Federal Trade Commission v. Ivy Capital, Inc. et al
Filing
409
FINAL JUDGMENT in favor of Federal Trade Commission against Benjamin E. Hoskins and Dream Financial, jointly and severally with all other defendants in this case that have already settled with the FTC, in the amount of $130,375,057.52 plus prej udgment interest in the amount of $3,589,426.92; against Oxford Financial, LLC in the amount of $1,529,292.25 plus prejudgment interest in the amount of $9,254.48; and against Leanne Hoskins in the amount of $1,128,795.78 plus pre judgment interest in the amount of $6,830.89; and against Mowab, Inc. in the amount of $203,118.40 plus prejudgment interest in the amount of $1,229.17. PERMANENT INJUNCTION. Signed by Judge James C. Mahan on 7/5/13. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - MMM)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEVADA
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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION,
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Plaintiff,
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v.
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IVY CAPITAL, INC., et al.,
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Defendants, and
CHERRYTREE HOLDINGS, LLC, et al.,
Relief Defendants.
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Case No. 2:11-cv-00283-JCMGWF
FINAL JUDGMENT AND
ORDER FOR PERMANENT
INJUNCTION AND
MONETARY RELIEF
Plaintiff, Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC” or the “commission”) filed a complaint
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for permanent injunction and other equitable relief, including redress to consumers and
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disgorgement of ill-gotten gains (the “complaint”), pursuant to Sections 13(b) and 19 of the
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Federal Trade Commission Act (the “FTC Act”), 15 U.S.C. §§ 53(b) and 57b, and the
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Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud Abuse Prevention Act (the “Telemarketing Act”), 15 U.S.C.
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§§ 6101-6108. Defendant Benjamin E. Hoskins (“Mr. Hoskins”) subsequently filed a motion for
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summary judgment concerning his individual liability in this action (doc. no. 312). Defendant
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Leanne Hoskins (“Ms. Hoskins”) also filed a motion for summary judgment concerning her
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liability has a relief defendant (doc. no. 320). The FTC filed a motion for summary judgment as
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to all allegations concerning Mr. Hoskins and defendant Dream Financial, as well as all
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allegations concerning relief defendants Leanne Hoskins (“Ms. Hoskins”), Oxford Financial,
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LLC (“Oxford Financial”) and Mowab, Inc. (“Mowab”) (Doc. No. 323).
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BACKGROUND
1. This is an action by the commission instituted under Sections 13(b) and 19 of the
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FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 53(b) and 57b, and the Telemarketing Act, 15 U.S.C. §§
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6101-6108. The commission has authority to seek the relief contained herein;
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2. The commission’s complaint states a claim upon which relief may be granted under
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Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45(a), and the FTC’s trade regulation rule
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entitled the Telemarketing Sales Rule (the “TSR”), 16 C.F.R. Part 310;
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3. This court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1337(a), and
1345, 15 U.S.C. §§ 45(a), 53(b), 57b, 6102(c), and 6105(b);
4. Venue is proper in this district under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) and (c), and 15 U.S.C. §
53(b);
5. The activities of Dream Financial and Mr. Hoskins (collectively, the “defendants”) as
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alleged in the commission’s complaint are in or affecting commerce, as “commerce”
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is defined in Section 4 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 44;
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6. By virtue of the court’s decision regarding the FTC’s motion for summary judgment,
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the defendants are liable for injunctive and equitable monetary relief for violations of
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Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and the TSR. Furthermore, relief defendants Ms.
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Hoskins, Oxford Financial and Mowab (the “relief defendants”) are liable for
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equitable monetary relief with respect to ill-gotten gains from violations of Section
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5(a) of the FTC Act and the TSR.
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7. Entry of this order is in the public interest.
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DEFINITIONS
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For the purpose of this order, the following definitions shall apply:
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1. “And” and “or” shall be understood to have both conjunctive and disjunctive
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meanings.
