Announced Actions for August 10, 2001

Commission authorization to file amended complaint:

The Commission has authorized staff to file an amended complaint regarding the following: First Alliance Mortgage Companies and First Alliance Corporation. The Commission's original complaint in this matter was filed on October 3, 2000 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, and alleges federal law violations arising out of the companies' subprime lending practices. Through this action, the Commission is adding Brian Chisick as an individual defendant and his wife Sara Chisick as a relief defendant to the complaint. The Commission vote authorizing staff to file the amended complaint was 5-0. (FTC File No. 002-3345; staff contact is Brad Blower, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2646; see press release dated October 4, 2000.)

Consent agreement given final approval:

Following a public comment period, the Commission has finalized a consent order and sent a letter to the commentor of record in the following matter: Lafarge S.A./Blue Circle Industries PLC; Lafarge S.A., et al (Lafarge). The vote to approve the final consent agreement was 5-0. (FTC File No. 001-0112, C-4014; staff contact is Roberta Baruch, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2861; see press release dated June 18, 2001.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC's Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint, or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at www.ftc.gov. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.