UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
ORLANDO DIVISION
Case No. 6:00 -Civ-1057-ORL-19B
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, Plaintiff,
v.
LEISURE TIME MARKETING, INC., a Florida Corporation;
DISCOVERY RENTAL, INC., d/b/a Discovery Rentals, Inc., a Florida
Corporation;
MARLIN SWANSON;
BRITT SHENKMAN;
EDWARD M. SEBASTIAN; and
FEREIDOUN "FRED" KHALILIAN; Defendants.
STIPULATED FINAL ORDER OF PERMANENT INJUNCTION AGAINST LEISURE
TIME MARKETING, INC., DISCOVERY RENTAL, INC., MARLIN SWANSON, BRITT SHENKMAN AND EDWARD M.
SEBASTIAN
Plaintiff, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC" or "Commission"),
having filed its Complaint for a permanent injunction and other relief in this matter,
pursuant to Sections 13(b) and 19 of the Federal Trade Commission Act ("FTC
Act"), 15 U.S.C. §§ 53(b) and 57, and Section 4(a) of the Telemarketing
and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act, 15 U.S.C. § 6103(a), moved for an ex
parte temporary restraining order pursuant to Rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure (Fed. R. Civ. P. 65), and for other equitable relief, including appointment of a
temporary receiver, an asset freeze and an order to show cause why a preliminary
injunction should not issue. The Court granted the Commission's motion except as to the
appointment of a receiver on August 14, 2000. Defendants Leisure Time Marketing, Inc.,
Discovery Rental, Inc., Marlin Swanson, Britt Shenkman and Edward M. Sebastian and
Plaintiff Federal Trade Commission, through their counsel, then stipulated and consented
to the terms, conditions, and findings of a stipulated preliminary injunction order
without the need of a hearing.
Defendants Leisure Time Marketing, Inc., Discovery Rental, Inc., Marlin Swanson, Britt
Shenkman and Edward M. Sebastian, together with Plaintiff Federal Trade Commission,
through their counsel, have now agreed to the entry of this Stipulated Final Order of
Permanent Injunction ("Final Order") by this Court in order to resolve all
matters in dispute against them in this action.
Being fully advised in the premises and acting upon the joint motion of the parties,
the Commission, Leisure Time Marketing, Inc., Discovery Rental, Inc., Marlin Swanson,
Britt Shenkman and Edward M. Sebastian, to enter into this Final Order,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED as follows:
- 1. This Court has jurisdiction of the subject matter of this case and the parties
hereto;
-
- 2. The Complaint states a claim upon which relief may be granted against the Defendants
under Section 5, 13(b), and 19 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 45, 53(b), and 57(b);
and the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act, 15 U.S.C.
§ 6103(a);
-
- 3. Venue in this district is proper under 28 U.S.C. §1391 (b) and (c), and 15 U.S.C.
§ 53(b);
-
- 4. The acts and practices of the Defendants are and were in or affecting commerce, as
"commerce" is defined in Section 4 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 44;
-
- 5. Entry of this Final Order is in the public interest;
-
- 6. Defendants have waived all claims under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C.
§ 2412, and all rights to seek judicial review or otherwise challenge or contest the
validity of this Final Order, and further waive and release the Commission, its employees,
agents and representatives, from any claims arising from this action; and
-
- 7. Except as provided in Section IV(G) of this Final Order, this Final order does not
constitute evidence of or an admission by Defendants of any liability or wrongful conduct,
including that they have engaged in violation of the FTC Act, the Telemarketing and
Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act, or the Telemarketing Sales Rule or of any
wrongful conduct alleged in the Complaint.
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Final Order, the following definitions shall apply:
- 1. "Plaintiff" or "Commission" or "FTC" means the Federal
Trade Commission.
-
- 2. "Defendants" means Defendants Leisure Time Marketing, Inc., Discovery
Rental, Inc., Marlin Swanson, Britt Shenkman and Edward M. Sebastian.
-
- 3. "Assets" means all real and personal property of any Defendant, or held for
the benefit of any Defendant, including but not limited to, "goods,"
"instruments," "equipment," "fixtures," "general
intangibles," "inventory," "checks," or "notes," (as
these terms are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code), lines of credit and all cash,
wherever located.