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2. “Asset” means any legal or equitable interest in, right to, or claim to, any real,
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personal, or intellectual property including, but not limited to, chattel, goods,
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instruments, equipment, fixtures, general intangibles, effects, leaseholds, contracts,
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mail or other deliveries, shares or stock, securities, inventory, checks, notes, accounts,
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credits, receivables (as those terms are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code),
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cash, trusts, including but not limited to asset protection trusts, and reserve funds or
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other accounts associated with any payments processed on behalf of any defendant or
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relief defendant, including, but not limited to, such reserve funds held by a payment
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processor, credit card processor, or bank.
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3. “Assisting others” includes, but is not limited to, providing any of the following
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goods or services to another entity: (1) performing customer service functions,
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including, but not limited to, charging consumers for products or services, or
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receiving or responding to consumer complaints; (2) drafting or providing, or
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arranging for the drafting or provision of, any promotional material; (3) providing
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names of, or assisting in the generation of, potential customers; or (4) performing
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promotional or marketing services of any kind, or recruiting affiliates; or (5)
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processing credit and debit card payments.
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4. “Business coaching program” means any program, plan, product, or service,
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including, but not limited to, those related to work-at-home opportunities, that is
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represented, expressly or by implication, to train or teach a participant or purchaser
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how to establish a business or earn money or other consideration through a business.
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“Business coaching” shall not include providing services other than training or
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teaching, including, but not limited to, website design and search engine optimization.
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5. “Corporate defendant” means Dream Financial and its successors, assigns, affiliates, or
subsidiaries.
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6. “Defendants” mean the individual defendant and the corporate defendant,
individually, collectively, or in any combination.
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7. “Document” is synonymous in meaning and equal in scope to the usage of the term
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in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 34(a), and includes writing, drawings, graphs,
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charts, Internet sites, Web pages, Web sites, electronic correspondence, including e-
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mail and instant messages, photographs, audio and video recordings, contracts,
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accounting data, advertisements (including, but not limited to, advertisements placed
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on the World Wide Web), FTP Logs, Server Access Logs, USENET Newsgroup
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postings, World Wide Web pages, books, written or printed records, handwritten
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notes, telephone logs, telephone scripts, receipt books, ledgers, personal and business
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canceled checks and check registers, bank statements, appointment books, computer
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records, and other data compilations from which information can be obtained and
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translated, if necessary, through detection devices into reasonably usable form. A
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draft or non-identical copy is a separate document within the meaning of the term.
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8.
“Individual defendant” means Benjamin E. Hoskins.
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9.
“Material” means likely to affect a person’s choice of, or conduct regarding, goods
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or services.
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10. “Non-disparagement agreement” means any contract or agreement that purports to
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prohibit purchasers from providing information, making statements, or otherwise
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communicating in any way about their experiences with any business coaching
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program or related goods and services, including but not limited to providing
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information to state, federal or non-governmental entities, filing complaints with any
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consumer protection entity, and engaging in discussions with other consumers
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through online forums or any other means.
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11. “Person” means a natural person, organization, or other legal entity, including a
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corporation, partnership, proprietorship, association, cooperative, government or
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governmental subdivision or agency, or any other group or combination acting as an
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entity.
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12. The “commission” or the “FTC” means the Federal Trade Commission.
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13. “Relief defendants” means Leanne Hoskins, Dream Financial and Mowab, together
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with their successors, assigns, affiliates, or subsidiaries.
14. “Representatives” means defendants’ officers, agents, servants, employees, and
attorneys, and any other person or entity in active concert or participation with
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defendants who receives actual notice of this order by personal service or otherwise.
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15. “Telemarketing” means any plan, program or campaign (whether or not covered by
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the TSR, 16 C.F.R. Part 310) that is conducted to induce the purchase of goods or
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services by means of the use of one or more telephones.
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ORDER
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I.
BAN ON MARKETING OR SALE OF
BUSINESS COACHING PROGRAMS
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IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the defendants, whether acting directly or through
any entity, corporation, subsidiary, division, director, manager, member, affiliate, independent
contractor, accountant, financial advisor, or other device, are hereby permanently restrained
and enjoined from:
A. Advertising, marketing, promoting, offering for sale, or selling any business coaching
program; and
B. Assisting others engaged in advertising, marketing, promoting, offering for sale, or
selling any business coaching program.
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II.
