Source: https://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/Peskin/complaint.html
Timestamp: 2018-01-23 20:12:55
Document Index: 434099716

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 431', '§ 431', '§ 431', '§ 17', '§ 17', '§ 17', '§ 431', '§ 17', '§ 15', '§17', '§17', '§431', '§431', '§431', '§431', '§431', '§431', '§431', '§431', '§431', '§431', '§431', '§431', '§17', '§17', '§17', '§17', '§17', '§17', '§17', '§17', '§ 17', '§51', '§431', '§ 431', '§ 403', '§ 403', '§431', '§17', '§17', '§431', '§431', '§402', '§161']

Attorney General's Complaint against Brian Peskin
2. This action is brought by Attorney General John Cornyn, through his Consumer Protection Division, in the name of the State of Texas and in the public interest under the authority granted him by §§ 431.047 and 431.0585 of the Texas Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 431.001 et seq. ("TFDCA") upon the ground that the Commissioner of Health of the State of Texas and his authorized agents find that Defendants have violated provisions of § 431.021 of the TFDCA.
Protection Division in the name of the State of Texas under the authority granted to him pursuant to § 17.47 of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, TEX. BUS. & COM. CODE ANN. § 17.41 et seq., ("DTPA") upon the grounds that Defendants have engaged in false, misleading and deceptive acts and practices in the conduct of trade or commerce as defined and declared unlawful by § 17.46 (a) and (b) of the DTPA.
6. Venue for this action lies in Harris County under the statutory authority of §§ 431.0585 and 431.047(c) of the TFDCA because the violations occurred in Harris County, Texas. Venue for this action also lies in Harris County pursuant to § 17.47 (b) of the DTPA because Defendants reside and have their principal place of business in Harris County, Texas. Venue also lies in Harris County, Texas pursuant to § 15.002 (a)(1)-(3) TEX. CIV. PRACT. & REM. CODE because Harris County is the place where all or a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred, and because both the individual Defendant's residence and the Corporate Defendant's principal office were situated in Harris County at the time this cause of action accrued.
8. Defendants have, at all times described below, engaged in conduct constituting "trade" and "commerce," as those terms are defined in §17.45(6) of the DTPA.
10. Pursuant to §17.47(a) of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, contact has been made with the Defendants' counsel herein, to inform them of the unlawful conduct alleged herein and that this action would be filed.
A. The introduction or delivery for introduction into commerce of any food or drug that is adulterated or misbranded in violation of TFDCA §431.021(a);
B. The adulteration or misbranding of any food or drug in commerce in violation of TFDCA §431.021(b);
C. The distribution in commerce of a consumer commodity, if such commodity is contained in a package or has labeling that does not conform to the provisions of Chapter 431 of the TFDCA, in violation of TFDCA §431.021(d);
D. The dissemination of false advertisements, as alleged herein, in violation of TFDCA §431.021(f);
E. The manufacture within this state of any food, drug, device, or cosmetic that is adulterated or misbranded in violation of TFDCA §431.021(h);
F. Engaging in the manufacture of food in Texas without first being duly licensed with the Department of Health as required by TFDCA §431.222.
G. Failing to submit a scheduled process for production of Defendants' "Herbal Essence" tonic, which is an acidified food, as well as to register with the FDA in violation of TFDCA §431.244(a) which adopts 21 C.F.R. 108.25 (c)(1)-(2);
H. Failing to prepare, review and maintain, for a period of (3) years at Defendants' processing plant, all records of processing, deviations in processing, pH and other records specified in 21 C.F.R. 114 in violation of TFDCA §431.244(a) which adopts 21 C.F.R. 108.25(g) and 21 C.F.R. 114;
I. Failing to maintain processing and production records showing adherence to scheduled processes, including records of pH measurements, calibration of all instruments used in the process, and records of other critical factors intended to ensure production of a safe product, in violation of TFDCA §431.244(a) which adopts 21 C.F.R. 114.100(a)-(e);
J. Distributing in commerce any acidified foods with a finished equilibrium pH value of 4.3 or higher achieved within the time designated in the scheduled process and maintained in all finished foods in violation of TFDCA §431.244(a) which adopts 21 C.F.R. 114.80(a)(1).