-
- 4. "Substantial assistance or support" means knowingly providing any of the
following goods or services to any person or entity engaged in telemarketing:
-
- a. Performing customer service functions for an entity engaged in telemarketing
including, but not limited to, receiving or responding to consumer complaints;
-
- b. Formulating or providing, or arranging for the formulation or provision of any
telephone sales script or any other marketing material for an entity engaged in
telemarketing;
-
- c. Providing names of, or assisting in the generation of, potential customers for any
entity engaged in telemarketing; or
-
- d. Performing marketing services of any kind for any entity engaged in telemarketing.
-
- 5. "Vacation travel package" means any product or service that purports to
provide transportation, accommodations, or amenities usable during travel. This definition
specifically includes, but is not limited to: travel planning services; booking and
reservation services; and certificates, vouchers, coupons, reservation forms or other
documents that purport to be full or partial payment, or redeemable, for transportation or
accommodations, car rental, tours, sports or other activities, meals, drinks, or entrance
to special events or locations.
ORDER
INJUNCTIVE PROVISIONS
I.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendants, Leisure Time Marketing, Inc.,
Discovery Rental, Inc., Marlin Swanson, Britt Shenkman and Edward M. Sebastian, and each
of them, and their officers, agents, directors, employees, salespersons, independent
contractors, attorneys, corporations, subsidiaries, affiliates, successors, assigns, and
all other persons in active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice
of this Final Order by personal service or otherwise, whether acting directly or through
any trust, corporation, subsidiary, division or other device, in connection with the
advertising, marketing, offering for sale or sale of any vacation travel package, are
hereby permanently restrained and enjoined from:
A. Making expressly or by implication, any false or misleading representation or
omission of any material fact, including, but not limited to:
making any misrepresentation that consumers will receive free round trip airline
tickets;
making any misrepresentation that the price quoted to a consumer in the sales
solicitation is the total cost to purchase, receive or use the vacation travel package;
and
failing to disclose in a clear and conspicuous manner the conditions and restrictions
to purchase, receive or use the vacation travel package, including, if applicable:
that consumers are expected or required to attend timeshare sales presentations; and
that in order to receive the airline tickets consumers must stay at certain hotels for
a specified price and length of time; and
For consumers who have purchased vacation travel packages prior to the date of this
Final Order, before inviting and/or requiring consumers to attend sales presentations for
timeshare properties, failing to:
Give to consumers all travel vouchers for hotels, cruises or attractions included in
the vacation travel package; and
Disclose both orally and in writing that the consumers' attendance at any sales
presentation for timeshare properties is voluntary and will in no way affect the
consumers' rights to, or the quality of, the vacation travel packages previously
purchased.
II.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, Defendants, Leisure Time Marketing, Inc.,
Discovery Rental, Inc., Marlin Swanson, Britt Shenkman and Edward M. Sebastian, and each
of them, and their officers, agents, directors, employees, salespersons, independent
contractors, attorneys, corporations, subsidiaries, affiliates, successors, assigns, and
all other persons in active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice
of this Final Order by personal service or otherwise, whether acting directly or through
any trust, corporation, subsidiary, division or other device, in connection with the
advertising, marketing, offering for sale or sale of any vacation travel package, are
hereby permanently restrained and enjoined from violating any provision of the
Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 C.F.R. Part 310, including, but not limited to:
- A. Misrepresenting, directly or by implication, any material restrictions, limitations,
or conditions to purchase, receive, or use the vacation travel package including but not
limited to that there are no restrictions, limitations or conditions to purchase or use
free round trip airline tickets in violation of Section 310.3(a)(2)(ii) of the
Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 C.F.R. § 310.3(a)(2)(ii);
-
- B. Failing to disclose, in a clear and conspicuous manner before consumers pay for a
vacation travel package, the total costs to purchase, receive, or use the vacation travel
package, in violation of Section 310.3(a)(1)(i) of the Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 C.F.R.
