complaint filed 5/31/16. 

Ex parte TRO with asset freeze, appointment of receiver, limited 

expedited discovery, and other equitable relief entered 6/1/16. 

 Stipulated preliminary injunction as 

to Vito Torchia Jr. entered 6/24/16. 

 Stipulated preliminary injunction as 

to Damian Kutzner, Charles Marshall, Jonathan Tarkowksi, 

Advanits Law P.C. and Advantis Law Group P.C. entered 6/24/16. 

 Preliminary injunction as to Geoffrey Broderick, Brookstone Law P.C. 

(California and Nevada) entered 6/27/16. 

 Amended complaint filed 7/6/16. 

 Preliminary injunction as to Jeremy Foti entered 8/25/16. 

Clerk’s entry of default as to Brookstone Law (California), Brookstone 

Law PC (Nevada), Advantis Law, Advantis Law Group entered 

9/8/16. 

TRO with appointment of temporary receiver entered 10/19/16. 

Preliminary injunction with appointment of receiver as to Jeremy Foti 

entered 11/15/16. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and other equitable relief as to 

Jonathan Tarkowski entered 1/6/17. 

Order dismissing Damian Kutzner entered 2/1/17. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and other equitable relief as to 

Vito Torchia entered 2/15/17. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and other equitable relief as to 

R. Geoffrey Broderick entered 4/14/17. 

Order granting Commssion’s motion for default judgment against 

defendants Brookstone Law P.C. (California), Brookstone Law 

P.C. (Nevada), Advantis Law P.C., and Advantis Law Group P.C. 

entered 8/28/17. 

Order granting Commission’s motion for summary judgment as to 

defendants Jeremy Foti and Charles T. Marshall entered 9/5/17. 

Final judgment and order for permanent injunction as to defendants 

Brookstone Law P.C. (California), Brookstone Law P.C. (Nevada), 

42 
 

 

 

Advantis Law P.C., and Advantis Law Group P.C.entered entered 

9/8/17. 

Final judgment and order for permanent injunction as to defendants 

Jeremy Foti and Charles T. Marshall entered 9/21/17. 

Defendant Jeremy Foti’s notice of appeal (No. 17-56455) filed 9/25/17; 

appellant’s motion to stay lower court action filed 1/2/18; order 

denying stay motion entered 1/24/18; order granting appellant 

Foti’s motion to voluntarily dismiss case no. 17-56455 entered 

4/9/18. 

Defendant Charles T. Marshall’s notice of appeal (No. 17-56476) filed 

9/28/17; order dismissing appeal for failure to prosecute entered 

5/3/18. 

FTC v. LENDING CLUB CORP., No. 3:18-cv-2454 (N.D. Cal.) 

Parties: LendingClub Corporation d/b/a Lending Club 

Assigned Attorneys: Katharine Roller (BCP/FP) 

Matthew Wilshire 

David Lincicum (BCP/DPIP) 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive and unfair acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the 

FTC Act and the Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Rule in 

connection with the advertising, promotion, and sale of unsecured loans. 

Status: Complaint filed 4/25/18. 

Motion to dismiss complaint filed 6/18/18. 

FTC v. LIFE MANAGEMENT SERVICES OF ORANGE COUNTY, INC., No. 6:16-cv-982 

(M.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Life Management Services of Orange County, Inc. 

 Loyal Financial and Credit Services LLC d/b/a FOC Credit and Reward 

Services

 IVD Recovery LLC 

 KWP Services LLC 

 KWP Services of Florida LLC 

 LPSOFFLA LLC 

 LPSOFFLORIDA LLC 

PW&F Consultants of Florida LLC 

 UAD Secure Services LLC 

UAD Secure Service of Florida LLC 

 URB Management LLC 

 YCC Solutions LLC 

 YFP Solutions LLC 

 Kevin Guice 

43 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Chase Jackowski 

 Linda McNealy 

Clarence Wahl a/k/a Harry Wahl 

 Karen Wahl

 Robert Guice 

 Timothy Woods 

 State of Florida (Plaintiff) 

Assigned Attorneys: Tejasvi Srimushnam (BCP/MP) 

 Joshua Doan 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, 

the Telemarketing Sales Rule, and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade 

Practices Act in connection with the sale of debt relief services. 

Status: Complaint filed 6/7/16. 

 Stipulated preliminary injunction entered 6/30/16. 

Motion for summary judgment as to defendant Kevin Guice filed 5/1/17; 

opposition filed 5/30/17; Commission’s reply filed 6/14/17. 

Notice of stipulated proposed orders for permanent injunction and 

monetary judgment against all defendants except Kevin Guice filed 

9/1/17. 

FTC v. LIFEWATCH, No. 16-2310 (7th Cir.); No. 1:15-cv-5781 (N.D. Ill.) 

Parties: Lifewatch Inc. d/b/a Lifewatch USA and Medical Alarm Systems 

Evan Sirlin 

Safe Home Security, Inc. 

Medguard Alert, Inc. 

 Michael May 

 David Roman 

Assigned Attorneys: David O’Toole (MWR)

 Marissa Reich

 Roberto Menjivar 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive and unfair acts and practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the 

FTC Act, the Telemarketing Act, and the Telemarketing Sales Rule in 

 connection with robocalls that pitched seniors “free” medical alert 

 systems. 

Status: Complaint filed 6/30/15. 

Motion for preliminary injunction filed 7/6/15. 

 Preliminary injunction hearing held 12/14/15. 

 Preliminary injunction entered 3/31/16. 

Notice of appeal filed 5/31/16. 

44 
 

Amended complaint filed 7/14/16. 

 Order suspending appeal pending court-ordered mediation entered 

7/26/16. 

Defendants David Roman, Safe Home Security, Inc. and Medguard Alert, 

Inc.’s and defendant Mitchel May’s motions for summary 

judgment filed 12/27/17; Commission’s response in opposition to 

motions filed 2/26/18. 

Commission’s motion for summary judgment filed 12/27/17; defendants’ 

opposition filed 2/26/18; Commission’s reply filed 3/19/18. 

FTC v. LOMBARDO, DANIELS & MOSS, LLC, No. 3:17-cv-503 (W.D.N.C.) 

Parties: Lombardo, Daniels & Moss, LLC 

Dion Barron d/b/a Barron, Gibson & Phillips d/b/a Murray, Glover & 

Sellers d/b/a 

Cohen, Daniels & Moss d/b/a Lombardo, Daniels & Moss 

Charles R. Montgomery, III d/b/a Lombardo, Daniels & Moss d/b/a 

Montgomery, Hunter & Associates d/b/a Lombardo Group 

Assigned Attorneys: Gregory Ashe (BCP/FP) 

Daniel Dwyer 

Nature of Action: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in connection with deceptive and 

abusive debt collection practices. 

Status: Complaint filed 8/21/17. 

TRO entered 8/25/17. 

Stipulated order for preliminary injunction as to Lombardo, Daniels & 

Moss, LLC and Charles R. Montgomery, III entered 9/1/17. 

Preliminary injunction as to Dion Barron entered 9/1/17. 

Stipulated final order for permanent injunction and settlement of claims as 

to defendant Dion Barron entered 6/22/18. 

Stipulated final order for permanent injunction and settlement of claims as 

to defendants Lombardo, Daniels & Moss, LLC and Charles 

Montgomery entered 6/22/18. 

FTC v. M & T FINANCIAL GROUP, No. 2:17-cv-6855 (C.D. Cal.) 

Parties: M & T Financial Group d/b/a StuDebt, Student Debt Relief Group, SDRG, 

Student Loan Relief Counselors, SLRC, and Capital Advocates 

Group 

American Counseling Center Corp. d/b/a StuDebt, Student Debt Relief 

Group, SDRG, Student Loan Relief Counselors, SLRC, and 

Capital Advocates Group Salar Tahour 

Assigned Attorneys: Joannie Wei (MWR) 

45 
 

 

 

 

Audrey Austin 

Roberto Menjivar 

Barbara Chun (WRLA) 

Nature of Action: Deceptive and abusive telemarketing acts or practices in violation of 

Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule in 

connection with the marketing and sale of student loan debt relief services. 

Status: Complaint filed 9/18/17. 

Ex parte TRO entered 9/19/17. 

Stipulated order for preliminary injunction, asset freeze, and appointment 

of receiver entered 10/10/17. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment entered 

6/8/18. 

FTC v. MAIL TREE, No. 0:15-cv-61034 (S.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Awards Research Consultant, LLC 

 John Leon 

 MCP Marketing Activities, LLC d/b/a Magellan Mail and Magellan 

 Marketing

 Mail Tree Inc. 

 Mailpro Americas Corp.

 Masterpiece Marketing, LLC d/b/a Affiliated Opportunities Group 

 d/b/a Corporate Accounting Authority d/b/a Dispatch Notifications 

 Services d/b/a Information Reporting Group d/b/a Priority 

 Information Exchange 

 Michael McKay Co. 

 Matthew Pisoni 

 Serena Pisoni 

 Marcus Pradel 

 Victor Ramirez

 Romeria Global, LLC d/b/a Lowenstein Varick and Nagel 

 Spin Mail, Inc. 

 Supreme Media, LLC 

 Trans National Concepts, Inc.

 Vernier Holdings, Inc. 

Assigned Attorneys: Guy Ward (MWR) 

Douglas McKenney 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act in 

 connection with sweepstakes scam. 

Status: Complaint filed 5/18/15. 

Ex parte TRO entered 5/19/15. 

Preliminary injunction against all defendants except Marcus Pradel and 

46 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trans National Concepts entered 6/12/15. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendants Marcus Pradel and 

Trans National Concepts entered 6/12/15. 

Order staying case entered 6/12/15. 

FTC v. MARCUS, No. 0:17-cv-60907 (S.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Jeremy Lee Marcus 

 Craig Davis Smith 

 Yisbet Segrea 

 Financial Freedom National, Inc. f/k/a Institute for Financial Freedom, 

Inc., Marine Career Institute Sea Frontiers, Inc. d/b/a 321 Loans, 

Instahelp America, Inc., Helping America Group, Inc., United 

Financial Support, Breeze Financial Solutions, 321Financial 

Education, Credit Health Plan, Credit Specialists of America, 

American Advocacy Alliance, Associated Administrative Services 

321Loans, Inc. f/k/a 321 Loans, Inc., 321Financial, Inc. 

