Federal Trade Commission et al v. Dalbey et al

Filing 285

Stipulated Final Judgment and Order as to Defendants DEI, LLLP; Dalbey Education Institute, LLC; and IPME, LLLP re: 284 Motion for Judgment. By Judge R. Brooke Jackson on 07/29/13. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A) (alvsl)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Civil Action No. 1:11-cv-01396-RBJ-KLM
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION and
STATE OF COLORADO, ex rel.
JOHN W. SUTHERS,
ATTORNEY GENERAL,
Plaintiffs,
v.
RUSSELL T. DALBEY;
DEI, LLLP;
DALBEY EDUCATION INSTITUTE, LLC;
IPME, LLLP; and
CATHERINE L. DALBEY,
Defendants.
_________________________________________________________________________________
STIPULATED FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER AS TO DEFENDANTS
DEI, LLLP; DALBEY EDUCATION INSTITUTE, LLC; AND IPME, LLLP
_________________________________________________________________________________
On May 26, 2011, Plaintiffs, the Federal Trade Commission (“Commission” or “FTC”)
and the State of Colorado (collectively “Plaintiffs”), commenced this action by filing a
Complaint for Permanent Injunction and Other Equitable Relief against Defendants Russell T.
Dalbey; DEI, LLLP; Dalbey Education Institute, LLC; IPME, LLLP; Catherine L. Dalbey; and
Marsha Kellogg pursuant to Sections 13(b) and 19 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (“FTC
Act”), 15 U.S.C. §§ 53(b), 57b; the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention
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Act (“Telemarketing Act”), 15 U.S.C. §§ 6101-6108; and the Colorado Consumer Protection
Act, COLO. REV. STAT. §§ 6-1-101 through 115 (“CCPA”), alleging violations of Section 5(a) of
the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45(a); the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (“TSR”), 16 C.F.R. Part
310, promulgated pursuant to the Telemarketing Act; and the CCPA, COLO. REV. STAT. § 6-1105(1)(e) and (g).
Plaintiffs reached a settlement with Defendant Marsha Kellogg, and the Court entered a
Stipulated Final Order against Ms. Kellogg on June 7, 2011. [Dkt. No. 29].
On September 21, 2011, Defendants DEI, LLLP, Dalbey Education Institute, LLC, and
IPME, LLLP (the “Corporate Defendants”) filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 7
of Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532, in the United States Bankruptcy
Court for the District of Colorado. See In re DEI, LLLP, Case No. 11-32446-MER (Bankr. D.
Colo. Sept. 21, 2011); In re Dalbey Education Institute, LLC, Case No. 11-32445-SBB (Bankr.
D. Colo. Sept. 21, 2011); In re IPME, LLLP, Case No. 11-32437-HRT (Bankr. D. Colo. Sept.
21, 2011). These three bankruptcy court cases are referred to collectively herein as the
“Bankruptcy Cases.” Dennis W. King was appointed the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee in each
of the Bankruptcy Cases.
The Corporate Defendants ceased operating in 2011. Plaintiffs’ action against the
Corporate Defendants, including the enforcement of a judgment other than a monetary
judgment obtained in this action, is not stayed by 11 U.S.C. § 362(1), (2), (3), or (6), because
the action is an exercise of Plaintiffs’ police or regulatory power as a governmental unit
pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(4) and, thus, falls within an exception to the automatic stay.
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Subject to the prior agreement of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of
Colorado, which approval has been obtained, see Exhibit A attached hereto, Plaintiffs and the
Corporate Defendants, by and through their attorneys and representatives of their respective
bankruptcy estates, have agreed to entry of this Stipulated Final Judgment and Order (“Order”)
by this Court in order to resolve all claims against the Corporate Defendants in this action.
Plaintiffs and the Corporate Defendants have consented to entry of this Order without trial or
adjudication of any issue of law or fact herein and without the Corporate Defendants admitting
liability for any of the violations alleged in the Complaint.
Filed previously or in conjunction with this Stipulated Final Judgment and Order as to
the Corporate Defendants is a “Stipulated Order for Final Judgment and Order for Permanent
Injunction and Other Equitable Relief as to Defendants Russell T. Dalbey and Catherine L.
Dalbey” (the “Dalbey Order”).
Being fully advised in the premises and acting upon the joint motion of the Plaintiffs and
the Corporate Defendants to enter this Order,
IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED as follows:
FINDINGS
1.

This is an action by the Commission instituted under Section 13(b) of the FTC Act, 15

U.S.C. § 53(b), and by the State of Colorado under the CCPA, COLO. REV. STAT. §§ 6-1-101
through 115 (“CCPA”). The Commission and the State of Colorado have the authority to seek
the relief contained herein.