§ 310.3(a)(1)(i) including, but not limited to, failing to disclose booking or
processing fees, cruise disembarkation fees and costs associated with complimentary rental
cars;
-
- C. Failing to disclose, in a clear and conspicuous manner before consumers pay for a
vacation travel package, all material restrictions, limitations or conditions to purchase,
receive, or use the vacation travel package, in violation of Section 310.3(a)(1)(ii) of
the Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 C.F.R. § 310.3(a)(1)(ii) including, but not limited
to, that consumers are expected or required to attend sales presentations for timeshare
vacation properties and the approximate length of such presentations; and
-
- D. ailing to disclose, in a clear and conspicuous manner before consumers pay for a
vacation travel package, that Defendants have a policy of not making refunds,
cancellations, exchanges, or repurchases in violation of Section 310.3(a)(1)(iii) of the
Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 C.F.R. § 310.3(a)(1)(iii).
III.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, Defendants, Leisure Time
Marketing, Inc., Discovery Rental, Inc., Marlin Swanson, Britt Shenkman and Edward M.
Sebastian, and each of them, and their officers, agents, directors, employees,
salespersons, independent contractors, attorneys, corporations, subsidiaries, affiliates,
successors, assigns, and all other persons in active concert or participation with them
who receive actual notice of this Final Order by personal service or otherwise, whether
acting directly or through any trust, corporation, subsidiary, division or other device,
in connection with the advertising, marketing, offering for sale or sale of any vacation
travel package, are hereby permanently restrained and enjoined from providing substantial
assistance or support to any seller or telemarketer, as those terms are defined at 16
C.F.R. § 310.2 (r) and (t) of the Telemarketing Sales Rule, when Defendants know or
consciously avoid knowing that the seller or telemarketer is engaged in any act or
practice in violation of the FTC Act or the Telemarketing Sales Rule.
CONSUMER REDRESS
IV.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendants shall make restitution as
follows:
- A. Within three (3) days of entry of this Final Order, Defendants shall pay to the
Commission the sum of One Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($125,000.00) (the
"Redress Payment") for equitable monetary relief, including but not limited to,
consumer redress.
-
- B. The Redress Payment shall be made by wire transfer to the account of the Federal
Trade Commission.
-
- C. The Redress Payment shall be deposited into a redress fund, administered by the
Commission, to be used for equitable relief, including but not limited to consumer redress
and any attendant expenses for the administration of any redress fund. The Commission, in
its sole discretion, may use a designated agent to administer the redress fund and may
cause redress to be administered through a mailing of checks and notices to persons who
may be eligible for redress.
-
- D. Within twenty (20) business days of entry of this Final Order,
Defendants shall provide to the Commission or its designated agent, in Microsoft Excel or
MS Access computer format, the names, last known mailing addresses and telephone numbers
of persons who may be eligible for redress, further identified by category as follows:
-
- 1. consumers who made payment for or received a vacation travel package from Discovery
Rental, Inc., who traveled on the vacation travel package purchased, and who did not
purchase a timeshare interest; and
-
- 2. consumers who made payment for or received a vacation travel package from Discovery
Rental, Inc., who have not used the vacation travel package and who have not received a
full refund for the vacation travel package purchased.
-
- E. 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 and treated as disgorgement. Defendants shall have no right to
contest any decision or action of the FTC or its agent concerning the disbursement or
disposition of any funds paid pursuant to this Final Order.
-
- F. The Redress Payment is intended to be compensatory in nature and no portion thereof
shall be deemed a payment of any fine, penalty, forfeiture or punitive assessment.
-
- G. Defendants agree that the facts as alleged in the Complaint filed in this matter
shall be taken as true in any subsequent litigation filed by the Commission to enforce its
rights pursuant to this Final Order, including but not limited to a nondischargeability
complaint in any subsequent bankruptcy proceeding. Each Defendant is hereby required, in
accordance with 31 U.S.C. § 7701, to furnish to the Commission Defendants' taxpayer
identification numbers (social security number or employer identification number), which
shall be used for purposes of collecting and reporting on any delinquent amount arising
out of the Defendants' relationship with the government.