 Instahelp America, Inc. f/k/a Helping America Team, Inc. d/b/a Helping 

America Group 

 Helping America Group LLC f/k/a Helping America Group, Inc. 

Breeze Financial Solutions, Inc. d/b/a Credit Health Plan, Credit 

Maximizing Program 

US Legal Club LLC 

Active Debt Solutions LLC f/k/a Active Debt Solutions, Inc. d/b/a 

Guardian Legal Center 

Guardian LG LLC d/b/a Guardian Legal Group 

American Credit Security LLC f/k/a American Credit Shield LLC 

Paralegal Support Group LLC f/k/a Paralegal Staff Support LLC 

Associated Administrative Services LLC d/b/a Jobfax 

JLMJP Pompano LLC (relief defendant) 

1609 Belmont Place LLC (relief defendant) 

16 S H Street Lake Worth LLC (relief defendant) 

17866 Lake Azure Way Boca LLC (relief defendant) 

114 Southwest 2nd Street DBF LLC (relief defendant) 

110 Glouchester St. LLC (relief defendant) 

72 SE 6th Ave. LLC (relief defendant) 

Fast Pace 69 LLC (relief defendant) 

Strategic Acquisitions Two LLC (relief defendant) 

Halfpay International LLC d/b/a 16 H.S. Street 12Plex LLC, 311 SE 3rd 

St. LLC, 412 Bayfront Dr. LLC, 110 Glouchester St. LLC, 72 SE 

6th Ave. LLC, 114 SW 2nd St. JM LLC, 8209 Desmond Dr. LLC, 

HLFP LLC (relief defendant) 

Halfpay NV LLC d/b/a Halfpay International LLC (relief defendant) 

Nantucket Cove of Illinois LLC (relief defendant) 

Viking Management Services LLC 

Cockburn & Associate LLC 

47 
 

Assigned Attorneys: 

Alleged Conduct: 

Status: 

Omni Management Partners LLC 

HP Media, Inc. 

White Light Media LLC 

Discount Marketing USA S.A. 

Jack Marcus (relief defendant) 

Teresa Duda (relief defendant) 

James Marcus (relief defendant) 

State of Florida (Plaintiff) 

Valerie Verduce (SER) 

 Angeleque Linville 

Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

The Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with defendants’ phony debt 

 relief services. 

 Complaint filed 5/8/17. 

Ex parte TRO with asset freeze, appointment of receiver, and other 

equitable relief entered 5/9/17. 

Preliminary injunction entered 5/17/17. 

Clerk’s default as to defendants Financial Freedom National, Inc.; 321 

Loans, Inc.; Instahelp America, Inc.; Helping America Group, 

LLC; Breeze Financial Solutions, Inc.; US Legal Club, LLC; 

Active Debt Solutions, LLC; Guardian LG, LLC; American Credit 

Security, LLC; Paralegal Support Group LLC; and Associated 

Administrative Services, LLC; and relief defendants 1609 Belmont 

Place LLC; 16 S H Street Lake Worth LLC; 17866 Lake Azure 

Way Boca LLC; 114 Southwest 2nd Street DBF, LLC; 110 

Glouchester St., LLC; 72 SE 6th Ave., LLC; Fast Pace 69 LLC; 

and Strategic Acquisitions Two, LLC entered 7/17/17. 

Order directing Clerk to enter defaults and specifying default judgment 

procedure as to defendants Financial Freedom National, Inc.; 321 

Loans, Inc.; Instahelp America, Inc.; Helping America Group, 

LLC; Breeze Financial Solutions, Inc.; US Legal Club, LLC; 

Active Debt Solutions, LLC; Guardian LG, LLC; American Credit 

Security, LLC; Paralegal Support Group LLC; and Associated 

Administrative Services, LLC; and relief defendants 1609 Belmont 

Place LLC; 16 S H Street Lake Worth LLC; 17866 Lake Azure 

Way Boca LLC; 114 Southwest 2nd Street DBF, LLC; 110 

Glouchester St., LLC; 72 SE 6th Ave., LLC; Fast Pace 69 LLC; 

and Strategic Acquisitions Two, LLC entered 7/31/17. 

Amended Complaint adding defendants Viking Management Services 

LLC; Cockburn and Associate LLC; Omni Management Partners 

LLC; HP Media, Inc.; White Light Media LLC; and Discount 

Marketing USA S.A.; and relief defendants Jack Marcus; Teresa 

Duda; and James Marcus filed 9/29/17. 

48 
 

Clerk’s default as to defendants Viking Management Services LLC; 

Cockburn and Associate LLC; Omni Management Partners LLC; 

HP Media, Inc.; White Light Media LLC; and relief defendant 

Teresa Duda entered 11/8/17. 

Default final judgment as to defendants Viking Management Services 

LLC; Cockburn and Associate LLC; Omni Management Partners 

LLC; HP Media, Inc.; White Light Media LLC; and relief 

defendant Teresa Duda entered 11/15/17. 

Clerk’s default as to defendant Discount Marketing USA S.A. entered 

11/16/17. 

Order of final judgment on the pleadings by consent as to relief defendants 

JLMJP Pompano, LLC; Halfpay International, LLC; Halfpay NV 

LLC; and Nantucket Cove of Illinois, LLC entered 11/30/17. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment against 

defendant Jeremy Lee Marcus entered 4/23/18. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment against 

defendants Craig Davis Smith and Yisbet Segrea entered 4/24/18. 

FTC v. MARKETING ARCHITECTS INC., No. 2:18-cv-50 (D. Me.) 

Parties: Marketing Architects Inc. 

State of Maine (Plaintiff) 

Assigned Attorneys: James Prunty (BCP/AP) 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Sections 5(a) and 12 of the FTC 

Act in connection with the advertising, marketing, distribution, and sale of 

purported weight-loss products. 

Status: Complaint filed 2/5/18. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment entered 

2/16/18. 

FTC v. MDK MEDIA, INC., No. 2:14-cv-5099 (C.D. Cal.) 

Parties: MDK Media Inc. d/b/a SE Ventures d/b/a GMK Communications d/b/a 

EMG 

Makonnen Demessow Kebede 

Tendenci Media LLC 

Sarah Brekke 

Mindkontrol Industries LLC 

Christopher Thomas Denovellis 

Anacapa Media LLC 

Wayne Calvin Byrd 

Bear Communications LLC 

James Matthew Dawson 

49 
 

Network One Commerce Inc. 

Casey Lee Adkisson 

Erdi Development LLC 

Erdolo Levy Eromo 

Ocean Tactics LLC 

Fraser R. Thompson 

Phwoar LLC 

Darcy Michael Wedd 

Concise Consulting, Inc. 

MMJX Consulting, Inc. 

Michael Peter Pajaczkowski 

Assigned Attorneys: Faye C. Barnouw (WRLA) 

Maricela Segura 

Barbara Y K Chun 

Kenneth H. Abbe 

Alleged Conduct: Unfair and deceptive practices in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act in 

connection with placing unauthorized third-party charges on consumers’ 

mobile phone bills, or “cramming.” 

Status: Complaint filed 7/3/14. 

TRO entered 7/3/14. 

First amended complaint filed 10/6/14. 

Motion to dismiss and motion to strike portions of complaint filed 

11/7/14; opposition filed 11/17/14; reply filed 11/24/14; motion 

denied 12/4/14. 

Final orders for permanent injunction and monetary judgment against 

defendants MDK Media Inc., Makonnen Demessow Kebede, 

Tendenci Media LLC, Sarah Brekke, Mindkontrol Industries LLC, 

Christopher Thomas Denovellis, Anacapa Media LLC, Wayne 

Calvin Byrd II, Bear Communications LLC, James Matthew 

Dawson, Network One Commerce Inc., and Casey Lee Adkisson 

entered 5/6/15. 

Order granting U.S. Attorney’s application to intervene and staying case 

for 90 days entered 7/23/15. 

Order staying case entered 10/20/15. 

FTC v. MOBE LTD., No. 6:18-cv-862 (M.D. Fla.) 

Parties: MOBE Ltd. 

MOBEProcessing.com, Inc. 

Transaction Management USA, Inc. 

MOBETraining.com, Inc. 

MOBE Pro Limited 

MOBE Online Ltd. 

50 
9336-0311 Quebec, Inc. d/b/a Business Education Training 

MattLloydPublishing.com Pty Ltd. 

MOBE Inc. 

Matthew Lloyd McPhee a/k/a Matt Lloyd 

Russell W. Whitney, Jr. 

Susan Zanghi 

Assigned Attorneys: Bikram Bandy (BCP/MP) 

Sung Kim 

Benjamin Davidson 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act in 

connection with the marketing and sale of an online business education 

program. 

Status: Complaint filed 6/4/18. 

Ex parte TRO entered 6/5/18; order extending TRO entered 6/19/18. 

Motion to approve stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendant 

Zanghi filed 6/25/18. 

Preliminary injunction hearing set for 9/13/18. 

FTC v. MONTANO, No. 6:17-cv-2203 (M.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Ronnie Montano 

Hyong SU Kim aka Jimmy Kim 

Martin Schranz 

Montano Enterprises LLC 

JK Marketing LLC 

GSD Master AG 

Assigned Attorneys: Christopher E. Brown (BCP/MP) 

Claire Wack 

James Evans 

Nature of Action: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act and 

the CAN-SPAM Act in connection with the marketing of software to 

consumers looking to make money from home. 

Status: Complaint filed 12/28/17. 

Stipulated permanent injunction and monetary judgment as to all 

defendants entered 6/29/18. 

FTC v. MYTEL INTERNATIONAL, INC., No. 2:87-cv-07259 (C.D. Cal.) 

Parties: Mytel International, Inc. 

Gilbert N. Michaels 

51 
 

Gerald Feldman 

Assigned Attorneys: Reenah L. Kim (BCP/ENF) 

Elsie B. Kappler 

John D. Jacobs (WRLA) 

Mark S. Hegedus (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Violation of 1988 permanent injunction order regarding deceptive acts and 

Practices in connection with the sale of photocopier toner. 

Status: Complaint filed 10/29/87. 

Final judgment entered 11/16/88. 

Commission’s motion for contempt filed 4/17/14. 

Defendants motion to stay filed 6/16/14. 

Order granting stay entered 11/6/14. 

Order lifting stay entered 4/15/15. 

FTC v. NATIONAL UROLOGICAL GROUP, INC., No. 10-125 (S. Ct); Nos. 17-15695, 

14-13131, 14-13972, 09-10617 (11th Cir.); No. 1:04-CV-03294 (N.D. Ga.) 

