DEBRA VALENTINE
General CounselCHARLES A. HARWOOD
Regional Director
ELEANOR DURHAM
NADINE S. SAMTER
Federal Trade Commission
915 Second Avenue, Suite 2896
Seattle, WA 98174
(206) 220-4476
(206) 220-4479
ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEVADA
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION,
Plaintiff,
v.
WOOFTER INVESTMENT CORPORATION, et al.,
Defendants.
CV-S-97- 00515-HDM (RLH)
STIPULATED ORDER FOR PERMANENT INJUNCTION AND FINAL
JUDGMENT
Plaintiff, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC" or "Commission"),
has filed a complaint for a permanent injunction and other relief pursuant to Sections
13(b) and 19 of the Federal Trade Commission Act ("FTC Act"), 15 U.S.C. §§
53(b) and 57b, and the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act
(Telemarketing Act), 15 U.S.C. § 6101 et seq., naming as defendants
Woofter Investment Corporation and Patsy M. Barbour, and alleging violations of the
Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 C.F.R. Part 310 ("the Rule").
Defendants Woofter Investment Corporation and Patsy M. Barbour, and the Commission, by
and through their respective counsel, have agreed to entry of this Order by this Court in
order to resolve all matters in dispute between them in this action. These defendants have
consented to the entry of this Order without trial or adjudication of any issue of law or
fact herein, and this Order shall not constitute an admission of liability by defendants
nor constitute evidence of liability against defendants in any matter relating to the
facts alleged in the Commissions Complaint. NOW, THEREFORE, these defendants and the
Commission having requested the Court to enter this Order, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED,
ADJUDGED, AND DECREED as follows:
FINDINGS
- A. This Court has jurisdiction of the subject matter of this action and the parties
consenting hereto.
-
- B. The complaint states a claim upon which relief may be granted against Woofter
Investment Corporation and Patsy M. Barbour, under Sections 13(b) and 19 of the FTC Act,
15 U.S.C. §§ 53(b) and 57b, The Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention
Act, 15 U.S.C. § 6101 et seq., and the Telemarketing Sales Rule ("the
Rule") 16 C.F.R. Part 310.
-
- C. Entry of this Order is in the public interest.
-
- D. These defendants have waived all rights to seek judicial review or otherwise
challenge or contest the validity of this Order.
-
- E. This Order does not constitute and shall not be interpreted to constitute either an
admission by these defendants or a finding by the Court that Woofter Investment
Corporation, or Patsy M. Barbour have engaged in violations of FTC law.
DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this Order, the following definitions shall apply:
- A. Person means a natural person, organization or other legal entity,
including a corporation, partnership, proprietorship, association, cooperative, government
or governmental subdivision or agency, or any other group or combination acting as an
entity.
-
- B. Defendants means Woofter Investment Corporation and Patsy M. Barbour as
well as their successors and assigns, directors, officers, agents, servants, employees,
salespersons, independent contractors, corporations, subsidiaries, affiliates, and other
persons directly or indirectly under their control or in active concert or participation
with them who receive actual notice of this Order by personal service, facsimile or
otherwise, whether acting directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division or
other device.
-
- C. "Telemarketer" means any person who, in connection with telemarketing,
initiates telephone calls to, or receives telephone calls from, a consumer.
-
- D. "Telemarketing" means a plan, program, or campaign that is conducted to
induce the purchase of goods or services by use of one or more telephones.
I. INJUNCTION
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that defendants are hereby permanently restrained and enjoined
from:
- A. Providing credit card processing for any telemarketer in a manner that violates Part
310.3(c) of the Rule.
-
- B. Engaging in, participating in, assisting, or facilitating in any manner or in any
capacity whatsoever, any foreign or domestic lottery promotion (except as expressly
provided for by relevant state or federal law), directly or through any intermediary. This
prohibition includes, but is not limited to:
- promoting, offering for sale, selling, reselling, purchasing on behalf of others, or
registering, directly or indirectly, lottery tickets, chances, or interests; or
- providing customer service or any other service to any telemarketer of lottery tickets,
chances or interests.