BOND
V.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Defendants shall obtain a performance
bond in the principal sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) within ninety days of the
date of the entry of this Order by the Court, which amount shall increase to One Hundred
Thousand Dollars within one hundred and eighty days of the entry of this Order by the
Court ($100,000.00). The performance bond shall remain in full force and effect so long as
the Defendants are engaging in the telemarketing of vacation travel packages whether
directly, indirectly or in concert with others, or through intermediaries, business
entities or other devices. The terms and conditions of the bond requirement are as
follows:
- A. The performance bond shall be an insurance agreement pledging surety for financial
loss issued by a surety company that is admitted to do business in each State in which any
bonded Defendant does business and that holds a Federal Certificate of Authority As
Acceptable Surety on a Federal Bond and Reinsuring.
-
- B. The performance bond shall cite this Final Order as the subject matter of the bond
and shall provide surety thereunder against financial loss resulting from whole or partial
failure of performance due, in whole or in part, to any violation of Section 5 of the FTC
Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 C.F.R. Part 310, or the
provisions of this Final Order. Such performance bond shall be executed in favor of both
(1) the Federal Trade Commission for the benefit of any person injured as a result of any
false or misleading representation of material fact made by any of the bonded Defendants
while engaged in the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale, or sale of
vacation travel packages, and (2) any consumer so injured;
-
- C. The bond shall be deemed continuous and remain in full force and effect as long as
any of the bonded Defendants continues to engage or participate in the advertising,
marketing, promotion, offering for sale, or sale of vacation travel packages and for at
least three (3) years after such Defendant has ceased to engage or participate in the
advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale, or sale of vacation travel packages;
-
- D. The bond required by this Section is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other
bond required by Federal, State, or local law;
-
- E. Each bonded Defendant shall provide a copy of the bond required by this Section to
the Regional Director of the Commission's Southeast Region at the address specified in
Section XI no later than five (5) days after the date that the required
bond is due;
-
- F. The Commission may execute against the performance bond to the extent provided in
Section V(B) above, if it demonstrates to this Court, by a preponderance of the evidence,
that after the effective date of this Final Order, such bonded Defendant, while engaging
or participating in the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale or sale of
vacation travel packages, or while providing substantial assistance or support to others
engaged in such activities, made any false or misleading representation of material fact,
expressly or by implication, prohibited by Section 5 of the FTC Act, the Telemarketing
Sales Rule, or the provisions of this Final Order; and
-
- G. No Defendant shall disclose the existence of any performance bond required by this
Section to any consumer, or other purchaser or prospective purchaser of any vacation
travel package without also disclosing clearly and prominently, at the same time, "AS
REQUIRED BY ORDER OF THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT IN SETTLEMENT OF CHARGES OF FALSE AND
MISLEADING REPRESENTATIONS IN THE PROMOTION AND SALE OF VACATION TRAVEL PACKAGES."
RIGHT TO REOPEN
VI.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that each Defendant shall, within three (3)
business days after the date of entry of this Final Order, submit to the Commission a
truthful sworn statement in the form shown in Attachment A to this Final Order, that shall
reaffirm and attest to the truthfulness, accuracy, and completeness of the financial
statements that each Defendant provided to the Commission in or about August, 2000. The
Commission's agreement to, and the Court's approval of, this Final Order are expressly
premised upon the truthfulness, accuracy, and completeness of these financial statements.
If the Court finds that any Defendant failed to disclose any material asset, materially
misrepresented the value of any asset, or made any other material misrepresentation or
omission in the above-referenced financial statements, the Court shall enter a judgment
against such Defendant(s), in favor of the Commission, in the amount of eleven million,
six hundred thousand dollars ($11,600,000.00), and the entire amount of the judgment shall
become immediately due and payable.
