Federal Trade Commission v. Vemma Nutrition Company et al
Filing
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ORDER granting 135 Plaintiff Federal Trade Commission's Motion to Clarify or Reconsider Preliminary Injunction as to Defendant Tom Alkazin. The Preliminary Injunction Order (Doc. 118 ) is hereby amended such that Mr. Alkazin is subject to the prohibitions of Sections I.A through I.E of the Order. Signed by Judge John J Tuchi on 6/30/16.(LSP)
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
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Federal Trade Commission,
Plaintiff,
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No. CV-15-01578-PHX-JJT
ORDER
v.
Vemma Nutrition Company, et al.,
Defendants.
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At issue is Plaintiff Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) Motion to Clarify or
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Reconsider Preliminary Injunction as to Defendant Tom Alkazin (Doc. 135), to which
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Defendants filed no Response.
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In its Motion, the FTC points out that, in the Preliminary Injunction Order
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(Doc. 118), the Court found that the FTC is likely to succeed on the merits in showing
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that Mr. Alkazin made false and misleading income claims and omissions. As a result,
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the FTC argues that the Court should clarify the Preliminary Injunction Order and subject
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Mr. Alkazin to the same injunction prohibiting material misrepresentations and
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omissions, including deceptive income claims, as the Court imposed on the Corporate
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Defendants in Sections I.B through I.E of the Order. Mr. Alkazin did not oppose the
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FTC’s request, which prompts its summary disposition, see LRCiv 7.2(i), and in any
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event the Court agrees with the FTC’s analysis. As a result, the Court will grant the
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FTC’s Motion in this respect.
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The FTC also argues that Mr. Alkazin should be subject to Section I.A of the
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Preliminary Injunction Order prohibiting the operation of an illegal pyramid scheme
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based on the Court’s finding that Mr. Alkazin helped create the Two & Go program,
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which has indicia of a pyramid scheme. In support, the FTC cites a number of cases
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holding that liability for violation of the FTC Act may arise when an individual directly
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participated in unfair or deceptive acts or practices, as an alternative to the liability
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arising from authority to control unfair or deceptive acts or practices. See FTC v. Publ’g
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Clearing House, Inc., 104 F.3d 1168, 1170 (9th Cir. 1997); FTC v. J.K. Publ’ns, 99 F.
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Supp. 2d 1176, 1203 (C.D. Cal. 2000). The FTC contends that, because the Court found
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that Mr. Alkazin participated in acts or practices that the FTC is likely to succeed on the
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merits in demonstrating were pyramidal and thus unfair or deceptive under the Act, the
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Court should subject Mr. Alkazin to the same injunction prohibiting pyramidal activity as
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the Court imposed on the Corporate Defendants in Section I.A of the Order. Mr. Alkazin
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again did not oppose the FTC’s request, see LRCiv 7.2(i), and the Court again agrees
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with the FTC’s analysis. Accordingly, the Court will grant the FTC’s Motion, and
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Mr. Alkazin will be subject to the injunctive provisions contained in Sections I.A through
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I.E of the Preliminary Injunction Order.
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IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED granting Plaintiff Federal Trade Commission’s
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Motion to Clarify or Reconsider Preliminary Injunction as to Defendant Tom Alkazin
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(Doc. 135). The Preliminary Injunction Order (Doc. 118) is hereby amended such that
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Mr. Alkazin is subject to the prohibitions of Sections I.A through I.E of the Order.
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Dated this 30th day of June, 2016.
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Honorable John J. Tuchi
United States District Judge
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