The Commission vote to forward the complaints and the proposed consent decrees to the Department of Justice for filing was 4-0. The complaint and consent decree against Gep, Inc., Bank Card, and Swicker were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, in Orlando on February 23, 1999. The complaint and consent decree against Executive Industries and Costantino were filed in the U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, in Phoenix on February 23, 1999. They are subject to court approval. These consent decrees are for settlement purposes only and do not constitute an admission by the defendants of law violations.
Consent decrees have the force of law when signed by the judge.