Parties: National Urological Group, Inc., d/b/a Warner Laboratories 

National Institute for Clinical Weight Loss, Inc. 

Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Jared Wheat 

Thomasz Holda 

Michael Howell 

Stephen Smith 

Terrill Mark Wright, M.D. 

Assigned Attorneys: Sydney M. Knight (BCP/AP) 

Tawana E. Davis 

Edward Glennon 

Mary Johnson 

Leslie Melman (OGC) 

Amanda Basta (BCP/ENF) 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive practices in violation of Sections 5 and 12 in connection with 

the sale of a purported weight loss product. 

Status: Complaint filed 11/10/04. 

Final judgment entered 12/16/08. 

Notice of appeal filed 2/4/09. 

Opinion affirming district court order entered 12/15/09. 

Petition for rehearing en banc filed 1/29/10; order denying petition entered 

4/26/10. 

Appellant’s petition for a writ of certiorari filed 7/23/10; Commission’s 

opposition filed 9/24/10; appellant’s petition denied 11/1/10. 

52 
Commission’s motion to hold defendants Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, 

 Stephen Smith and Jared Wright in contempt filed 11/1/11; 

 defendant’s opposition filed 12/2/11. 

Commission’s motion to hold defendant Terrill Mark Wright in contempt 

filed 3/21/12. 

Order to show cause why defendants Wright, Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, 

Stephen Smith, and Jared Wright should not be held in contempt 

entered 5/11/12; response filed 11/13/12. 

Motion for contempt judgment filed 10/22/12; defendants’ response filed 

2/14/12; Commission’s reply brief filed 1/10/13. 

Order finding defendants liable for contempt and ordering further 

proceedings on remedy entered 8/8/13. 

Trial on contempt remedies held on 1/21/14 - 1/24/14. 

Order holding defendants liable for contempt and directing compensatory 

sanctions to redress consumers entered 5/14/14. 

Defendants’ notices of appeal filed 7/11/14 and 7/14/14. 

Order by district court imposing coercive contempt sanction and directing 

that defendants Jared Wheat and Stephen Smith be incarcerated 

until they comply with product recall entered 9/2/14. 

Petition for mandamus by defendants Wheat and Smith seeking to 

overturn coercive contempt order filed 9/4/14; denied 9/4/14. 

Notice of appeal from coercive contempt order and emergency motion for 

a stay by defendants Wheat and Smith filed 9/4/14; Commission’s 

opposition filed 9/5/14; motion for stay denied 9/5/14; motion to 

voluntarily dismiss appeal filed 9/8/14; appeal no. 14-13972 

dismissed 10/15/14. 

Motion to purge contempt defendants of contempt filed 9/26/14; 

Commission’s opposition filed 9/26/14. 

Second motion to purge contempt defendants or release contempt 

defendants pending determination of less restrictive mean to purge 

contempt filed 10/16/14; Commission’s response filed 1/13/15; 

granted 1/20/15. 

Motion to stay execution of judgment pending appeal entered 10/30/14; 

denied 1/23/15. 

Appellants’ briefs (No. 14-13131) filed 10/30/14. 

Order that the US Marshal’s Service release Jared Wheat and Stephen 

Smith from incarceration entered 11/10/14. 

Commission’s answering brief (No. 14-13131) filed 1/9/15; appellants’ 

reply briefs filed 2/17/15. 

Oral argument in Eleventh Circuit held 4/17/15. 

Opinion vacating district court’s judgment of contempt and remanding 

case to district court for further proceedings entered 5/5/15. 

Commission’s motion for clarification filed 6/4/15; Hi-Tech 

Pharmaceuticals response filed 6/18/15. 

Commission’s motion for entry of contempt judgement relating to HiTech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Jared Wheat, and Stephen Smith’s 

53 
violation of section VI and motion for compensatory sanctions 

filed 8/20/15; opposition filed 10/9/15; Commission’s reply filed 

10/26/15; order denying motion with leave to refile entered 

11/4/15. 

Contempt hearing held 3/27/17 - 4/7/17. 

Final judgment against defendants Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Jared 

Wheat, and Stephen Smith, and Terrill Mark Wright entered 

10/31/17. 

Defendants Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Stephen Smith and Jared 

Wheat’s notice of appeal filed 12/21/17; appellants’ briefs filed 

3/30/18; Commission’s answering brief filed 6/14/18; reply briefs 

due on 7/30/18. 

FTC v. NEOVI, INC., Nos. 15-56730, 12-56658, 12-56735, 09-55093 (9th Cir.); No. 3:06-cv1952 (S.D. Cal.) 

Parties: Neovi, Inc., d/b/a Neovi Data Corporation and Qchex.com 

G7 Productivity Systems, Inc., d/b/a Qchex.com 

James M. Danforth 

Thomas Villwock 

iProlog Corporation 

FreeQuick Wire Corporation 

Assigned Attorneys: Korin Ewing Felix (BCP/ENF) 

John D. Jacobs (WRLA) 

Leslie Melman (OGC) 

Jack Metzler 

Alleged Conduct: Unfair practices in violation of Section 5 in connection with the offering 

and sale of online check services. 

Status: Complaint filed 9/19/06. 

Final order for permanent injunction and other equitable relief entered 

1/7/09. 

Notice of appeal by defendants filed 1/16/09. 

Motion for order to show cause why Thomas Villwock, James M. 

Danforth, G7 Productivity Systems, Inc., iProlog Corporation, and 

FreeQuick Wire Corporation should not be held in contempt filed 

10/15/09. 

Order requiring Commission to show cause why contempt motion should 

 not be dismissed entered 10/16/09; Commission’s response filed 

10/21/09. 

Order by district court staying contempt proceedings pending appeal 

entered 1/19/10. 

Opinion affirming district court order entered 5/14/10; amended 6/15/10. 

Contempt proceedings reopened 5/14/10. 

54 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final order finding defendants Neovi, Productivity Systems, Thomas 

Villwock, and James M. Danforth in contempt entered 7/11/12. 

Notice of appeal by defendants filed 9/7/12; Commission’s cross appeal 

filed 9/21/12. 

Order by the Ninth Circuit requiring defendants to show cause why 

 appellate jurisdiction exists entered 9/24/12. 

 Commission’s memorandum on jurisdiction filed 10/24/13. 

 Order dismissing appeal for lack of appellate jurisdiction entered 1/22/13. 

 Contempt hearing in district court held 8/12/13. 

Order finding that defendants failed to purge their noncompliance with 

court’s 1/7/09 final order, and granting them 30 days to comply 

 entered 1/10/14. 

 Commission’s motion to modify final order filed 2/10/14; defendant’s 

 opposition filed 3/6/14; Commission’s reply filed 3/13/14. 

 Order denying Commission’s motion to modify entered 8/25/14. 

 Commission’s renewed motion to modify final order filed 12/1/14. 

Final order for permanent injunction and other equitable relief as to 

 defendant James Danforth entered 9/1/15. 

Order granting in part and denying in part Commission’s motion to 

 modify final order entered 9/9/15. 

Order finding that defendant have failed to purge their non-compliance 

 and imposing sanctions entered 9/9/15. 

Notice of appeal by Thomas Villwock filed 11/6/15. 

Appellant’s opening brief filed 11/1/16; Commission’s answering brief 

filed 1/19/17; appellant’s reply brief filed 3/2/17. 

Opinion affirming district court’s contempt order entered 12/28/17; 

mandate issued 2/22/18. 

FTC v. NEXT-GEN, INC., No. 4:18-cv-128 (W.D. Mo.) 

Parties: Next-Gen, Inc. d/b/a Award Notification Services d/b/a Cash Claim 

Advisors d/b/a Central Award Distribution d/b/a International 

Award Services d/b/a National Award Commission d/b/a Prize 

Notification Services Foundation d/b/a Security Dispatch, Ltd. 

Westport Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Cash Claim Advisors d/b/a Security 

Dispatch, Ltd. d/b/a Award Prize Advisory d/b/a Award Review 

Board d/b/a National Awards Commission 

Opportunities Unlimited Publications, Inc. d/b/a Entertainment Awards 

Center d/b/a International Award Payment Center d/b/a North 

American Awards Center d/b/a Puzzle Mania 

Opportunities Management Co. 

Summit Management Team, LLC 

Contest America Publishers, Inc. d/b/a Entertainment Award Company 

d/b/a International Awards Payment Center 

Reveal Publications, LLC d/b/a National Research Company d/b/a Fortune 

Research Bureau d/b/a Financial Report Services 

55 
 

Aosr Corporation d/b/a Subscription Reporter Corporation (formerly 

known as Sweepstakes Reporter Co., Inc.) d/b/a American 

Sweepstakes Publisher d/b/a National Bureau 

Lighthouse Fla Enterprises, LLC 

Gamer Designs, LLC 

Kevin R. Brandes 

William J. Graham 

State of Missouri (Plaintiff) 

Assigned Attorneys: Sarah Shifley (NWR) 

Richard McKewen 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act in 

connection with the worldwide distribution of deceptive sweepstakes and 

other prize mailers. 

Status: Complaint filed 2/20/18. 

Motion for TRO filed 2/20/18; Commission’s brief in support of motion 

filed 2/23/18; brief in opposition filed 3/8/18; reply filed 3/22/18. 

Motion to dismiss case filed 3/29/18; brief in support filed 3/29/18; 

Commission’s brief in opposition filed 4/1/18; reply filed 4/26/18. 

Trial set for 4/1/19. 

FTC v. NEXTGEN NUTRITIONALS, LLC, No. 8:17-cv-2807 (M.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Nextgen Nutritionals, LLC 

Strictly Health Corporation, LLC 

Cyber Business Technology, LLC 

Anna Mclean 

Robert Mclean 

Assigned Attorneys: Janet M. Evans (BCP/AP) 

Nature of Action: Deceptive acts or in violation of Sections 5(a) and 12 of the FTC Act in 

connection with the advertising, labeling, promotion, sale, or distribution 

of five dietary supplements. 

Status: Complaint filed 11/20/17. 

Joint motion for entry of stipulated final order for permanent injunction 

and other equitable relief filed 11/21/17. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment entered 

1/9/18; judgment in favor of the Commission entered 1/11/18. 

56 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FTC v. OMICS GROUP, INC., No. 2:16-cv-2022 (D. Nev.) 