- C. Promoting, offering for sale, selling, or participating, directly or through an
agent, in the sale of any product or service in a manner that violates the Telemarketing
Sales Rule, including but not limited to:
1. failing to disclose in a clear and conspicuous manner:
a. the total costs to purchase, receive, or use, and the quantity of goods or services
that are the subject of the sales offer;
b. all material restrictions, limitations, or conditions to purchase, receive, or use
the goods or services that are the subject of the sales offer;
c. if the seller has a policy of not making refunds, cancellations, or exchanges, or
repurchases, a statement informing the customer that this is the sellers policy; or
if the seller or telemarketer makes a representation about a refund, cancellation,
exchange or repurchase policy, a statement of all material terms and conditions of such
policy;
d. in any prize promotion, the odds of being able to receive the prize, and if the odds
are not calculable in advance, the factors used in calculating the odds; that no purchase
or payment is required to win a prize or to participate in a prize promotion; and the no
purchase/no payment method of participating in the prize promotion;
e. all material costs or conditions to receive or redeem a prize that is the subject of
a prize promotion;
f. any material aspect of an investment opportunity including, but not limited to,
risk, liquidity, earnings potential, or profitability, or
g. a sellers or telemarketers affiliation with, or endorsement by, any
government or third-party organization.
2. misrepresenting, directly or by implication any of the following:
a. the total cost to purchase, receive, or use, and the quantity of, any goods or
services that are the subject of a sales offer;
b. any material restriction, limitation, or condition to purchase, receive, or use
goods or services that are the subject of a sales offer;
c. any material aspect of the performance, efficacy, nature, or central characteristics
of goods or services that are the subject of a sales offer;
d. any material aspect of the nature or terms of the sellers refund,
cancellation, exchange, or repurchase policies; and
e. any material aspect of a prize promotion including, but not limited to, the odds of
being able to win a prize, the nature or value of a prize, or that a purchase or payment
is required to win a prize of participate in a prize promotion.
- D. Making a false or misleading statement to induce a person to pay for goods or
services.
II. MONETARY RELIEF
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendant Woofter Investment Corporation shall pay into an
interest-bearing escrow account designated by plaintiff, under the control of the
Commission's designated agent, the sum of one million two hundred sixteen thousand dollars
($1,216,000). Defendants acknowledge that two hundred sixteen thousand dollars ($216,000)
of this amount is revenue received from consumers of Pacific Rim Pools International. The
payment of this sum shall fully satisfy all monetary claims asserted by the Commission in
the complaint filed herein and shall be used to provide redress to consumers who purchased
lottery tickets from any telemarketing client of defendants and pay any attendant expenses
of administration. If the Commission determines, in its sole discretion, that redress to
purchasers is wholly or partially impracticable, any funds not so used shall be deposited
into the United States Treasury or be used by the Commission to educate consumers affected
by the defendants practices. No portion of the payment as herein provided shall be
deemed a payment of any fine, penalty, or punitive assessment. Defendants shall be
notified as to how funds are disbursed, but shall have no right to contest the manner of
distribution chosen by the Commission.
III. RIGHT TO REOPEN
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, by agreeing to this Order, defendants affirm and attest to
the truthfulness, accuracy, and completeness of the financial statements that were
provided to the FTC on [September xx, 1998] (designated the "Financial
Statements"). The Commission's agreement to this Order is expressly premised upon the
truthfulness, accuracy, and completeness of defendants financial condition as
represented in the Financial Statements referenced above, which contain material
information upon which the Commission relied in negotiating and agreeing to the terms of
this Order, including the monetary redress provided for by this Order. If, upon motion by
the Commission, this Court finds that defendants failed to disclose any material asset, or
materially misrepresented the value of any asset, or made any other material
misrepresentation in or omission from the Financial Statements, the Court may reopen the
judgment for the purpose of requiring additional monetary consumer redress in an amount
equivalent to any resulting understatement of assets, overstatement of liabilities or
understatement of net worth, provided, however, that in all other respects, this Order
shall remain in full force and effect unless otherwise ordered by this Court; and provided
further that proceedings instituted under this Paragraph are in addition to, and not in
lieu of, any other civil or criminal remedies as may be provided by law, including any
other proceedings the Commission may initiate to enforce this Order.