PROHIBITED MISREPRESENTATIONS
AND OTHER CONDUCT PROHIBITIONS
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendants and their representatives, whether acting
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directly or through any entity, corporation, subsidiary, division, director, manager, member,
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affiliate, independent contractor, accountant, financial advisor, or other device, are hereby
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permanently restrained and enjoined from:
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A. Making, or assisting others in making, directly or by implication, any false or misleading
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statement or representation of material fact, including, but not limited to: any false or
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misleading statement that defendants or any other individual or entity will provide a
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refund to consumers who request one within a specified time period;
B. Failing to disclose or to disclose adequately to consumers material aspects of any refund
policy; and
C. Requiring consumers to sign a non-disparagement agreement as a condition of receiving
a refund.
III.
PROHIBITIONS AGAINST DECEPTIVE AND ABUSIVE TELEMARKETING
PRACTICES
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, in connection with telemarketing, defendants, and
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their representatives, whether acting directly or through any entity, corporation, subsidiary,
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division, director, manager, member, affiliate, independent contractor, accountant, financial
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advisor, or other device, are hereby permanently restrained and enjoined from engaging in
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or causing or assisting other persons to engage in, violations of any provision of the TSR,
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including, but not limited to, the following:
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A. Misrepresenting, directly or by implication, in the sale of goods or services, any material
aspect of the performance, efficacy, nature or essential characteristics of their products
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and services, in violation of Section 310.3(a)(2)(iii) of the TSR, 16 C.F.R. §
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310.3(a)(2)(iii);
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B. Failing to disclose or to disclose adequately, in a clear and conspicuous manner, all
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material terms and conditions of any refund policy, in violation of Section 310.3(a)(1)(iii)
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of the TSR, 16 C.F.R. § 310.3(a)(1)(iii), including that consumers must request a refund
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within a specified time period after purchase;
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C. Misrepresenting, directly or by implication, material aspects of the nature and terms of
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any refund policy in violation of Section 310.3(a)(2)(iv) of the TSR, 16 C.F.R. §
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310.3(a)(2)(iv), including that they will provide refunds to consumers who request one
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within a specified time period;
D. Initiating, or causing others to initiate, outbound telephone calls to telephone numbers on
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the National Do Not Call Registry (the “DNC Registry”) in violation of Section
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310.4(b)(1)(iii)(B) of the TSR, 16 C.F.R. § 310.4(b)(1)(iii)(B), unless
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1. the seller has obtained the express agreement, in writing, of such person to
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place calls to that person. Such written agreement shall clearly evidence such
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person’s authorization that calls made by or on behalf of a specific party may
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be placed to that person, and shall include the telephone number to which the
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calls may be placed and the signature of that person; or
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2. the seller has an established business relationship with such person and that
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person has not previously stated that he or she does not wish to receive
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outbound telemarketing calls made by or on behalf of the defendant or any
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other individual or entity; and
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E. Calling numbers on the DNC Registry without paying the annual fee necessary to access
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the list of numbers on the DNC Registry in violation of Section 310.8 of the TSR, 16
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C.F.R. § 310.8.
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IV.
EQUITABLE MONETARY RELIEF
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that judgment is hereby entered in favor of the
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commission and against Benjamin Hoskins and Dream Financial, jointly and severally with all
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other defendants in this case that have already settled with the FTC, in the amount of one
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hundred thirty million, three hundred seventy-five thousand, fifty-seven dollars and fifty-two
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cents ($130,375,057.52), plus prejudgment interest in the amount of three million, five hundred
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eighty-nine thousand, four hundred twenty-six dollars and ninety-two cents ($3,589,426.92), as
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equitable monetary relief for consumer injury.
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that judgment is hereby entered in favor of the
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commission and against relief defendant Oxford Financial in the amount of one million, five
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hundred twenty-nine thousand, two hundred ninety-two dollars and twenty-five cents
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($1,529,292.25), plus prejudgment interest in the amount of nine thousand, two hundred fifty-
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four dollars and forty-eight cents ($9,254.48), as equitable monetary relief for ill-gotten gains.
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that judgment is hereby entered in favor of the
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commission and against relief defendant Leanne Hoskins in the amount of one million, one
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hundred twenty-eight thousand, seven hundred ninety-five dollars and seventy-eight cents
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($1,128,795.78), plus prejudgment interest in the amount of six thousand, eight hundred thirty
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dollars and eighty-nine cents ($6,830.89), as equitable monetary relief for ill-gotten gains.