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2.

The Complaint states claims upon which relief may be granted under Sections 5(a),

13(b), and 19 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 45(a), 53(b), and 57b; the Telemarketing Act, 15
U.S.C. §§ 6101-6108; the TSR, 16 C.F.R. Part 310; and the CCPA, COLO. REV. STAT. §§ 6-1101 through 115.
3.

This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this case and personal jurisdiction

over the Corporate Defendants.
4.

Venue in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado is proper pursuant

to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) and (c) and 15 U.S.C. § 53(b).
5.

The alleged activities of the Corporate Defendants are “in or affecting commerce” as

“commerce” is defined in Section 4 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 44.
6.

The Corporate Defendants neither admit nor deny any of the allegations in the Complaint,

except as specifically stated in this Order. Only for purposes of this action, the Corporate
Defendants admit the facts necessary to establish jurisdiction.
7.

The Corporate Defendants waive: (a) all rights to seek appellate review or otherwise

challenge or contest the validity of this Order; (b) any claim that they may have against
Plaintiffs, their employees, representatives, or agents; (c) all claims under the Equal Access to
Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412, as amended by Pub. L. 104-121, 110 Stat. 847, 863-64 (1996);
and (d) any rights to attorney’s fees that may arise under said provision of law. Plaintiffs and the
Corporate Defendants shall each bear their own costs and attorney’s fees incurred in this action,
including costs and attorney’s fees incurred in the asset discovery period contemplated by the
Dalbey Order.
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8.

Pursuant to his authority as the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee, Dennis W. King may take

any and all actions necessary and appropriate to enter into, implement, and effectuate the terms
and conditions of this Order. Under such authority, he has agreed to the allowance of Plaintiffs’
general unsecured claims in the Bankruptcy Cases or in any jointly administered or substantively
consolidated bankruptcy case.
9.

Entry of this Order is in the public interest.
I.

MONETARY JUDGMENT

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
A.

Judgment is hereby entered in favor of Plaintiffs and against the Corporate Defendants,

jointly and severally, in the amount of Three-Hundred-Thirty Million, Eighty-Four Thousand,
Three-Hundred-Fifty-Four Dollars, and Seventy Cents ($330,084,354.70), as equitable monetary
relief, which the parties stipulate only for purposes of this Section represents consumer injury
and disgorgement alleged in the Complaint. This judgment shall also run jointly and severally
with the monetary judgment against Defendants Russell T. Dalbey and Catherine L. Dalbey
contained in a separate order;
B.

The Corporate Defendants and the Bankruptcy Trustee further stipulate and agree,

pursuant to Section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 502, to the allowance of a general
unsecured claim in each of the Corporate Defendants’ respective bankruptcy cases, or to the
allowance of one general unsecured claim should the Bankruptcy Cases be substantively
consolidated or jointly administered, in favor of Plaintiffs in the amount of Three-HundredThirty Million, Eighty-Four Thousand, Three-Hundred-Fifty-Four Dollars, and Seventy Cents
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($330,084,354.70), less the sum of any payments previously made, and that Plaintiffs are entitled
to participate in any payments in the Corporate Defendants’ bankruptcy cases paid on account of
such allowed general unsecured claims;
C.

All money paid to the Commission pursuant to this Order may be deposited into a fund

administered by the Commission or its designee to be used for equitable relief, including
consumer redress and any attendant expenses for the administration of any redress fund. If a
representative of the Commission decides that direct redress to consumers is wholly or partially
impracticable or money remains after redress is completed, the Commission may apply any
remaining money for such other equitable relief (including consumer information remedies) as it
determines to be reasonably related to Defendants= practices alleged in the Complaint. Any
money not used for such equitable relief is to be deposited to the U.S. Treasury as disgorgement.
Defendants have no right to challenge any actions the Commission or its representatives may
take pursuant to this Subsection; and
D.

The Corporate Defendants, the Bankruptcy Trustee, and Plaintiffs shall cooperate fully

with one another to avoid duplicative discovery of the Corporate Defendants’ and the Dalbeys’
assets acquired on or after January 1, 2006 and to avoid duplicative efforts concerning the
disposition, location, repatriation, and collection of those assets.

II.

RETENTION OF JURISDICTION

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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Court retains jurisdiction of this matter for
purposes of construction, modification, and enforcement of this Order.

SO ORDERED THIS 29th DAY OF July, 2013

BY THE COURT:

__________________________
United States District Judge

SO STIPULATED AND AGREED:
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