The proposed consent decree settling the charges with Wittstein was filed at the FTC's request by the Department of Justice in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, in New Haven, today. The Commission vote to authorize filing was 5-0. At the same time, the FTC voted to dismiss its complaint against corporate defendant Megatrend, which is currently in bankruptcy proceedings. The FTC's Boston Regional Office handled this case. This consent decree is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the defendant of a law violation.
Consent decrees have the force of law when signed by the judge.
The FTC has developed a free fact sheet for anyone interested in purchasing a franchise.