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that judgment is hereby entered in favor of the
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commission and against the relief defendant Mowab in the amount of two hundred three
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thousand, one hundred eighteen dollars and forty cents ($203,118.40), plus prejudgment interest
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in the amount of one thousand, two hundred twenty-nine dollars and seventeen cents
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($1,229.17), as equitable monetary relief for ill-gotten gains.
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V.
PROHIBITION ON RELEASE OF
CUSTOMER INFORMATION OR CUSTOMER LISTS
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the defendants and their representatives, whether
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acting directly or through any corporation, partnership, subsidiary, division, agent, or other
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device, are permanently restrained and enjoined from:
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A. Disclosing, using, or benefitting from customer information, including the name, address,
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telephone number, e-mail address, social security number, other identifying information,
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or any data that enables access to a customer’s account (including a credit card, bank
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account, or other financial account), of any person that the defendants obtained prior to
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entry of this order in connection with the advertisement, marketing, promotion, offering
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for sale, or sale of any business coaching programs; and
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B. Failing to dispose of such customer information in all forms in their possession, custody,
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or control within thirty (30) days after entry of this order. Disposal shall be by means
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that protect against unauthorized access to the customer information, such as by burning,
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pulverizing, or shredding any papers, and by erasing or destroying any electronic media,
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to ensure that the customer information cannot practicably be read or reconstructed.
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Provided, however, that customer information need not be disposed of if currently under the
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control of the commission or the court-appointed receiver. Further, such information may be
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disclosed, to the extent requested by a government agency or required by a law, regulation, or
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court order.
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VI.
ASSET FREEZE
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the freeze of the defendants’ assets set forth in the
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preliminary injunction, entered by this court on March 25, 2011, shall remain in place until
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further order of court and shall only be lifted as is necessary to effect the turnover of the
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defendants’ assets in partial satisfaction of the equitable monetary relief provisions set forth in
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section IV of this order.
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VII.
APPOINTMENT OF RECEIVER TO WIND DOWN
CORPORATE DEFENDANT AND LIQUIDATE ASSETS
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Robb Evans & Associates, LLC, the receiver
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appointed by prior orders of this court, is hereby appointed receiver for the corporate defendant
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for the purpose of taking the necessary steps to wind down the business of the corporate
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defendant, liquidate its assets, and pay any net proceeds to the FTC to satisfy the monetary
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judgment in this order. In carrying out these duties, the receiver shall be the agent of this court,
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shall be accountable directly to this court, and is authorized and directed to:
A. Take any and all steps that the receiver concludes are appropriate to wind down the
corporate defendant;
B. Continue to exercise full control over the corporate defendant and continue to collect,
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marshal, and take custody, control, and possession of all the funds, property, premises,
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accounts, documents, mail, and other assets of, or in the possession or under the control
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of the corporate defendant, wherever situated, the income and profits therefrom, and all
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sums of money now or hereafter due or owing to the corporate defendant, with full power
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to collect, receive, and take possession of all goods, chattels, rights, credits, monies,
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effects, lands, leases, books and records, limited partnership records, work papers, and
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records of accounts, including computer-maintained information, contracts, financial
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records, monies on hand in banks and other financial institutions, and other papers and
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documents of other individuals, partnerships, or corporations whose interests are now
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held by or under the direction, possession, custody, or control of the corporate defendant
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(“receivership estate”);
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C. Continue to have full control over the management and personnel of the corporate
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defendant, including the authority to remove, as the receiver deems necessary or
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advisable, any director, officer, independent contractor, employee, or agent of this
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defendant from control of, management of, or participation in, the affairs of this
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defendant;
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D. Take all steps necessary or advisable, including issuing subpoenas, to locate and liquidate
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all other assets of the corporate defendant, cancel the corporate defendant’s contracts,
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collect on amounts owed to the corporate defendant, and take such other steps as may be
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necessary to wind-down, terminate, and dissolve the corporate defendant efficiently;
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E. Take all steps necessary or advisable, including issuing subpoenas, to identify the name,
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address, telephone number, date of purchase, program or product purchased, total amount
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paid, amount of any full or partial refund or chargeback, and payment information for