MONITORING COMPLIANCE OF SALES PERSONNEL
VII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that in connection with any business operated by
Defendants, or where Defendant Marlin Swanson, Britt Shenkman or Edward M. Sebastian is
the majority owner of the business or directly or indirectly manages or controls the
business, and where the business is engaged in advertising, marketing, promoting, offering
for sale or sale of vacation travel packages or provides substantial assistance or support
to others engaged in these activities, Defendants, or each of them, are hereby permanently
restrained and enjoined from:
- A. Failing to take reasonable steps to monitor and ensure that all employees and
independent contractors engaged in sales or other customer service functions comply with
this Final Order. Such steps shall include adequate monitoring of sales presentations or
other communications with consumers, and also shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(1) listening to the oral representations made by persons engaged in sales or other
consumer service functions; (2) establishing a procedure for receiving and responding to
consumer complaints; and (3) ascertaining the number and nature of consumer complaints
regarding transactions in which each employee or independent contractor is involved; provided
that this Section does not authorize or require Defendants to take any steps that
violate any federal, state, or local laws;
-
- B. Failing promptly to investigate fully any consumer complaint received by any business
to which this Section applies; and
-
- C. Failing to take adequate corrective action with respect to any employee or
independent contractor who, as determined by any Defendant, is not complying with this
Final Order. Corrective action may include training, disciplining, and/or terminating such
employee or independent contractor.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF ORDER BY DEFENDANTS
VIII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within five (5) business days after receipt
by each Defendant of this Final Order as entered by the Court, each Defendant shall submit
to the Commission a truthful sworn statement, in the form shown on Appendix "B"
that shall acknowledge receipt of this Final Order.
DISTRIBUTION OF ORDER BY DEFENDANTS
IX.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that for a period of three (3) years from the
date of entry of this Final Order, each Defendant shall:
- A. Provide a copy of this Final Order to, and obtain a signed and dated acknowledgment
of receipt of same from, each officer, director, each individual serving in a management
capacity, all personnel involved in responding to 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 Defendant engages in, or is the majority owner of the business or directly or
indirectly manages or controls the business, and where the business is engaged in the
advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale or sale of vacation travel packages
or provides substantial assistance or support to others engaged in these activities; and
-
- 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
acknowledgment of the receipt of copies of this Order, as required herein.
RECORD KEEPING PROVISIONS
X.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for a period of three (3) years from the
date of entry of this Final Order, Defendants, in connection with any business operated by
Defendants, or where Defendant Marlin Swanson, Britt Shenkman or Edward M. Sebastian owns
or is the majority owner of the business or directly or indirectly manages or controls the
business, and where the business engages in the advertising, marketing, promoting,
offering for sale or sale of vacation travel packages or provides substantial assistance
or support to others who are engaged in these activities, 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 that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the cost of goods and 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
person's job title or position; the date upon which the person commenced work; and the
date and reason for the person's termination, if applicable. The business subject to this
Section shall retain such records for any terminated employee 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 has sold, invoiced, or shipped any goods or services;
-
- D. Records that reflect, for every consumer complaint or refund request, whether
received directly or indirectly or through any third party:
-
- 1. The consumer's name, address, telephone number, and the dollar amount paid by the
consumer;
-
- 2. The written complaint or refund request, if any, and the date of the complaint or
refund request;
-
- 3. 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;
-
- 4. Each response and the date of the response;
-
- 5. Any final resolution and the date of the final resolution; and
-
- 6. In the event of a denial of a refund request, the reason for the denial; and
-
- E. Copies of all sales scripts, training materials, advertisements, or other marketing
materials utilized; provided that copies of all sales scripts, training materials,
advertisements, or other marketing materials utilized shall be retained for three (3)
years after the last date of dissemination of any such materials.
