Carton et al v. B&B Equities Group, LLC et al

Filing 281

DEFAULT JUDGMENT in favor of Plaintiffs against Defendants Robert L. Eberle, B&B Equities Group, LLC, Global Equity Resources, LLC, Pro Financial Group Inc, Pro Fi Group, Inc., and Estate Planning Solution Network, LLC, jointly and severally, in t he amount of $709,100.00, representing $700,000.00 in principal compensatory damages and $9,100.00 accrued interest. FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs are entitled to an award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs. FURTHER ORDERED that the Judgment shall accrue interest at the raqte of 3.25%, until paid in full. Signed by Judge Robert C. Jones on 3/10/14. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - MMM)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 8 ***** 9 EDWIN B. CARTON et al., 10 11 12 CASE NO.: 2:11-cv-00746-RCJ-PAL Plaintiffs, [PROPOSED] vs. DEFAULT JUDGMENT B & B EQUITIES GROUP, LLC et al., 13 Defendants. 14 15 16 17 DEFAULT JUDGMENT I. BACKGROUND ON STOLI Stranger-originated life insurance (“STOLI”) arrangements have become increasingly 18 19 common over the past decade. See Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada v. Berck, 770 F. Supp. 2d 20 728, 729–30 (D. Del. 2011). In a typical STOLI scheme, a speculator collaborates with an 21 elderly individual who has a high net worth in obtaining a life insurance policy against the life of 22 the wealthy individual. See generally 3 Leo Martinez et al., New Appleman Insurance Law 23 Practice Guide § 34.09[3] (2011). The wealthy individual is often promised cash upon the 24 future sale of the policy or enticed to enter the arrangement through the promise of two years of 25 free life insurance. The speculator provides non-recourse financing to purchase the policy— 26 27 28 secured by the policy—which comes due after the two-year contestability period during which the insurer has to challenge the policy. If the insured dies within the two-year contestability 1 period, the speculator is repaid, with interest, out of the proceeds of the policy. If the insured 2 survives the two-year contestability period, there are two ways he or she may repay the 3 speculator. First, the insured may pay the outstanding debt and accrued interest and retain the 4 policy. This option is generally less attractive because the interest rates are often high or because 5 6 the insured was promised a portion of the proceeds upon the sale of the policy. Second, the 7 insured may transfer the policy to the speculator to satisfy the debt, and the speculator may then 8 sell the policy on the secondary market. These arrangements ultimately amount to unlawful 9 wagering and have generally been disfavored by courts. See Berck, 770 F. Supp. 2d at 730. 10 II. 11 FINDINGS OF FACT & PROCEDURAL HISTORY On November 26, 2012, this Court entered an Order striking the Answers of Defendants 12 13 14 Robert L. Eberle (“Eberle”), and B&B Equities Group, LLC, Global Equity Resources, LLC, Pro Financial Group, Inc., Pro Fi Group, Inc., and Estate Planning Solutions Network, LLC (the 15 “Corporate Defendants”) and granting default judgment against them. By operation of Eberle 16 and the Corporate Defendants’ Answers being stricken and entry of default against them, the 17 factual allegations asserted against them are taken as true. Geddes v. United Financial Group, 18 19 559 F.2d 557, 560 (9th Cir. 1977) (“The general rule of law is that upon default the factual allegations of the complaint, except those relating to the amount of damages, will be taken as 20 21 true.”) (citing Pope v. United States, 323 U.S. 1, 12 (1944); see also Televideo Sys., Inc. v. 22 Heidenthal, 826 F.2d 915, 917-18 (9th Cir. 1987); Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(b)(6). Therefore, in 23 accordance with the general rule of law, the Court makes the following findings of fact1: 24 25 1 26 27 28 Unless noted otherwise, the facts are taken from the First Amended Complaint filed on July 12, 2011 as Docket No. 43, as that was the complaint in effect at the time that Default Judgment was granted. The Court granted the Plaintiffs leave to amend the First Amended Complaint on November 27, 2012. See Doc. 187. Plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint on November 27, 2012 as Docket No. 188. -2- 1 2 3 B&B Equities Group, LLC was a Nevada limited liability company whose managing members are Defendants Robert Koppel and Robert Eberle. B&B is interrelated with Defendants Global Equity Resources, LLC (“GER”), Global Equity Preservation, Inc. (“GEP”), 4 Eagle Investment Corporation of America (“EICA”) and Pro Financial Group, Inc. (“PFG”) 5 6 (collectively “B&B Entities”) through common ownership, financial control and an 7 interrelationship of operations, such that they constitute a single business in fact. The B&B 8 Entities are entities that R. Koppel and Eberle used to operate the fraudulent scheme described 9 herein. 10 11 R. Koppel and Eberle were shareholders, managers, members, directors, officers, principals, fiduciaries, agents and/or key employees of these entities. Their duties included solicitation of the Plaintiffs to engage in the investment, payment of money towards insurance 12 13 14 premiums, preservation of the insurance policies and/or sale of the Policies on the secondary market, provision of timely and material information to the Plaintiffs and Insurers regarding the 15 Insureds, insurance policies and investment therein and failure to object to the B&B Entities’ 16 improper business practices. (First Am. Compl. at 4-6, July 12, 2011, Doc. 43). 17 18 19 Plaintiffs Edwin and Lonnie Carton (the “Cartons”) were first introduced to STOLI transactions by Defendant Bruce Plotnick, whom they met at a financial planning seminar in the early to mid 2000’s. (Id. at 12). Plotnick was the featured lecturer at the seminar and is the 20 21 principal employee and owner of Defendant Estate Planning Solution Network (“EPSN”), his 22 financial services firm. (Id. at 6-7). Plotnick suggested the Cartons invest their retirement funds 23 in a concept called “premium financing” through Defendant Robert Koppel (“R. Koppel”) and 24 his company B&B Equities Group, LLC (“B&B”). (Id.). 