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consumers who were charged by the corporate defendant, and provide the FTC, upon
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request, with any customer records or other business records of the corporate defendant;
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F. Make payments and disbursements from the receivership estate that are necessary or
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advisable for carrying out the directions of, or exercising the authority granted by, this
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order. The receiver shall apply to the court for prior approval of any payment of any debt
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or obligation incurred by the corporate defendant prior to the date of entry of the
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temporary restraining order in this action, except payments that the receiver deems
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necessary or advisable to secure and liquidate assets of the corporate defendant, such as
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rental payments or payment of liens;
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G. Continue to perform all acts necessary or advisable to complete an accounting of the
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receivership assets, and prevent unauthorized transfer, withdrawal, or misapplication of
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assets;
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H. Continue to maintain accurate records of all receipts and expenditures that the firm makes
as receiver;
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I. Enter into contracts and purchase insurance as advisable or necessary;
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J. Continue to defend, compromise, adjust, or otherwise dispose of any or all actions or
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proceedings instituted in the past or in the future against the receiver in the firm’s role as
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receiver, or against the corporate defendant, as the receiver deems necessary and
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advisable to carry out the receiver’s mandate under this order;
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K. Continue to institute, compromise, adjust, appear in, intervene in, or become party to
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such actions or proceedings in state, federal, or foreign courts or arbitration proceedings
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as the receiver deems necessary and advisable to carry out the receiver’s mandate under
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this order;
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L. Continue to maintain bank accounts created as designated depositories for funds of the
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corporate defendant, and make all payments and disbursements from the receivership
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estate from such an account;
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M. Continue to perform all incidental acts that the receiver deems to be advisable or
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necessary, which includes retaining, hiring, or dismissing any employees, independent
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contractors, or agents;
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N. Continue to cooperate with reasonable requests for information or assistance from any
state or federal law enforcement agency;
O. Dispose of, or arrange for the disposal of, the records of the corporate defendant no later
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than six months after the court’s approval of the receiver’s final report as to the
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receivership estate, except that:
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1. to the extent that such records are reasonably available, the receiver shall arrange
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for records sufficient to ascertain the funds that an individual consumer paid to
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the corporate defendants and any refunds provided to individual consumers, to be
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retained for a minimum of one year from the entry of this order, and
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2. if state or local law regulating the corporate defendant’s business requires the
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retention of particular records for a specified period, the receiver shall arrange for
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such records to be disposed of after the specified period has expired.
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P. To safeguard the privacy of consumers, records containing personal financial information
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shall be shredded, incinerated, or otherwise disposed of in a secure manner. For records
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that must be retained, the receiver may elect to retain records in their original form or to
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retain photographic or electronic copies;
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Q. Perform all acts necessary to protect, conserve, preserve, and prevent waste or dissipation
of corporate defendant’s assets until their sale;
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R. Sell the corporate defendant’s assets without further order of the court;
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S. Enter into agreements in connection with the reasonable and necessary performance of
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the receiver’s duty to sell the corporate defendant’s assets, including, but not limited to,
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the retention of assistants, agents, or other professionals to assist in the sale of the these
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assets; and
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T. Distribute to the commission, without further order of the court, the funds received from
the sale of the corporate defendant’s assets.
VIII.
COMPENSATION OF RECEIVER
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the receiver and all personnel hired by the receiver,
including counsel to the receiver and accountants, are entitled to reasonable compensation for the
performance of duties pursuant to this order and for the cost of actual out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by them, from the assets now held by, in the possession or control of, or which may be
received by, the defendants. The receiver shall apply to the court for approval of specific
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amounts of compensation and expenses, and must not increase the hourly rates used as the bases
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for such fee applications without prior approval of the court.
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IX.
RECEIVER’S FINAL REPORT AND DISBURSEMENT
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A. The receiver shall, as directed in Section VII of this order, liquidate the assets of the
corporate defendant as soon as practicable. No later than sixty (60) days from the date of
the entry of this order, the receiver shall file and serve on the parties a report (the “final
report”) to the court that details the steps taken to dissolve the receivership estate. The
final report must include an accounting of the receivership estate’s finances and total
assets and a description of what other actions, if any, must be taken to wind down the
corporate defendant.