COMPLIANCE REPORTING BY DEFENDANTS
XI.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, in order that compliance with the
provisions of this Final Order may be monitored:
- A. For a period of three (3) years from the date of entry of this Final Order, each
Defendant, to the extent applicable, shall notify the Commission of the following:
-
- 1. Any change in Defendant's residence, mailing address, and telephone number within ten
(10) days of the date of such change;
-
- 2. Any changes in Defendant's employment status (including self-employment) within ten
(10) days of such change. Such notice shall include the name and address of each business
that such Defendant is affiliated with or employed by, a statement of the nature of the
business, and a statement of said Defendant's duties and responsibilities in connection
with the business or employment; and
-
- 3. Any proposed change in the structure of any Defendant or any proposed change in the
structure of any business entity owned or controlled by any Defendant, such as creation,
incorporation, dissolution, assignment, sale, merger, creation or dissolution of
subsidiaries, proposed filing of a bankruptcy petition, change in the corporate name or
address, or any other change that may affect compliance obligations arising our of this
Final 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
Defendant learns less than thirty (30) days prior to the date such action is to take
place, said Defendant shall notify the Commission as soon as is practicable after learning
of such proposed change;
-
- B. One hundred eighty (180) days after the date of entry of this Final Order, each
Defendant shall provide a written report to the Commission, sworn to under penalty of
perjury, setting forth in detail the manner and form in which each Defendant has complied
and is complying with this Final Order. This report shall include, but not be limited to,
the following:
-
- 1. The Defendant's then current residence address and telephone number;
-
- 2. The Defendant's then current employment, business address and telephone numbers, a
description of the business activities of such employer, and Defendant's title and
responsibilities for each employer;
-
- 3. A copy of each acknowledgment of receipt of this Final Order obtained by the
Defendant pursuant to Section VIII;
-
- 4. A statement describing the manner in which the Defendant has complied and is
complying with this Final Order; and
-
- 5. A statement indicating whether any performance bond has been obtained by the
Defendant pursuant to Section V, and attaching a copy of such bond so obtained;
-
- C. Upon written request by a representative of the Commission, Defendants shall submit
additional written reports (under oath, if requested) and produce documents on fifteen
(15) days notice with respect to any conduct subject to this Final Order;
-
- D. For the purposes of this Final Order, Defendants shall, unless otherwise directed by
the Commission's authorized representatives, mail all written notifications to the
Commission to:
-
- Regional Director
- Southeast Region
- Federal Trade Commission
- Suite 5M35, 60 Forsyth Street, S.W.
- Atlanta, Georgia 30303-2322
- Re: FTC v. Leisure Time Marketing, Inc.
E. For the purposes of this Section, "employment" includes the performance of
services as an employee, consultant, or independent contractor; and "employers"
include any individual or entity for whom a Defendant performs services as an employee,
consultant, or independent contractor; and
-
- F. For purposes of the compliance reporting required by this Section, the Commission is
authorized to communicate directly with any Defendant.
PLAINTIFF'S AUTHORITY TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE
XII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Commission is authorized to monitor
Defendants' compliance with this Final Order by all lawful means, including, but not
limited to, the following:
- A. To obtain discovery, without further leave of court, from any person in the manner
provided by Chapter V of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Fed. R. Civ. P. 26-37,
including the use of compulsory process pursuant to Rule 45, Fed. R. Civ. P. 45, for the
purpose of monitoring and investigating Defendants' compliance with any provision of this
Final Order;
-
- B. To use representatives posing as consumers and suppliers to Defendants, Defendants'
employees, or any other entity managed or controlled in whole or in part by any
Defendants, without the necessity of identification or prior notice; and
-
- C. Nothing in this Final Order shall limit the Commission's lawful use of compulsory
process, pursuant to Sections 9 and 20 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 49 and 57b-1,
to investigate whether any Defendant has violated any provision of this Final Order or
Section 5 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C.§ 45.
ACCESS TO BUSINESS PREMISES
XIII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for a period of three (3) years from the
date of entry of this Final Order, for the purposes of further determining compliance with
this Final Order, Defendants shall permit representatives of the Commission:
- A. To access, during business hours, any office or facility storing documents of any
business operated by defendants, or where Defendants Marlin Swanson, Britt Shenkman or
Edward M. Sebastian is the majority owner of the business or directly or indirectly
manages or controls any part of the business, and the business is engaged in advertising,
marketing, promotion, offering for sale, or sale of vacation travel packages, or provides
substantial assistance or support to others engaged in these activities. In providing such
access, Defendants shall permit representatives of the Commission to inspect and copy all
documents relevant to any matter contained in this Final Order; and shall permit
Commission representatives to remove documents relevant to any matter contained in this
Final Order for a period not to exceed five (5) business days so that the documents may be
inspected, inventoried, and copied; and
-
- B. To interview officers, directors, and employees, including all personnel involved in
responding to consumer complaints or inquiries, and all sales personnel, whether
designated as employees, consultants, agents, independent contractors or otherwise, of any
business to which Subsection A of this Section applies, concerning matters relating to
compliance with the terms of this Final Order. The person interviewed may have counsel
present. Provided that, upon application of the Commission and for good cause
shown, the Court may enter an ex parte order granting immediate access to
Defendants' business premises for the purposes of inspecting and copying all documents
relevant to any matter contained in this Final Order.