Parties: OMICS Group, Inc. d/b/a OMICS Publishing Group 

iMedPub, LLC 

Conference Series, LLC 

Srinubabu Gedela 

Assigned Attorneys: Iona Rusu (BCP/FP) 

Gregory Ashe 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act in 

connection with the publishing of online publications styled as academic 

journals. 

Status: Complaint filed 8/25/16. 

Commission’s motion for preliminary injunction filed 9/8/16. 

Defendants’ motion to dismiss or, in alternative, summary judgment, filed 

1/6/17; Commission’s opposition filed 1/19/17; reply filed 2/2/17. 

Commission’s motion for summary judgment filed 5/1/18; response to 

motion filed 6/22/18. 

Defendants’ motion for summary judgment filed 5/1/18; Commission’s 

response to motion filed 5/22/18. 

FTC v. POINTBREAK MEDIA, LLC, No. 0:18-cv-61017 (S.D. Fla.) 

Parties: PointBreak Media, LLC d/b/a Point Break Media d/b/a Point Break 

Solutions d/b/a Kivanni Marketing 

DCP Marketing, LLC d/b/a Point Break 

Modern Spotlight Group LLC Modern Spotlight 

Modern Spotlight LLC 

Modern Internet Marketing LLC 

Modern Source Media, LLC Modern Source 

Perfect Image Online LLC 

Dustin Pillonato 

Justin Ramsey 

Aaron Michael Jones aka Michael Aaron Jones aka Mike Jones 

Ricardo Diaz 

Michael Pocker 

Steffan Molina 

Allstar Data, LLC 

National Business Listings, LLC 

Pinnacle Presence LLC 

Vincent Yates 

Daniel Carver 

Stephanie Watt (Relief Defendant) 

Jennefer Ramsey (Relief Defendant) 

57 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assigned Attorneys: Brian M. Welke (BCP/ENF) 

Christopher J. Erickson 

Evan M. Mendelson 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act in 

the course of marketing, offering for sale, and selling Google listing or 

search engine optimization services. 

Status: Complaint filed 5/7/18. 

TRO entered 5/8/18. 

Preliminary injunction as to defendant Ricardo Diaz entered 5/25/18. 

Preliminary injunction as to defendants Steffan Molina and Perfect Image 

Online LLC entered 6/6/18. 

Clerk’s entry of default as to defendants PointBreak Media; DCP 

Marketing, LLC; Modern Source Media, LLC; and Aaron Michael 

Jones entered 6/28/18. 

Trial set for 4/15/19. 

FTC v. PUBLISHERS BUSINESS SERVICES, INC., Nos. 17-15600; 11-17270 (9th Cir.); No. 

2:08-cv-620 (D. Nev.) 

Parties: Publishers Business Services, Inc. 

Ed Dantuma Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Publishers Direct Services d/b/a 

Publishers Business Services 

Persis Dantuma 

Brenda Dantuma Schang 

Dries Dantuma 

Dirk Dantuma 

Jeffrey Dantuma 

Edward Fred Dantuma 

Assigned Attorneys: Faye Chen Barnouw (WRLA) 

Maricela Segura 

Karen Goff (WRSF) 

Leslie Melman (OGC) 

Joel Marcus 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of section 5(a) and the 

 Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with the marketing and sale of 

 magazine subscriptions. 

Status: Complaint filed 5/14/08. 

Amended complaint filed 2/5/09. 

Commission’s motion for summary judgment filed 7/31/09; opposition 

filed 11/23/09; reply filed 12/7/09. 

58 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Order granting the Commission’s motion for summary judgment entered 

4/7/10. 

Order for permanent injunction as to all defendants entered 4/7/10. 

Commission’s opening brief on the issue of damages filed 4/20/10. 

Final judgment as to all defendants entered 7/25/11. 

Commission’s opening brief filed 2/13/12; defendants’ answering brief 

filed 4/13/12; reply brief filed 5/11/12. 

Memorandum disposition remanding case to district court 

entered 9/19/13. 

Petition for writ of certiorari filed 2/27/14. 

Petition for writ of certiorari denied 6/9/14. 

Commission’s motion for monetary judgment filed 5/31/16; defendants’ 

brief on damages filed 7/19/16; Commission’s reply filed 8/9/16. 

Order granting Commission’s motion for judgment entered 3/2/17. 

Notice of appeal filed 3/31/17. 

Appellants’ opening brief filed 8/30/17; Commission’s answering brief 

filed 10/30/17; reply brief filed 12/20/17. 

Oral argument scheduled for 8/15/18. 

FTC v. QUALCOMM, INC., No. 5:17-cv-220 (N.D. Cal.) 

Parties: Qualcomm, Inc. 

Assigned Attorneys: J. Alexander Ansaldo (BC/ACP)

 Dana Abrahamsen 

Joseph Baker 

 Wesley Carson 

Kente Cox 

 Rajesh James 

Philip Kehl 

Lin Kahn (WRSF) 

Alleged Conduct: Unfair methods of competition in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC 

Act in connection with defendant’s maintenance of a monopoly in 

baseband processors and semiconductor devices. 

Status: Complaint filed 1/17/17. 

Motion to dismiss filed 4/3/17; Commission’s opposition filed 5/12/17; 

reply filed 5/16/17; order denying motion entered 6/26/17. 

Trial set for 1/4/19. 

FTC v. QUINCY BIOSCIENCE HOLDING CO., INC., No. 17-3745 (2nd Cir.); No. 

1:17-cv-124 (S.D.N.Y.) 

Parties: Quincy Bioscience Holding Company, Inc. 

Quincy Bioscience, LLC 

59 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prevagen, Inc. d/b/a Sugar River Supplements 

Quincy Bioscience Manufacturing, LLC 

 Mark Underwood 

 Michael Beaman 

State of New York (Plaintiff) 

Assigned Attorneys: Michelle Rusk (BCP/AP) 

 Annette Soberatas 

Bradley D. Grossman (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5(a) and 12 of the 

FTC Act, the New York Executive Law, and the New York General 

Business Law, in connection with the marketing of defendants’ purported 

 memory improvement supplement, Prevagen. 

Status: Complaint filed 1/9/17. 

Motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim filed 4/6/17; Commission’s 

opposition filed 4/25/17; reply filed 5/5/17; order granting motion 

entered 9/29/17. 

Commission’s notice of appeal filed 11/21/17. 

Commission’s opening brief filed 2/28/18; appellees’ brief filed 5/30/18; 

Commission’s reply filed 6/13/18; appellees’ corrected brief filed 

6/15/18. 

FTC v. REPAIR ALL PC LLC, No. 1:17-cv-869 (N.D. Ohio) 

Parties: Repair All PC LLC 

Pro PC Repair LLC 

I FIX PC LLC 

Webtech World LLC 

Online Assist LLC 

Datadeck LLC 

I Fix PC d/b/a Techers247, I FIX PC 247 

Jessica Marie Serrano 

Dishant Khanna 

Mohit Malik 

Romil Bhatia 

Lalit Chadha 

Roopkala Chadha 

State of Ohio (Plaintiff) 

Assigned Attorneys: Fil de Banate (ECR) 

Amy Hocevar 

Adrienne Watson 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act 

 and the Consumer Sales Practices Act in connection with the advertising, 

60 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 marketing, and sale of computer security and tech support services. 

Status: Complaint filed 4/24/17. 

Ex parte TRO entered 4/24/17. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendants Jessica Marie Serrano, 

Dishant Khanna, Repair All PC LLC, Pro PC Repair LLC, I 

FIX PC LLC, Mohit Malik, WebTech World LLC, and Online 

Assist LLC entered 6/20/17. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendants Romil Bhatia and 

Datadeck LLC entered 6/21/17. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendants Lalit Chadha, 

Roopkala Chadha, and I Fix PC entered 6/22/17. 

Stipulated permanent injunction as to defendants Repair All PC, LLC; 

Pro PC Repair LLC; I Fix PC LLC; Jessica Maria Serrano; and 

Dishant Khana entered 11/15/17. 

Default judgment as to I Fix PC LLC entered 12/18/17. 

Stipulated permanent injunctions as to defendants Lalit Chadha, Roopkala 

Chadha, Datadeck LLC, Romil Bhatia, WebTech World LLC, 

Online Assist LLC, and Mohit Malik entered 1/26/18. 

FTC v. REVMOUNTAIN, LLC, No. 2:17-cv-2000 (D. Nev.) 

Parties: RevMountain, LLC; RoadRunner B2C, LLC, d/b/a RevGo; Wave Rock, 

LLC; Juniper Solutions, LLC; Jasper Woods, LLC; Wheeler Peak 

Marketing, LLC; ROIRunner, LLC; Cherry Blitz, LLC; Flat Iron 

Avenue, LLC; Absolutely Working, LLC; Three Lakes, LLC; 

Bridge Ford, LLC; How and Why, LLC; Spruce River, LLC; 

TrimXT, LLC; Elation White, LLC; IvoryPro, LLC; Doing What’s 

Possible, LLC; RevGuard, LLC; RevLive!, LLC; Blue Rocket 

Brands, LLC; Convertis, LLC; Convertis Marketing, LLC; Turtle 

Mountains, LLC; Boulder Black Diamond, LLC; Mint House, 

LLC; Thunder Avenue, LLC; University & Folsom, LLC; Boulder 

Creek Internet Solutions, Inc.; Walnut Street Marketing, Inc.; 

Snow Sale, LLC; Brand Force, LLC; Wild Farms, LLC; Salamonie 

River, LLC; Indigo Systems, LLC; Night Watch Group, LLC; 

Newport Crossing, LLC; Greenville Creek, LLC; Brookville Lane, 

LLC; Anasazi Management Partners, LLC; Honey Lake, LLC; 

Condor Canyon, LLC; Brass Triangle, LLC; Solid Ice, LLC; 

Sandstone Beach, LLC; Desert Gecko, LLC; Blizzardwhite, LLC; 

Action Pro White, LLC; First Class Whitening, LLC; Spark 

Whitening, LLC; Titanwhite, LLC; Dental Pro At Home, LLC; 

Smile Pro Direct, LLC; Circle of Youth Skincare, LLC; 

DermaGlam, LLC; Sedona Beauty Secrets, LLC; Bellaathome, 

LLC; SkinnyIQ, LLC; Body Tropical, LLC (hereinafter 

collectively referred to as “Entity Defendants”) 

Blair McNea 

61 
 

 

 

 

Danielle Foss 

Jennifer Johnson 

Assigned Attorneys: Michelle Schaefer (BCP/ENF) 

Sarah Waldrop 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

Section 4 of the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act in connection 

with the online marketing of personal care products. 