B. The receiver shall mail copies of the final report to all known creditors of the corporate
defendant with a notice stating that any objections to paying any assets of the corporate
defendant to satisfy the receiver’s costs and expenses and the monetary judgment set
forth in this order must be submitted to the court and served by mail upon the receiver
and the parties within thirty (30) days of the mailing of the final report.
C. No later than thirty (30) days after submission of the final report, the receiver shall file an
application for payment of compensation and expenses associated with his performance
of his duties as receiver.
D. The court will review the final report and any objections to the report and, absent a valid
objection, will issue an order directing that the receiver:
1. pay the reasonable costs and expenses of administering the receivership estate,
including compensation of the receiver and the receiver’s personnel authorized by
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Section VII of this order or other orders of this court and the actual out-of-pocket
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costs incurred by the receiver in carrying out his duties; and
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2. pay all remaining funds to the FTC or its designated agent to reduce the monetary
judgment in Section IV.
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E. If subsequent actions (such as the completion of tax returns or further actions to recover
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funds for the receivership estate) are appropriate, the receiver shall file an additional
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report or reports (the “supplemental reports”) describing the subsequent actions and a
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subsequent application for the payment of fees and expenses related to the subsequent
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acts.
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F. With court approval, the receiver may hold back funds for a specified period as a reserve
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to cover additional fees and costs related to actions to be addressed in a supplemental
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report. If the receiver does not make a supplemental application for fees and expenses
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within the specified period, or if funds remain in the reserve fund after the payment of
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fees and expenses approved by the court in response to such a supplemental application,
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all funds in the reserve funds shall be immediately paid to the FTC or its designated
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agent.
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X.
ORDER ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendants and relief defendants obtain
acknowledgments of receipt of this order:
A. Within seven (7) days of entry of this order, each defendant and relief defendant must
submit to the commission an acknowledgment of receipt of this order sworn under
penalty of perjury.
B. For twenty (20) years after entry of this order, individual defendant for any business for
which he, individually or collectively with any other defendant named in the complaint,
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is the majority owner or directly or indirectly controls, and corporate defendant, must
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deliver a copy of this order to: (1) all principals, officers, directors, and managers and (2)
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any business entity resulting from any change in structure as set forth in Section XI,
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below. Delivery must occur within seven (7) days of entry of this order for current
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personnel. To all others, delivery must occur before they assume their responsibilities.
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C. From each individual or entity to which a defendant delivered a copy of this order, that
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defendant must obtain, within thirty (30) days, a signed and dated acknowledgement of
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receipt of this order.
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XI.
COMPLIANCE REPORTING
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendants make timely submissions to the
commission:
A. One (1) year after entry of this order, defendants must submit a compliance report,
sworn under penalty of perjury.
1. Defendants must: (a) designate at least one telephone number and an email,
physical, and postal address as points of contact, which representatives of the
commission may use to communicate with defendants; (b) identify all of that
defendant’s businesses by all of their names, telephone numbers, and physical,
postal, email, and Internet addresses; (c) describe the activities of each
business, including the products and services offered, the means of
advertising, marketing, and sales, and the involvement of any other defendant
(which Mr. Hoskins must describe if he knows or should know due to his own
involvement); (d) describe in detail whether and how that defendant is in
compliance with each section of this order; and (e) provide a copy of each
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order acknowledgment obtained pursuant to this order, unless previously
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submitted to the commission.
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2. Additionally, individual defendant must: (a) identify all telephone numbers
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and all email, Internet, physical, and postal addresses, including all residences;
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(b) identify all titles and roles in all business activities, including any business
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for which he performs services whether as an employee or otherwise and any
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entity in which he has any ownership interest; and (c) describe in detail his
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involvement in each such business, including title, role, responsibilities,
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participation, authority, control, and any ownership.