IV. RELEASE OF ASSET FREEZE
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the freeze of the defendant Woofters assets as ordered
in Paragraph II of the Stipulated Preliminary Injunction entered in this matter on June 9,
1997, to the extent not previously released by any separate Order of this Court or
agreement by the parties, shall be lifted upon (i) the entry of this Order; (ii) the
defendant Woofters payment to the Federal Trade Commission, pursuant to Paragraph II
of this Order; and (iii) the defendant Woofters payment of all Court-approved fees
and expenses of the Receiver.
V. VACATION OF RECEIVERSHIP
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the appointment by this Court of Mahan & Ellis,
Chartered, 510 South Ninth Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101, as Receiver for defendant Woofter
is vacated upon (i) the defendant Woofters payment to the Federal Trade Commission,
pursuant to Paragraph II of this Order; (ii) the defendant Woofters payment of all
Court-approved fees and expenses of the Receiver; and (iii) the Receiver having received a
discharge from the Court.
VI. MAILING LISTS
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendants are permanently restrained and enjoined from
selling, renting, leasing, transferring, or otherwise disclosing the name, address,
telephone number, credit card number, bank account number, e-mail address, or other
identifying information of any person whose credit card was processed through
Woofters merchant account at any time prior to entry of this Order. Provided,
however, that defendants may disclose such identifying information to a law enforcement
agency or as required by any law, regulation, or court order.
VII. NOTICE TO RELATED PERSONS AND ENTITIES
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendants, for a period of three (3) years after the date
of entry of this Order shall:
- A. Provide a copy of this Order to, and obtain a signed and dated acknowledgment of
receipt of the same from each officer or director, each person serving in a management
capacity, all personnel involved in responding to consumer complaints or inquiries, and
all sales personnel, whether designated as employees, consultants, independent contractors
or otherwise, immediately upon employing or retaining any such persons, for any business
where
(1) any defendant is the majority owner of the business, or directly or indirectly
manages or controls the business, and
(2) the business is conducted in connection with telemarketing any product or service.
- B. Maintain for a period of three (3) years after creation, and upon reasonable notice,
make available to representatives of the Commission, the original signed and dated
acknowledgments of the receipt of copies of this Order, as required by Paragraph VII.A of
this Order.
VIII. RECORD KEEPING PROVISIONS
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that for a period of five (5) years from the date of entry of
this Order, defendants, in connection with any business in which any defendant is the
majority owner of the business or directly or indirectly manages or controls the business,
and where the business is conducted in connection with telemarketing any product or
service, are hereby restrained and enjoined from failing to create, and from failing to
retain for a period of three (3) years following the date of such creation, unless
otherwise specified:
- A. Books, records, and accounts which, in reasonable detail, accurately, fairly, and
completely reflect the cost of goods or services sold, revenues generated, and the
disbursement of such revenues.
-
- B. Records accurately reflecting: the name, address, and telephone number of each person
employed in any capacity by such business, including as an independent contractor; that
persons job title or position; the date upon which the person commenced work; and
the date and the reason for the persons termination, if applicable. The businesses
subject to this Paragraph shall retain such records for any terminated person for a period
of two (2) years following the date of termination.
-
- C. Records containing the names, addresses, phone numbers, dollar amounts paid, quantity
of items or services purchased, and description of items or services purchased, for all
consumers to whom such business sold, invoiced, or shipped any goods or services.
