The Commission received assistance in its investigation from the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Tennessee Attorney General's Office. The Commission vote to refer the complaint and proposed consent decree to the Department of Justice for filing was 5-0. The proposed consent decree settling the FTC charges requires the court's approval to become binding. The documents were filed yesterday by the Justice Department on the FTC's behalf, in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, in Nashville. 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.