Building Inspection Franchise Defendant to Pay $10,000 Civil Penalty

Beverly Tisei, one of the defendants in a Federal Trade Commission action against The Building Inspector of America, Inc., has agreed to pay a $10,000 civil penalty as part of a settlement of federal charges against her for failing to disclose to potential purchasers the litigation and bankruptcy history of the franchisor and two other company officers. The complaint charges that Tisei and the other defendants -- The Building Inspector, Lawrence Finklestone and Ralph Tisei -- also made unsubstantiated claims to potential purchasers about the earnings they could expect, among other violations of the FTC's Franchise Rule.

The Building Inspector of America, Inc., in operation since 1985, offers franchises for home-inspection services. It is based in Wakefield, Massachusetts. Tisei resides in Peabody, Massachusetts. The federal district court has entered partial summary judgment against one of the other defendants in the case, but has yet to set the injunctive requirements and any damages or civil penalties. (In October 1995, defendant Finklestone agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty to settle charges against him).

The FTC's Franchise Rule, designed to assist franchisees in evaluating a business investment, requires franchisors to provide each potential franchisee with a complete and accurate disclosure document describing the financial status of the company, the experience and background of the franchisors, their litigation history, the nature of the business, the terms of the proposed franchise relationship, and other key information. The rule also requires franchisors to have a reasonable basis for any earnings claims they make, and to provide prospective purchasers with a document containing substantiation for those claims. In an April 1993 complaint, filed in federal district court and detailing the allegations in this case, the FTC charged the defendants with failing to disclose to potential franchisees the litigation history concerning fraud or misrepresentation and the bankruptcy history of each executive officer. The complaint also alleges that defendants made claims about the earnings that franchise buyers could expect, without having adequate support for the claims.

The proposed consent judgment that Tisei has signed to settle the charges against her, and which requires the court's approval to become binding, would require her to pay the $10,000 civil penalty, and would prohibit her from violating the FTC's Franchise Rule. The settlement would permit the FTC to reopen the matter should Tisei be found to have misrepresented her financial condition.

In addition, as part of the settlement, Tisei would be prohibited from receiving any substantial transfer of assets or property from her husband, Ralph Tisei, (another defendant named in the case) until he has paid all civil penalties and/or consumer redress ordered by the court. Finally, the settlement includes various reporting requirements necessary to assist the FTC in monitoring her compliance.

The proposed consent judgment was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, in Boston, on March 4, by the Department of Justice at the request of the FTC. The Commission vote to authorize filing was 5-0.

NOTE: This consent judgment is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the defendant of a law violation. Consent judgments have the force of law when signed by the judge.

Two free FTC brochures -- titled "Franchise and Business Opportunities" and "A Consumer Guide to Buying a Franchise" -- explain the FTC's Franchise Rule in more detail and offers advice to those considering investing in such a business. Copies of the brochures, as well as the consent judgment and other documentsassociated with this case, are available from the FTC's Public Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; TTY for the hearing impaired 1-866-653-4261. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202-326-2710 FTC news releases and other materials also are available on the Internet at the FTC's World Wide Web site at: http://www.ftc.gov

(Civil Action No. 93-10838-NG)
(FTC File No. X940061)