Status: Complaint filed 7/24/17. 

TRO entered 7/25/17. 

Preliminary injunction as to Entity Defendants, Blair McNea, and Jennifer 

Johnson entered 9/1/17. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendant Danielle Foss entered 

9/7/17. 

Stipulated orders for permanent injunction and other equitable relief 

entered 4/10/18. 

FTC v. ROCA LABS, INC., No. 8:15-cv-2231 (M.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Roca Labs, Inc. 

Roca Labs Nutraceutical USA, Inc. 

 Don Juravin 

George C. Whiting 

Assigned Attorneys: Carl H. Settlemyer (BCP/AP) 

 Paul Bryan Spelman 

Alleged Conduct: Violations of Sections 5(a) and 12 of the FTC Act in connection with the 

deceptive marketing of weight loss products. 

Status: Complaint filed 9/24/15.

 Stipulated TRO entered 9/29/15. 

 Preliminary injunction entered 10/29/15. 

Order granting joint motion to stay case for 120 days entered 4/20/16. 

 Stipulated TRO entered 8/22/16. 

 Stipulated preliminary injunction with asset freeze and other equitable 

relief entered 9/13/16. 

Commission’s motion for summary judgment as to all defendants filed 

3/24/17; defendants opposition filed 5/9/17; reply filed 5/22/17; 

Commission’s notice to court of pending motion filed 12/8/17. 

 Defendants’ motion for partial summary judgment filed 3/24/17; 

Commission’s opposition filed 4/24/17; reply filed 5/22/17. 

Order staying all remaining case deadlines entered 7/26/17. 

Suggestion of bankruptcy by Roca Labs, Inc filed 11/18/17; response by 

62 
 

Commission filed 11/21/17. 

Commission’s amended motion for summary judgment as to all 

defendants filed 4/26/18; defendants’ opposition to motion filed 

5/29/18; Commission’s reply filed 6/12/18. 

FTC v. SHIRE VIROPHARMA, INC., No. 18-1807 (3rd Cir.); No. 1:17-cv-131 (D. Del.) 

Parties: Shire ViroPharma, Inc. 

Assigned Attorneys: Bradley Albert (BC/HC) 

 June Im 

 Meredyth Andrus 

 Josepth Matthias 

 Steve Vieux 

James Weingarten 

Matthew Hoffman (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Unfair methods of competition in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act 

in connection with Defendant’s serial, sham petitioning to the FDA to 

delay generic competition to its branded prescription drug, Vancocin HCI 

Capsules. 

Status: Complaint filed 2/7/17. 

Motion to dismiss filed 4/10/17; Commission’s opposition filed 5/25/17; 

reply filed 6/26/17. 

Order granting motion to dismiss entered 3/20/18. 

Commission’s notice of appeal filed 4/11/18. 

FTC v. SPRINGTECH 77376, LLC, No. 3:12-CV-04631 (N.D. Cal.) 

Parties: Springtech 77376, LLC, also d/b/a Cedarcide.com and cedarsidestore.com 

Cedarcide Industries, Inc. 

Chemical Free Solutions LLC 

Cedar Oil Technologies Corp. 

David Glassel 

Assigned Attorneys: Kerry O’Brien (WRSF) 

Linda K. Badger 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act in 

connection with advertising, marketing, and sale of pest control products. 

Status: Complaint filed 9/5/12. 

Stipulated orders for permanent injunction and monetary judgment as to 

Dave Glassel and Chemical Free Solutions entered 7/18/13. 

Commission’s motion for civil contempt against David Glassel filed 

63 
 

 

 

 

1/9/18. 

Stipulated modified order for permanent injunction, monetary judgment, 

and compensatory contempt relief as to defendant Chemical Free 

Solutions entered 1/26/18. 

FTC v. STRATEGIC STUDENT SOLUTIONS LLC, No. 9:17-cv-80619 (S.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Strategic Student Solutions LLC 

 Strategic Credit Solutions LLC 

 Strategic Debt Solutions LLC 

Strategic Doc Prep Solutions LLC 

 Student Relief Center LLC 

 Credit Relief Center LLC 

 Dave Green 

 DG Investment Properties LLC (relief defendant) 

Assigned Attorneys: Miya Tandon (SER) 

 Adam Wesolowski 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, the 

Telemarketing Sales Rule, and the Credit Repair Organizations Act in 

connection with the marketing and sale of student loan debt relief and 

credit repair services 

Status: Complaint filed 5/15/17. 

Ex parte TRO with asset freeze, appointment of receiver, and other 

equitable relief entered 5/15/17. 

 Stipulated preliminary injunction entered 5/26/17. 

Stipulated permanent injunction and monetary judgment as to all 

defendants entered 5/29/18. 

FTC v. STUDENT DEBT DOCTOR, LLC, No. 0:17-cv-61937 (S.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Student Debt Doctor, LLC 

Gary Brent White, Jr. 

Assigned Attorneys: Hans Clausen (SER) 

R. Michael Waller (BCP/ENF) 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, 

and the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with the marketing 

and sale of student loan debt relief services. 

Status: Complaint filed 10/2/17. 

TRO entered 10/3/17. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction entered 10/16/17. 

64 
 

Clerk’s entry of default as to defendant Student Debt Doctor, LLC entered 

12/8/17. 

FTC v. TRIANGLE MEDIA CORP., No. 3:18-cv-1388 (S.D. Cal.) 

Parties: Triangle Media Corporation aka Triangle CRM aka Phenom Health aka 

Beauty and Truth aka E-Cigs 

Jasper Rain Marketing, LLC aka Phenom Health aka Cranium Power 

Hardwire Interactive, Inc. aka Phenom Health aka Beauty and Truth aka 

E-Cigs 

Brian Phillips 

Assigned Attorneys: Samantha Gordon (MWR) 

Matthew H. Wernz 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, the 

Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act, and the Electronic Fund 

Transfer Act in connection with the online advertising and sale of skincare 

products, e-cigarettes, and dietary supplements. 

Status: Complaint filed 6/25/18. 

Ex parte TRO with asset freeze and receivership entered 6/29/18. 

FTC v. VANTAGE POINT SERVICES, No. 1:15-cv-006 (W.D.N.Y.) 

Parties: Vantage Point Services, LLC 

 Payment Management Solutions, Inc. 

 Bonified Payment Solutions, Inc. 

Gregory Mackinnon 

Megan Vandeviver 

Angela Burdorf 

Joseph Ciffa 

Assigned Attorneys: Colin Hector (BCP/FP)

 Nikhil Singhvi 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in connection with debt collection 

activities. 

Status: Complaint filed 1/5/15. 

TRO entered 1/5/15. 

 Preliminary injunction with asset freeze entered 5/15/15. 

Commission’s motion for summary judgment filed 8/19/16; opposition by 

defendants filed 11/3/16; Commission’s reply filed 11/30/16; 

motion denied 7/17/17. 

65 
 Motion for contempt against defendant Joseph Ciffa filed 12/13/16. 

Second TRO entered 12/14/16. 

Stipulated preliminary injunction as to defendant Joseph Ciffa filed 

1/17/17. 

Stipulated final order for permanent injunction and settlement of claims as 

to defendant Megan Vandeviver entered 2/7/18. 

Defendants Angela Burdorf, Gregory Mackinnon, Vantage Point Services, 

LLC, and Payment Management Solutions, Inc.’s motion to vacate 

the preliminary injunction, dissolve the asset freeze order, and 

allocate money for attorney’s fees filed 3/28/18; Commission’s 

response in opposition filed 4/10/18; defendants’ reply filed 

4/18/18; order denying motion entered 5/8/18. 

Trial set for 7/10/18. 

FTC v. VISION SOLUTION MARKETING, No. 2:18-cv-356 (D. Utah) 

Parties: Vision Solution Marketing d/b/a VSM Business Services d/b/a VSM 

Group d/b/a VSMHUB.COM 

Vsm Group LLC 

Ryze Services d/b/a Business Finance Pro 

Specialized Consulting Solutions 

Jared Rodabaugh 

Justin Larsen 

Assigned Attorneys: Darren H. Lubetzky (NER) 

Christopher Y. Miller 

Savvas S. Diacosavvas 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and 

the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with the marketing and 

sale of work-at-home programs and business coaching services. 

Status: Complaint filed 5/1/18. 

Stipulated TRO against defendants Justin Larsen, Specialized Consulting 

Solutions, and VSM Group LLC entered 5/4/18. 

Stipulated TRO against defendants Jared Rodabaugh, Vision Solution 

Marketing, and Ryze Services entered 5/14/18. 

FTC v. VYLAH TEC LLC, No. 17-13481 (11th Cir.); No. 2:17-cv-228 (M.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Vylah Tec LLC d/b/a VTec Support 

 Express Tech Help LLC 

 Tech Crew Support LLC 

 Angelo J. Cupo 

 Robert Cupo 

 Dennis Cupo 

66 
 

 

 

 State of Florida (Plaintiff) 

Assigned Attorneys: Robin Rock (SER) 

 Sana Chriss 

 Mark Hegedus (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act 

in connection with the adverting, marketing, distribution, and sale of 

computer technical support services and security software. 

Status: Complaint filed 5/1/17. 

 TRO entered 5/12/17. 

Preliminary injunction order entered 6/4/17. 

Notice of appeal to 11th Cir. filed 8/1/17. 

Appellants’ opening brief filed 9/25/17; Appellee’s brief filed 11/7/17; 

reply filed 11/21/17; 

Opinion affirming entry of preliminary injunction, but partially vacating 

and remanded for additional findings on application of asset freeze 

to individual defendants, entered 3/8/18. 

Defendant Dennis Cupo’s motion for summary judgment filed 6/5/18; 

Commission’s response filed 6/20/18; Dennis Cupo’s objection to 

Commission’s response filed 6/27/18. 

FTC v. WORLD PATENT MARKETING, INC., No. 1:17-cv-20848 (S.D. Fla.) 

Parties: World Patent Marketing, Inc.

 Desa Industries, Inc. d/b/a World Patent Marketing 

 Scott Cooper 

Assigned Attorneys: Colleen Robbins (BCP/MP) 

 James Evans 

 Jody Goodman 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act in 

 connection with Defendants’ invention-promotion services. 

Status: Complaint filed 3/6/17. 