-
- D. Records that reflect, for every consumer complaint or refund request, whether
received directly or indirectly through any third party:
- the consumers name, address, telephone number, and the amount paid by the
consumer;
- the written complaint or refund request, if any, and the date of the complaint or refund
request;
- the basis of the complaint, including the name of any salesperson complained against,
and the nature and result of any investigation conducted concerning any complaint;
- each response and the date of the response;
- any final resolution and the date of the resolution; and
- in the event of a denial of a refund request, the reason for the denial.
- E. Copies of all sales scripts, training materials, advertisements, or other marketing
materials used; provided that all copies of sales scripts, training materials,
advertisements, or other marketing materials used shall be retained for three (3) years
after the last date of dissemination of any such materials.
IX. ACCESS TO RECORDS
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that for purposes of determining or securing compliance with this
Order, defendants shall permit, for a period of three (3) years from the date of entry of
this Order, and upon reasonable written notice to defendants, representatives of the
Commission:
- A. Access during normal office hours to any office or facility in which documents
relating to compliance with the terms of this Order are stored or held, to inspect and
copy such documents; and
-
- B. To interview, subject to the reasonable convenience of defendants and without
restraint or interference from them, at a location reasonably convenient to both
defendants and the Commission, the officers, directors, and employees of any company or
other business entity owned, managed, or controlled, in whole or in part, by any
defendant, relating to compliance with the terms of this Order.
X. COMPLIANCE REPORTING BY DEFENDANTS
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that for purposes of monitoring compliance with the provisions of
this Order:
- A. For a period of five (5) years from the date of entry of this Order, defendants shall
notify the Commission in writing of the following:
- any changes in Patsy M. Barbours residence, mailing addresses, and telephone
numbers, within ten (10) days of the date of any such change;
- any changes in Patsy M. Barbours employment status or affiliation with any new
business that is related to the telemarketing of any product or service, including the new
business' name and address, a statement of the nature of the business, and a statement of
her duties and responsibilities in connection with the business; and
- any proposed change in the structure of defendant Woofter Investment Corporation, that
may affect compliance obligations arising out of this Order, thirty (30) days prior to the
effective date of any proposed change; provided , however, that, with respect to
any proposed change in the corporation about which defendants learn less than thirty (30)
days prior to the date such action is to take place, they shall notify the Commission as
soon as is practicable after learning of such proposed change.
- B. Within one hundred-eighty (180) days after the date of entry of this Order,
defendants shall file a report, in writing, setting forth in detail the manner and form in
which each of them has complied with this Order.
-
- C. For purposes of this Order all notices and reports required of defendants shall be
made to the following address:
Regional Director
Federal Trade Commission
915 Second Avenue, Suite 2896
Seattle, Washington 98174
XI. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF ORDER
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, within five (5) business days after receipt by defendants
of this Order as entered by the Court, defendants shall each submit to the Commission a
truthful sworn statement, in the form shown on Appendix A, that shall acknowledge receipt
of this Permanent Injunction and Final Judgment.
XII. COMPLIANCE MONITORING BY FTC
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Commission is authorized to monitor defendants
compliance with this Order by all lawful means available, including but not limited to the
use of compulsory process and the use of investigators posing as consumers or suppliers.
XIII. RETENTION OF JURISDICTION
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Court shall retain jurisdiction of this matter for the
purpose of enabling either of the parties to this Order to apply to the Court at any time
for such further orders or directives as may be necessary or appropriate for the
interpretation or modification of this Order, for the enforcement of compliance therewith
or for the punishment of violations thereof.
SO ORDERED, this _____ day of , 1998.
______________________________
United States District Judge
The parties hereby consent to the terms and conditions set forth above and consent to
entry of this Order without further notice to the parties. Defendants waive any rights
that may arise under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412.
FOR PLAINTIFF
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
______________
Eleanor Durham
______________
Nadine Samter
FOR DEFENDANTS
WOOFTER INVESMENT CORP.,
PATSY M. BARBOUR
__________________________________
Patsy M. Barbour as President of Woofter
Investment Corporation and individually
William McGimsey
601 E. Charleston Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89104
Attorney for Defendants |