Announced Actions for August 16, 2002

– The Commission has authorized the staff to file an amicus brief in the action currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama captioned Carter v. ICR Services Inc. (Civil Action Number 00-CV-2666). The matter concerns a class action suit alleging violations of the Credit Repair Organizations Act. In the amicus brief, the Commission objects to the $1.2 million in attorneys’ fees that the class counsel is expected to seek at the August 16, 2002 fairness hearing scheduled in this matter. In addition, the brief addresses a dispute that has arisen between the parties in the class member claims process. The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the amicus brief was 5-0. It can be found on the FTC’s Web site as a link to this press release. (FTC File No. 012-3199; staff contact is Todd M. Kossow, FTC Midwest Regional Office, Chicago, 312-960-5616.)

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. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.