Ex parte TRO entered 3/7/17. 

 Amended complaint filed 5/25/17. 

Motion to dismiss filed 6/15/17; Commission’s opposition filed 6/23/17; 

 motion denied 8/17/17. 

 Preliminary injunction entered 8/16/17. 

Motion to strike affirmative defenses and jury demand filed 9/22/17; 

motion granted 10/31/17. 

Stipulated final order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment 

entered 5/16/18. 

67 
 

 

 

FTC v. WV UNIVERSAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, Nos. 16-17727, 15-11500, 15-13380 (11th 

Cir.); No. 6:12-cv-1618 (M.D. Fla.) 

Parties: WV Universal Management, LLC, d/b/a Treasure Your Success 

Leading Production, LLC 

Global Financial Assist, LLC 

HES Merchant Services Company, Inc. 

Business First Solutions, Inc. 

Voiceonyx Corp. 

Universal Processing Services of Wisconsin, LLC 

Derek Depuydt 

Hal E. Smith 

Jonathon E. Warren 

Ramon Sanchez-Ortega 

Willy Plancher 

Valbona Toska 

Assigned Attorneys: Christopher Panek (ECR) 

 Fil M. de Banate 

Jonathan Kessler 

Michael Milgrom 

 Mark Hegedus (OGC) 

 Theodore Metzger 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5 and the Telemarketing 

Sales Rule in connection with sale of services that will purportedly reduce 

consumers’ credit card interest rates. 

Status: Complaint filed 10/29/12. 

Order granting preliminary injunction entered 11/14/12. 

Amended complaint filed 6/18/13. 

Motion to dismiss by HES Merchant Services Company filed 8/7/13; 

Commission’s response filed 8/23/13. 

Motion for summary judgment by Universal Processing Services filed 

8/16/13; Commission’s opposition filed 9/16/13; reply filed 

9/30/13. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and final judgment as to 

defendants Willy Plancher, Valbona Toska, WV Universal 

Management LLC, Global Financial Assist LLC, and Leading 

Production LLC entered 9/23/13. 

 Commission’s motion for summary judgment filed 6/30/14; defendant 

 Derek Depuydt’s opposition brief filed 7/29/14; Business First 

Solutions, VoiceOnyx Corp., and Jonathon Warren’s brief in 

opposition filed 7/30/14; affidavit in opposition by Hal Smith filed

 8/1/14. 

68 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Permanent injunction and final judgment as to defendant Ramon 

 Sanchez-Ortega entered 10/6/14. 

 Order granting Commission’s motion for summary judgment entered 

11/18/14. 

Stipulated permanent injunction and final order as to Derek Depuydt 

 entered 11/19/14. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and final judgment as to 

 defendants, Jonathon Warren, Business First Solutions Inc. and 

 Voiceonyx Corp. entered 11/19/14. 

Permanent injunction and final judgment as to defendants Hal E. Smith 

and HES Merchant Services Company, Inc. entered 2/11/15. 

 Order granting motion for equitable monetary relief judgment against 

 defendants Hal E. Smith, HES Merchant Services Company, Inc., 

 and Universal Processing Services of Wisconsin, LLC entered 

2/11/15. 

Permanent injunction and final monetary judgment as to defendant 

 Universal Processing Services of Wisconsin, LLC entered 5/19/15. 

Notice of appeal of summary judgment by Universal Processing Services 

 of Wisconsin, LLC filed 7/17/15. 

Appellant UPS’s opening brief filed 10/20/15; Appellant HES’s opening 

 brief filed 10/21/15; Commission’s responsive brief filed 12/23/15; 

 UPS’s reply brief filed 1/19/16. 

Oral argument heard 5/18/16. 

Per curiam decision affirming district court’s summary judgment order 

and monetary relief against HES, but vacating the order of 

monetary relief against UPS and remanding case to district court 

for further findings on appropriateness of joint and several liability 

against UPS, entered 6/14/16. 

 Notice of appeal filed 12/21/16. 

Appellant’s opening brief filed 2/27/17; Commission’s answering brief 

filed 4/17/17; Appellant’s reply brief filed 5/18/17. 

Oral argument held 10/24/17. 

Opinion affirming the district court’s decision issued 12/13/17. 

UPS’s petition for writ of certiorari filed 3/13/18; Commission’s 

opposition filed 5/16/18; UPS’s reply filed 6/1/18; cert denied 

6/25/18. 

69 
 

 

 

CIVIL PENALTY AND ENFORCEMENT CASES* 

(A) Consumer Protection 

FTC v. JAMES CHRISTIANO, No. 8:18-cv-936 (C.D. Cal.) 

Parties: James Christiano 

NetDotSolutions, Inc. 

TeraMESH Networks, Inc. 

Andrew Salisbury 

World Connection, LLC 

World Connection USA, LLC 

World Connection, SA 

Assigned Attorneys: James Evans (BCP/MP) 

Ian Barlow 

Alleged Conduct: Violations of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and the FTC’s Telemarketing 

Sales Rule in connection with defendants’ facilitating of robocalls, calls to 

phone numbers on the National Do-Not-Call Registry, calls with spoofed 

caller IDs, and abandoned calls. 

Status: Complaint filed 5/31/2018. 

UNITED STATES v. DISH NETWORK LLC, No. 17-3111 (7th Cir.); 13-2282 (7th Cir.); 3:09-

CV-3073 (C.D. Ill.) 

Parties: Dish Network L.L.C. 

Assigned Attorneys: Russell Deitch (BCP/MP) 

Patrick Runkle (DOJ/CPB) 

Lisa Hsiao 

Alleged Conduct: Violations of Section 5 and the Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection 

with abandoned calls and telephone calls to consumers on the National Do 

Not Call registry. 

Status: Complaint filed 3/25/09. 

Defendant’s motion to dismiss filed 5/21/09; plaintiff’s response in 

 opposition filed 7/17/09; defendant’s reply filed 7/27/09; plaintiff’s 

*

 Includes all suits in which civil penalties are sought; consumer redress, injunctions, 

and ancillary equitable relief may also be sought. 

70 
 

 

 sur-reply filed 9/11/09. 

Order denying motion to dismiss entered 11/2/09. 

Defendant’s motion for reconsideration or interlocutory appeal filed 

 11/19/09; plaintiff’s response filed 12/22/09; order denying motion 

entered 2/4/10. 

Memorandum in opposition to motion/petition filed 5/21/10. 

Motion to compel 7/30/10; memorandum in opposition to motion 

8/16/10; memorandum in support of motion filed 9/24/10; order on 

motion to compel entered 12/9/10. 

Appeal of magistrate judge decision to district court filed 12/29/10. 

Defendants’ motion to stay action under doctrine of primary jurisdiction 

filed 12/21/10; opposition filed 1/12/11. 

Order directing the parties to file an administrative complaint with 

the FCC, to obtain its interpretation of statutory language 

entered 2/4/11. 

Order vacating magistrate’s decision denying Commission’s motion for 

 leave to file second amended complaint entered 3/12/13. 

 Amended complaint filed 3/12/13. 

Petition for writ of mandamus by Dish Network filed 6/12/13. 

Order denying petition for mandamus entered 7/3/13. 

United States’ motion for summary judgment filed 12/23/13; opposition 

filed 3/6/14. 

Motion for summary judgment by Dish Network filed 1/6/14; opposition 

filed 5/30/14. 

 United States’ motion for summary judgment filed 5/30/14. 

Order directing parties to file memoranda addressing issue of deference 

 to agency’s interpretation of its regulations entered 7/8/14; parties’ 

 memoranda of law filed 8/8/14; parties’ responses to each other’s 

 memoranda filed 8/22/14. 

Order granting partial summary judgment for United States and partial 

 summary judgment for Dish Network entered 12/12/14. 

Motion for sanctions by United States and state plaintiffs filed 7/20/15; 

memorandum in opposition filed 8/21/15; reply filed 9/10/15; 

order granting motion in part and denying in part entered 10/13/15. 

Trial on civil penalties held 1/19/16-2/17/16. 

Trial on permanent injunctive relief held 10/25/16-11/2/16. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and civil penalty judgment 

entered 6/5/17. 

Defendant’s notice of appeal filed 10/6/17. 

Appellant-defendant’s brief filed 2/22/18; United States’ brief filed 

6/22/18. 

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UNITED STATES v. FEATURE FILMS FOR FAMILIES, INC., Nos. 2:12-cv-811, 2:11-cv419 (D. Utah); No. 4:11-cv-197 (N.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Feature Films for Families, Inc. 

Corporations for Character LC 

Family Films of Utah, Inc. 

Forrest Sandusky Baker, III 

Assigned Attorneys: Peter G. Fisher (AUSA) 

Jared C. Bennett 

Daniel M. Baeza (DOJ/CPB) 

Michael Tankersley (BCP/MP) 

Arturo DeCastro 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act and 

the Telemarketing Sales Rule in connection with telemarketing to induce 

the purchase of goods or services, and to induce charitable contributions, 

telemarketing calls to consumers on the Do-Not-Call list. 

Status: Complaint filed 5/5/11. 

Defendants’ motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim and for 

improper venue filed 7/25/11; United States’ memo in opposition 

filed 8/8/11; order denying motion entered 10/25/11. 

Defendants’ counterclaim against the United States filed 11/14/11. 

United States’ motion to dismiss counterclaims for lack of jurisdiction 

 filed 12/21/11; response in opposition filed 1/09/12; motion denied 

5/19/12. 

Case transferred to the District of Utah 8/20/12. 

Case consolidated with Corporation for Character v. FTC, 

No. 2:11-CV-00419, on 9/6/12. 

Defendants’ motion for partial summary judgment filed 9/6/12; United 

States’ opposition filed 12/14/12. 

United States’ motion for partial summary judgment filed 3/1/13. 

United States’ second motion for partial summary judgment filed 5/17/13; 

opposition filed 7/19/13; reply filed 7/30/13. 

Hearing on motions for partial summary judgment held 1/16/14. 

United States’ supplemental memorandum regarding motion for summary 

 judgment filed 2/14/14; defendants’ reply to supplemental 

 memorandum filed 3/7/14. 

Order granting in part and denying in part defendants’ motion for partial 

summary judgment and granting in part and denying in part United 

States’ motion for partial summary judgment entered 3/31/15. 

Trial held 5/17 - 5/25/16. 

Jury verdict for Commission entered 5/26/16. 

