The investigation was conducted by the FTC's Seattle Regional Office, which received assistance from state law enforcement agencies, including the Utah Department of Commerce's Division of Consumer Protection. The settlement requires the court's approval to become binding. It was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, in Seattle, on April 17. The Commission vote to file it was 5-0. This consent order is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the defendant of a law violation.
Consent orders have the force of law when signed by the judge.
Copies of the complaint and consent order, as well as a free FTC brochure that offers tips for consumers thinking of investing in franchises, are available from the FTC's Public Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.