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B. For twenty (20) years following entry of this order, defendants must submit a
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compliance notice, sworn under penalty of perjury, within fourteen (14) days of any
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change in the following:
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1. Defendants must report any change in: (a) any designated point of contact; or
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(b) the structure of the corporate defendant or any entity that individual
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defendant has any ownership interest in or directly or indirectly controls that
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may affect compliance obligations arising under this order, including:
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creation, merger, sale, or dissolution of the entity or any subsidiary, parent, or
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affiliate that engages in any acts or practices subject to this order.
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2. Additionally, individual defendant must report any change in: (a) name
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(including aliases or fictitious names), e-mail, Internet address, and residence;
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(b) title or role in any business activity, including any business for which he
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performs services whether as an employee or otherwise and any entity in
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which he has any ownership interest, including the name, physical address,
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and Internet address, if any, of any such business or entity.
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C. Each defendant must submit to the commission notice of the filing of any bankruptcy
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petition, insolvency proceeding, or any similar proceeding by or against such
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defendant within fourteen (14) days of its filing.
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D. Any submission to the commission required by this order to be sworn under penalty
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of perjury must be true and accurate and comply with 18 U.S.C. § 1746, such as by
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concluding: “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of
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America that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on:_____” and supplying
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the date, signatory’s full name, title (if applicable), and signature.
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E. Unless otherwise directed by a commission representative in writing, all submissions
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to the commission pursuant to this order must be e-mailed to DEbrief@ftc.gov or sent
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by overnight courier (not the U.S. Postal Service) to: Associate Director for
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Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, 600
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Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580. The subject line must begin:
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FTC v. Benjamin E. Hoskins, Dream Financial, Leanne Hoskins, Oxford Financial,
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LLC, and Mowab, Inc. (X110017).
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XII.
RECORDKEEPING
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendants must create certain records for twenty
(20) years after entry of the order, and retain each such record for five (5) years. Specifically, for
any business in which either defendant, individually or collectively with any other defendant
named in the complaint, is a majority owner or directly or indirectly controls, must maintain the
following records:
A. Accounting records showing the revenues from all goods or services sold, all costs
incurred in generating those revenues, and the resulting net profit or loss;
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B. Personnel records showing, for each person providing services, whether as an employee
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or otherwise, that person’s: name, addresses, and telephone numbers; job title or position;
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dates of service; and, if applicable, the reason for termination;
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C. Customer files showing the names, addresses, telephone numbers, dollar amounts paid,
and the quantity and description of goods or services purchased;
D. Complaints and refund requests, whether received directly or indirectly, such as through a
third party, and any response;
E. All records necessary to demonstrate full compliance with each provision of this order,
including all submissions to the commission; and
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F. A copy of each advertisement or other marketing material.
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XIII.
COMPLIANCE MONITORING
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for the purpose of monitoring defendants’
compliance with this order, including the financial representations upon which part of the
judgment was suspended and any failure to transfer any assets as required by this order:
A. Within fourteen (14) days of receipt of a written request from a representative of the
commission, each defendant must: submit additional compliance reports or other
requested information, which must be sworn under penalty of perjury; appear for
depositions; and produce documents, for inspection and copying. The commission is also
authorized to obtain discovery, without further leave of court, using any of the procedures
prescribed by Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 29, 30 (including telephonic depositions),
31, 33, 34, 36, 45, and 69, provided that defendants, after attempting to resolve a dispute
without court action and for good cause shown, may file a motion with this court seeking
an order including one or more of the protections set forth in Rule 26(c).
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B. For matters concerning this order, the commission is authorized to communicate directly
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with each defendant. Defendants must permit representatives of the commission to
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interview any employee or other person affiliated with any defendant who has agreed to
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such an interview. The person interviewed may have counsel present.
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C. The commission may use all other lawful means, including posing, through its
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representatives, as consumers, suppliers, or other individuals or entities, to defendants or
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any individual or entity affiliated with defendants, without the necessity of identification
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or prior notice. Nothing in this order limits the commission’s lawful use of compulsory
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process, pursuant to Sections 9 and 20 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 49, 57b-1.
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XIV.
RETENTION OF JURISDICTION
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this court retains jurisdiction of this matter for
purposes of construction, modification, and enforcement of this order.
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IT IS SO ORDERED:
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____________________________
The Honorable James C. Mahan
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
July 5, 2013
DATED: _________________________
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