United States’ motion for entry of permanent injunction based on jury 

verdict filed 7/8/16; response by Corporation for Character filed 

72 
7/22/16; opposition by Forrest Sandusky Baker, III, Family Films 

of Utah Inc, and Feature Films for Families, Inc. filed 6/8/17; 

United States’ reply filed 6/22/17. 

Stipulated final order for permanent injunction and civil penalty judgment 

entered 3/23/18. 

FTC v. GOTRA, No. 1:18-cv-10548 (D. Mass.) 

Parties: Jasjit Gotra 

Alliance Security Inc. f/k/a Versatile Marketing Solutions, Inc. f/k/a VMS 

Alarms f/k/a VMS f/k/a Alliance Home Protection f/k/a AH 

Protection 

Jessica Merrick a/k/a Jessica Bright a/k/a Jessica Dudlicek 

Defend America LLC 

Kevin Klink 

Power Marketing Promotions LLC d/b/a J Tele Alarms 

Assigned Attorneys: Danielle M. Estrada (BCP/MP) 

Ian L. Barlow 

Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC, the 

FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act in 

connection with the marketing and sale of home security systems and 

monthly alarm monitoring services. 

Status: Complaint filed 3/22/18. 

Consent motions to approve stipulated final orders for permanent 

injunctions and civil penalty judgments as to defendants Kevin 

Klink and Power Marketing Promotions LLC, and as to Jessica 

Merrick and Defend America LLC filed 3/22/2018. 

Motion for preliminary injunction as to defendants Jasit Gotra and 

Alliance Security filed 3/23/18. 

Defendant Jasit Gotra’s motion to dismiss filed 5/14/18; Commission’s 

opposition filed 5/24/18. 

UNITED STATES v. INFOCISION, INC., No. 5:18-cv-64 (N.D. Ohio) 

Parties: Infocision, Inc. 

Assigned Attorneys: Kathryn A. Schmidt (DOJ) 

Michelle L. Heyer 

Alleged Conduct: Violations of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and the FTC’s Telemarketing 

Sales Rule in connection with defendant’s telemarketers calling consumers 

on behalf of charitable organizations and falsely saying they were not 

calling to solicit donations. 

73 
 

 

Status: Complaint filed 1/10/18. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and civil penalty judgment 

entered 1/11/18. 

UNITED STATES v. PRIME SITES, INC., No. 2:18-cv-199 (D. Nev.) 

Parties: Prime Sites, Inc. d/b/a Explore Talent 

Assigned Attorneys: Kathryn Schmidt (DOJ) 

Matthew Wernz (MWR) 

Roberto Menjivar 

Alleged Conduct: Violations of the COPPA Rule and Section 5 of the FTC Act in 

connection with advertising, promoting, and sale of membership in a 

casting and talent search network. 

Status: Complaint filed 2/5/18. 

Consent order for permanent injunction and judgment entered 2/12/18. 

UNITED STATES v. VTECH ELECTRONICS LTD., No. 1:18-cv-114 (N.D. Ill.) 

Parties: Vtech Electronics Ltd. 

Vtech Electronics North America, LLC 

Assigned Attorneys: Joshua David Rothman (DOJ) 

Alleged Conduct: Violations of the COPPA Rule and Section 5 of the FTC Act stemming 

from the storage and transmittal of personal information collected by some 

of defendant’s electronic toys, and failing to provide notice or obtain 

consent. 

Status: Complaint filed 1/8/18. 

Stipulated order for permanent injunction and civil penalty judgment 

entered 1/23/18. 

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(B) Competition 

(None Pending) 

SUBPOENA AND CID ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS 

FTC v. BARTOLI, No. 6:18-mc-027 (M.D. Fla.) 

Parties: Derek J. Bartoli 

Assigned Attorneys: Burke Kappler (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Petition for order to enforce a CID. 

Status: Petition file 4/16/18. 

Order granting petition entered 5/23/18. 

FTC v. BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., No. 16-5357 (D.C. Cir.); 

No. 1:09-MC-564 (D.D.C.) 

Parties: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Assigned Attorneys: Mark Hegedus (OGC) 

Leslie R. Melman 

Alleged Conduct: Petition for an order to enforce a subpoena. 

Status: Petition filed 10/23/09. 

Order to show cause entered 12/4/09. 

Matter transferred to magistrate judge 12/1/10. 

Status conference held on 10/24/11. 

Hearing on merits held 12/09/11. 

Order denying Commission’s petition as to financial analysis documents 

 and ordering Boehringer to redact and produce the remaining 

records entered 9/27/12. 

Order holding that Boehringer failed to conduct an adequate search of its 

 electronically stored information, and ordering Boehringer to run 

additional searches entered 10/16/12. 

Commission’s notice of appeal filed 12/11/12. 

Boehringer’s motion to dismiss appeal filed 1/28/13; Commission’s 

 response in opposition filed 2/11/13; Boehringer’s reply filed 

 2/22/13; order denying motion to dismiss entered 4/12/13. 

Commission’s initial brief filed 6/28/13; appellees’ brief filed 8/28/13; 

Commission’s reply brief filed 9/11/13; appellee’s final brief filed 

75 
 

 10/3/13. 

Argument held 10/14/14. 

Opinion reversing and remanding to district court entered 2/20/15. 

Boehringer’s petition for rehearing en banc filed 4/6/15; Commission’s 

response filed 5/19/15; denied 6/4/15. 

 Boehringer’s motion to stay pending a petition for certiorari filed 6/11/15; 

 Commission’s opposition filed 6/22/15. 

 Order denying motion to stay mandate 7/2/15. 

 Petition for writ of certiorari filed 10/2/15; Commission’s opposition brief 

filed 12/16/15; order denying petition for writ of certiorari entered 

1/19/16. 

Order by district court directing Boehringer to file brief discussing new 

evidence entered 12/2/15; Boehringer’s brief filed 12/23/15; 

Commission’s response filed 1/20/16; Boehringer’s motion to file 

reply brief filed 1/28/16; Commission’s response in opposition 

filed 2/1/16. 

Opinion and order by district court directing Boehringer to produce 

documents for which it has claimed only work product protection 

entered 9/27/16. 

Order granting request for extension and for a protective order stating that 

Boehringer’s production of documents under the 9/27/16 order will 

not waive work-product protection entered 10/20/16. 

Commission’s notice of appeal filed 11/23/16. 

Boehringer’s cross-appeal and request that court stay compliance pending 

appeal filed 11/28/16; Commission’s opposition to stay filed 

12/9/16. 

Commission’s opening brief filed 3/27/17; Boehringer’s answering brief 

filed 5/26/17; reply filed 7/17/17. 

Oral argument held 11/15/17. 

Per curiam opinion affirming the district court’s judgment entered 6/19/18. 

FTC v. DONOR RELATIONS, LLC, No. 2:18-cv-183 (D. Nev.) 

Parties: Donor Relations, LLC 

Courtesy Call, Inc. 

Assigned Attorneys: Burke W. Kappler (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Petition to enforce a CID. 

Status: Petition filed 2/1/18. 

Order granting Commission’s motion for order to show cause entered 

2/1/18; 

Motion to dismiss filed 2/6/18; Commission’s response filed 2/13/18; 

reply filed 2/15/18; order denying motion entered 2/16/18. 

Show cause hearing held and oral order to produce entered 2/20/18. 

76 
FTC v. FULLY ACCOUNTABLE, LLC, No. 5:18-mc-054 (N.D. Ohio) 

Parties: Fully Accountable, LLC 

Assigned Attorneys: Burke W. Kappler (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Petition to enforce a CID. 

Status: Petition filed 6/8/18. 

Order to show cause entered 6/13/18. 

Show cause hearing set for 8/9/18. 

FTC v. REDWOOD SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGIES, No. 2:17-cv-7921 (C.D. Cal.) 

Parties: Redwood Scientific Technologies 

Assigned Attorneys: Burke Kappler (OGC) 

Stacy Procter (WRLA) 

Nature of Action: Petition for an order to enforce a CID. 

Status: Petition filed 10/30/17. 

Order compelling compliance with CID entered 1/25/18. 

SUITS TO ENJOIN FTC ACTION AND OTHER DEFENSIVE LITIGATION 

AMERICAN FINANCIAL BENEFITS CENTER v. FTC, No. 18-16034 (9th Cir.); No. 4:17-

cv-4817 (N.D. Cal.) 

Parties: American Financial Benefits Center 

Ameritech Financial 

Financial Education Benefits Center 

Brandon Frere (Appellant) 

Assigned Attorneys: Imad Abyad (OGC) 

Roberta Tonelli (WRSF) 

Sarah Schroeder 

Nature of Action: Action seeking a judicial declaration that the debt relief provision of the 

Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) will not apply to plaintiffs’ businesses, 

or, alternatively, that plaintiffs are fully complying with the legal 

requirements outlined by the TSR. 

77 
Status: Complaint filed 8/18/17; amended complaint filed 11/2/17. 

Commission’s motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction filed 10/20/17; 

motion to dismiss amended complaint filed 11/16/17; response in 

opposition to motion filed 11/30/17; reply to opposition filed 

12/7/17; order granting motion to dismiss entered 5/29/18. 

Defendants’ notice of appeal filed 6/5/18. 

Appellants’ opening brief due on 10/1/18; Commission’s answering brief 

due 12/10/18. 

CARTER HAYES, LLC v. FTC, No. 1:18-cv-165 (E.D. Va.) 

Parties: Carter Hayes, LLC 

Assigned Attorneys: John Victor Coghlan (DOJ) 

Alleged Conduct: Action seeking damages and injunctive relief and a declaratory judgment 

directing the release of agency records withheld under the Freedom of 

Information Act. 

Status: Complaint filed 2/13/18. 

Commission’s motions to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction and for failure to 

state a claim filed 3/23/18; order granting motions entered 4/27/18. 

CAUSE OF ACTION INSTITUTE v. FTC, No. 1:18-cv-580 (D.D.C.) 

Parties: Cause of Action Institute 

Assigned Attorneys: Melanie Hendry (DOJ) 

Alleged Conduct: Action under the Freedom of Information Act seeking access to agency 

records withheld by the Commission. 

Status: Complaint filed 3/15/18. 

Commission scheduled to release first set of non-exempt records by 

8/13/18. 

CAUSE OF ACTION INSTITUTE v. FTC, No. 1:17-cv-1649 (D.D.C.) 