COOPERATION
XIV.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendants agree to cooperate fully,
truthfully, and completely with the Federal Trade Commission. This cooperation includes,
but is not limited to, meeting with Commission personnel whenever and wherever requested
and testifying truthfully and completely, if called upon to do so, in the Commission's
enforcement action against the remaining defendant, Fereidoun "Fred" Khalilian,
in this matter.
PROHIBITION AGAINST DISCLOSING CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION
INFORMATION
XV.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendants Leisure Time Marketing, Inc.,
Discovery Rental, Inc., Marlin Swanson, Britt Shenkman and Edward M. Sebastian, and each
of them, and their officers, agents, directors, employees, salespersons, independent
contractors, attorneys, corporations, subsidiaries, affiliates, successors, assigns, and
all other persons in active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice
of this Final Order by personal service or otherwise, whether acting directly or through
any trust, corporation, subsidiary, division or other device, in connection with the
advertising, marketing, offering for sale or sale of any vacation travel package, or while
providing substantial assistance or support to others engaged in these activities, 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 who paid any money
to any Defendant in connection with the advertising, marketing, offering for sale or sale
of any vacation travel package at any time prior to entry of this Final Order. Provided
however, that Defendants may disclose the names, addresses, telephone numbers,
reservation numbers, and itineraries assigned to the consumers by Defendants, as is
necessary to fulfill vacation travel packages. Provided further,
that Defendants may disclose such identifying information to a law enforcement agency
or as required by law, regulation, or court order.
ATTORNEYS' FEES
XVI.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that each party to this Final Order hereby
agrees to bear its own costs and attorney's fees incurred in connection with this action.
CONTINUING JURISDICTION
XVII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Court retains jurisdiction of this
matter for all purposes.
SO ORDERED, this _____day of ___________________, 2001, at __________.
__________________________________
Hon. Patricia C. Fawsett
United States District Judge
The parties agree and stipulate to entry of the foregoing Order as a Stipulated
Permanent Injunction in this action.
FOR PLAINTIFF FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
Dated:
______________________________
Valerie M. Verduce
GA Bar 727066
Federal Trade Commission
______________________________
Barbara E. Bolton
MA Bar 553036
Federal Trade Commission
Trial Attorneys for Plaintiff
- Federal Trade Commission
- 60 Forsyth Street, S.W., Suite 5M35
- Atlanta, GA 30303
- (404) 656-1390 (voice)
- (404) 656-1379 (fax)
FOR DEFENDANTS LEISURE TIME MARKETING, INC., DISCOVERY RENTAL, INC., MARLIN
SWANSON, BRITT SHENKMAN AND EDWARD M. SEBASTIAN
Dated:
____________________________
Leisure Time Marketing, Inc.
By:___________________________
Title:_________________________
Dated:
____________________________
Discovery Rental, Inc.
By:___________________________
Title:_________________________
Dated:
____________________________
Marlin Swanson Defendant
Dated:
____________________________
Britt Shenkman
Defendant
Dated:
____________________________
Edward M. Sebastian
Dated:
____________________________
Ben W. Subin
FL Bar 982776
Baker & Hostetler
Trial Attorney for Defendants
- Leisure Time Marketing, Inc.,
- Discovery Rental, Inc.,
- Marlin Swanson, Britt Shenkman
- and Edward M. Sebastian
- 200 S. Orange Avenue
- SunTrust Center, Suite 2300
- Orlando, Florida 32801
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