K. The introduction or delivery for introduction into commerce any new drug not approved by the FDA as required by TFDCA §431.114, in violation of TFDCA §431.021(e).
18. Defendants, in the course and conduct of trade and commerce, have directly and indirectly engaged in false, misleading and deceptive acts and practices declared to be unlawful by the DTPA, §17.46(a) and DTPA, §17.46(b), to wit:
A. Causing confusion or misunderstanding as to the source, sponsorship, approval, or certification of goods or services, in violation of DTPA, §17.46(b)(2);
B. Causing confusion or misunderstanding as to affiliation, connection, or association with, or certification by, another, in violation of DTPA, §17.46(b)(3);
C. Representing that goods or services have sponsorship, approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits, or quantities which they do not have, or that a person has a sponsorship, approval, status, affiliation, or connection which he does not have, in violation of DTPA, §17.46(b)(5);
D. Representing that goods or services are of a particular standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of a particular style or model, if they are of another, in violation of DTPA, §17.46(b)(7);
E. Advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised, in violation of DTPA, §17.46(b)(9)
F. Failing to disclose information concerning goods or services which was known at the time of the transaction if such failure to disclose such information was intended to induce the consumer into a transaction which the consumer would not have entered had the information been disclosed, in violation of DTPA, §17.46(b)(24);
G. Engaging in false, misleading or deceptive acts or practices in the course of trade or commerce, in violation of DTPA § 17.46(a).
20. Plaintiff herein requests a jury trial and tenders the jury fee to the Harris County District Clerk's office pursuant to TEX. R. CIV. P. 216 and TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN. §51.604.
(3) Adulterating or misbranding any food or drug in commerce in violation of TFDCA §431.021(b)
(6) Engaging in the manufacture or processing of food products in Texas without first being properly licensed with the Department of Health as required by TFDCA §§ 431.222.
(13) Offering for sale, selling, or distributing into commerce any food product intended for human consumption if any claim is made on the label, or in any type of advertising related to the product, which expressly or impliedly refers to the nutrient content or a nutritional quality of the food product to a specific disease or condition of the human body, except as permitted by § 403(r) of the Federal Food and Drug Act;
(14) Offering for sale, selling, or distributing into commerce any food product intended for human consumption if any claim is made on the label, or in any type of advertising related to the product, which expressly or impliedly refers to the nutrient content of the product or to any health claims made by the product which is not in compliance with § 403(r) of the Federal Food and Drug Act;
(21) Introducing or delivering for introduction into commerce any new drug without a new drug application being approved by the FDA as required by TFDCA §431.114;
(25) Selling, distributing, sending, mailing, printing, giving, disseminating, advertising,or allowing any other person, entity or business to sell, distribute, send, give, mail, print, advertise, or disseminate the book "Radiant Health­Moving Beyond the Zone" to any person, entity or business, at any time in which Defendants or others are producing, manufacturing, distributing, selling, giving, sending, advertising or marketing any of Defendants' current products (now) known as Radiant Health Herbal Essence, Mineral Essence and/or Basic Essence;
A. Adjudge against Defendants civil penalties in favor of Plaintiff STATE OF TEXAS in an amount up to $10,000 per violation, not to exceed $100,000.00 allowed by law under the DTPA, specifically, §17.47(c)(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, due to Defendants committing acts and practices which were calculated to acquire or deprive money or other property from consumers who were 65 years of age or older when the act or practice occurred;
B. Adjudge against Defendants civil penalties in favor of Plaintiff, STATE OF TEXAS, in an amount up to $2,000 per violation, not to exceed $10,000 allowed by law under the DTPA, specifically, §17.47(c)(1) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code;
C. Adjudge against Defendants civil fines and penalties to the State of Texas in the amount of $25,000 per violation per day, for each violation of TFDCA §431.021 as provided in TFDCA §431.0585;
E. Order Defendants to pay Plaintiff STATE OF TEXAS attorney fees, expenses, and costs of court pursuant to TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN. §402.006(c) and TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. §§161.094(d) and 431.047(d);