Parties: Cause of Action Institute 

Assigned Attorneys: Eric B. Beckenhauer (DOJ) 

Nature of Action: Action under the Freedom of Information Act, seeking access to agency 

records, an order declaring that the FTC improperly withheld the 

requested agency records, and other relief. 

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Status: Complaint filed 8/15/17. 

Stipulated dismissal entered 2/14/18. 

CONSUMERS FOR AUTO RELIABILITY & SAFETY v. FTC, No. 1:17-cv-540 (D.D.C.) 

Parties: Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety 

 Center for Auto Safety 

U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Inc. 

Assigned Attorneys: Leslie Melman (OGC) 

Nature of Action: Action for declaratory and injunctive relief under the Administrative 

Procedure Act in connection with the Commission’s consent orders with 

General Motors and two dealerships regarding the advertising of used 

motor vehicles. 

Status: Complaint filed 3/24/17. 

 Amended complaint filed 5/2/17. 

Commission’s motion to hold case in abeyance or, in the alternative, for 

an extension of time filed 5/16/17; opposition filed 5/30/17; 

motion to stay granted 6/13/17. 

Commission’s motion dismiss filed 9/8/17; response in opposition filed 

10/5/17; Commission’s reply filed 10/27/17. 

Motion hearing set for 9/18/18. 

DOE v. FTC, No. 4:16-cv-071 (W.D. Mo.) 

Parties: John Doe 

 Jane Doe 

Assigned Attorneys: Jeffrey Ray (AUSA) 

Leslie Melman (OGC) 

Nature of Action: Action seeking damages under the Privacy Act in connection with the 

disclosure of private and sensitive identifying information. 

Status: Complaint filed 1/28/16. 

 Amended complaint filed 10/21/16. 

 Commission’s motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim filed 

11/22/16; plaintiff’s opposition filed 12/21/16; reply filed 1/17/17; 

order denying motion entered 9/11/17. 

ELECTRONIC PRIVACY INFORMATION CENTER v. FTC, No. 1:18-cv-942 (D.D.C.) 

Parties: Electronic Privacy Information Center 

79 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assigned Attorneys: William Nebeker (DOJ) 

Alleged Conduct: Action under the Freedom of Information Act for injunctive and other 

relief to secure the release of agency records. 

Status: Complaint filed 4/20/18. 

Joint status report filed 6/26/18. 

ENDO PHARMACEUTICALS INC. v. FTC, Nos. 2:16-cv-5599, 2:16-cv-5600 (E.D. Pa.) 

Parties: Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. 

 Endo International, PLC 

 Impax Laboratories, Inc. 

Watson Laboratories, Inc. 

Allergan Finance, LLC 

Assigned Attorneys: Bradley Albert (BC/HC) 

 Jamie Towey

 Matthew Hoffman (OGC) 

Nature of Action: Action seeking declaratory judgment that Section 13(b) of the FTC Act 

does not authorize the Commission to pursue its claims against them in 

federal court. 

Status: Complaint filed 10/26/16. 

Commission’s motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction 

filed 12/30/16; opposition filed 1/13/17; Commission’s reply filed 

1/20/17. 

Order consolidating case with Allergan Finance v. FTC, No. 2:17-cv00406, entered 2/1/17. 

 Notice of voluntary dismissal by Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc and Endo 

International PLC entered 2/2/17. 

 Consolidated amended complaint by Allergan and Watson filed 2/15/17. 

Commission’s motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, or 

in the alternative, failure to state a claim, filed 3/2/17; plaintiffs’ 

opposition filed 3/16/17; Commission’s reply filed 3/23/17; 

plaintiffs’ sur-reply filed 3/30/17; order denying without prejudice 

entered 12/28/17. 

 Motion for summary judgment filed 5/9/17; Commission’s opposition 

filed 5/23/17; reply filed 5/31/17; Commission’s sur-reply filed 

6/7/17. 

Commission’s motions to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction and for failure to 

state a claim filed 1/30/18; Watson’s response filed 6/5/18. 

80 
FOWLER v. SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P., No. 8:18-cv-615 (C.D. Cal.) 

Parties: Jamarlin Fowler (Plaintiff) 

Sprint Spectrum L.P. (Defendant) 

Federal Communications Commission 

Federal Trade Commission 

Assigned Attorneys: Joel Marcus (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Action by former Sprint customer seeking damages for copyright 

infringement, breach of contract, and conversion, and alleging government 

inaction in response to his complaints. 

Status: Complaint filed 4/13/18. 

LAMB v. FTC, No. 1:17-cv-2783 (D.D.C.) 

Parties: James P. Lamb 

Assigned Attorneys: April Denise Seabrook (DOJ) 

Ashley Gum (OGC) 

Nature of Action: Action for declaratory and injunctive relief under the FOIA in connection 

with the FTC’s denials of plaintiff’s requests and subsequent appeals for 

access to certain agency records. 

Status: Complaint filed 12/27/17. 

Plaintiff’s notice of voluntary dismissal filed 1/23/18. 

OKLAHOMA KEEPERS v. STATE FARM MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, No. 5:17-

cv-1221 (W.D. Okla.) 

Parties: Oklahoma Keepers 

E L Dugan 

MW Dugan 

H L Dugan 

C I Dugan 

FC Dugan 

Assigned Attorneys: Rebecca A Frazier (DOJ) 

Nature of Action: Action for injunctive and declaratory relief, alleging that numerous 

governmental entities, officials, and insurance companies engaged in 

fraud, extortion, and other wrongful activities in violation of the Racketeer 

Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. 

81 
 

Status: Complaint filed 11/14/17. 

Order granting governmental defendants’motion to dismiss for lack of 

subject matter jurisdiction and for failure to state a claim entered 

4/3/18. 

SOUNDBOARD ASSOCIATION v. FTC, No.17-5093 (D.C. Cir.); No. 1:17-cv-150 (D.D.C.) 

Parties: Soundboard Association 

Assigned Attorneys: Bradley Grossman (OGC) 

 Matthew Hoffman 

Nature of Action: Action seeking declaratory judgment, challenging an FTC staff opinion 

letter advising that the TSR’s restrictions on “prerecorded messages” 

apply to soundboard technology. 

Status: Complaint filed 1/23/17. 

Motion for preliminary injunction by Soundboard Association filed 

1/24/17; Commission’s opposition filed 2/17/17; reply filed 

2/24/17. 

Hearing held 3/3/17. 

Order granting summary judgment in favor of the Commission entered 

4/24/17. 

Notice of appeal filed 4/27/17. 

Appellant’s opening brief filed 6/28/17; Commission’s answering brief 

filed 7/28/17; appellant’s reply brief filed 8/11/17. 

Oral argument held 11/6/17. 

Opinion and order vacating district court’s decision and dismissing 

complaint, entered 4/27/18. 

Appellant’s corrected petition for rehearing en banc filed 6/8/18. 

TRONOX LTD. v. FTC, No. 1:18-cv-010 (N.D. Miss.) 

Parties: Tronox Limited 

Assigned Attorneys: Burke Kappler (OGC) 

Alleged Conduct: Action for a declaratory judgment in connection with the Commission’s 

Part 3 proceeding challenging plaintiff’s proposed acquisition of another 

company. 

Status: Complaint filed 1/23/18. 

Plaintiff’s voluntary dismissal filed 3/7/18. 

82 
WORLD CONNECTION, LLC v. FTC, No. 1:18-cv-202 (D. Idaho) 

Parties: World Connection, LLC 

Assigned Attorneys: James Evans (BCP/MP) 

Alleged Conduct: Action for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief to prevent the 

Commission from asserting that plaintiff is a “common enterprise” with 

other entities that the agency has charged with violating its Telemarketing 

Sales Rule. 

Status: Complaint filed 5/8/18. 

AMICUS CURIAE BRIEFS or PARTIAL INTERVENTIONS 

APPLE INC. v. ROBERT PEPPER, No. 17-204 (S. Ct.) 

Assigned Attorney: Michael Bergman (OGC) 

Mark Hegedus 

Nature of Action: Private action raising question whether indirect purchasers of app 

distribution services that Apple provided directly to app developers have 

standing to sue for damages under Section 4 of the Clayton Act. 

Status: Brief for the United States as amicus curiae supporting petition for 

certiorari filed 5/8/18. 

Petition for writ of cert granted 6/18/18. 

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE v. CITY OF SEATTLE, No.17-35640 (9th Cir.) 

Assigned Attorneys: Michele Arington (OGC) 

Nature of Action: Private action raising the question whether a Seattle ordinance that allows 

Uber, Lyft, and other for-hire drivers working as independent contractors 

to collectively bargain with ride-referral service companies is exempt from 

the Sherman Act under the state action doctrine. 

Status: Brief of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission 

as amici curiae filed in support of appellants filed 11/3/17. 

Oral argument held 2/5/18. 

Opinion reversing district court’s state action ruling issued 5/11/18. 

Seattle’s petition for panel rehearing or rehearing en banc filed 6/25/18. 

83 
 

INTELLECTUAL VENTURES I LLC v. CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORP., No. 18-1367 

(Fed. Cir.) 

Assigned Attorney: Mark Hegedus (OGC) 

John Dubiansky (OPP) 

Nature of Action: Private action alleging patent infringement claims and antitrust 

counterclaims, raising question of Noerr-Pennington doctrine’s 

application to allegedly anticompetitive conduct that includes patentlitigation activity. 

Status: Corrected brief of the Justice Department and the Commission as amici 

curiae filed in support of in support of neither party filed 5/11/18. 

SALT RIVER PROJECT AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT & POWER DISTRICT v. 

SOLARCITY CORP., No. 17-368 (S. Ct.) 

Assigned Attorney: Michele Arington (OGC) 

Nature of Action: Action raising the question of whether a public entity has the right to an 

immediate appeal under the collateral-order doctrine from a district court’s 

decision that the entity’s conduct is not state action beyond the reach of 

the Sherman Act. 

Status: Brief for the United States as amicus curiae supporting respondent filed 

2/20/18. 

TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY LTD. v. ZYDUS PHARMACEUTICALS (USA) 

INC., No. 3:18-cv-1994 (D.N.J.) 

Assigned Attorney: Kara Monahan (BC/HC) 

Nature of Action: Action alleging patent infringement and counterclaims alleging patentinfringement lawsuit is a sham, and raising issue about the application of 

the Noerr-Pennington doctrine in the pharmaceutical industry 

Status: Commission’s motion for leave to file an amicus brief filed 6/6/18. 

84