25 26 R. Koppel and Plotnick, acting through EPSN as agent of R. Koppel, Eberle and the B&B Entities, told the Cartons that B&B would organize limited liability companies which would be 27 assigned the rights to the life insurance policies of the insured third-parties and would assume the 28 -3- 1 liabilities in funding the policies. (Id. at 6-7, 13). The Cartons were then informed they would 2 receive an ownership interest in these limited liability companies and were guaranteed a return of 3 20% on their investment. (Id.). The Cartons were also told that the insurance premiums would be 4 paid by the limited liability companies for a two year period, after which they would be repaid in 5 6 one of two ways: (1) the insured would keep the policy and pay off the loan with interest, or (2) 7 the insured would sell the policy on the secondary market. (Id. at 10). The Cartons were under 8 the impression that this type of transaction was legal and that the insurance company would have 9 full knowledge of the arrangement. (See Opp’n to Mot. to Dismiss at 9, ECF No. 113). 10 11 Koppel and Plotnick made material representations to the Cartons regarding this investment, such as: 12 • 14 “there is NO Market Risk.” (First Am. Compl. at 11-12). • 13 “Unlike the Stock Market . . . this gives you security knowing that your principle is protected from Market fluctuations and your gains are sure.” 15 (Id.). 16 • 17 “the very heart of this program is just a simple loan document where you collect . . . interest on the money you lend the insured at the end of the . . . 18 term.” (Id.). 19 • 20 “This is a non-traditional financing method for insurance premiums, which finds itself right in line with industry standards.” (Id.). 21 • 22 “You can be assured that your money is as safe, if not safer, than being in 23 your local bank. And compared to the Stock Market, your money is 24 infinitely safer because your principle is protected and your money is not 25 attached to its dangerous fluctuations.” (Id.). 26 Further, Plotnick and Koppel failed to state, misrepresented or concealed the following material 27 facts: 28 -4- 1 • 2 3 agency or properly noticed as securities to the Plaintiffs. (Id. at 30). • 4 5 • • • At the time of the offer, the B&B Defendants had been forced to stop offering their premium financing program in the State of Pennsylvania by a Cease and 11 Desist Order issued by the Pennsylvania Securities Commission and had been 12 indicted for federal securities fraud in California. (Id. at 31). • 14 15 The amount and rate of any return was at least partially contingent on market conditions at the time of sale (Id.). 10 13 The B&B Defendants could not guarantee that the Borrower would repay the loan or that the Policy would be able to be sold. (Id.). 8 9 The B&B Entities, Plotnick, Eberle and Koppel were not licensed securities agents/brokers/dealers with any federal or state agency. (Id.). 6 7 The investments offered were not registered as securities with any federal or state That Defendant R. Koppel was the insurance agent/producer responsible for facilitating the application of and/or writing at least two of the Policies. (Id.). • 16 That the Insurers would not be informed about the Premium Financing arrangement and/or Misrepresenting that the Insurer would be informed about the 17 Premium Financing arrangement. (Id.). 18 • 19 That the applications for insurance had material misstatements and/or omissions of material facts. (Id. at 32). 20 21 • That if the policy did not sell on the secondary market in two years, new investors would need to be brought in to continue the policies. (Id.). 22 23 • Borrower/Insured and decrease the likelihood of repayment. (Id.). 24 25 26 27 That additional investors/lenders would increase the debt burden on the • That additional investors/lenders would create additional liens against the Policies and decrease the value of the Policy on the Secondary Market and decrease the likelihood of a successful and profitable sale on the Secondary Market. (Id.). 28 -5- 1 • That an additional investors would dilute the pool of money available to the 2 Plaintiffs to satisfy their promised and guaranteed return in the event of sale on 3 the Secondary Market. (Id.). 4 • The actual amount of yearly premiums on the Policies or the flexible nature of 5 such premiums, and once disclosed, providing conflicting, contradictory and 6 confusing information regarding the same. (Id.). 7 • The amounts, percentages or rations of origination fees, commissions, referral 8 fees or other fees and to whom each would be paid and how they would be 9 earned, and once disclosed, provided conflicting, contradictory and confusing 10 11 information regarding the same. (Id.). • 12 13 be known. (Id.). • 14 Eastern District of California for securities fraud, mail fraud and money 16 laundering in connection with the sale of investments in life insurance policies 17 during the period 2001-2006. The Indictment alleges that Eberle and R. Koppel 18 committed these criminal activities using their companies, Defendants EICA and 19 PFG. See E.D. Cal. Case No. 2:07-cr-366. These criminal proceedings were not 20 disclosed to the Cartons by Eberle, R. Koppel or any of the B&B Entities. (Id. at 21 33). (Eberle and Koppel both recently entered plea agreements in which they 22 plead guilty to the securities fraud count. See E.D. Cal. Case No. 2:07-cr-366, 23 25 26 27 That on August 22, 2007, ten months before they induced the Cartons to invest, Defendants Eberle and R. Koppel were indicted by the U.S. Attorney in the 15 24 The market value of the Policies on the secondary market in two years could not Doc. 216 and Doc. 232). • That on November 9, 2007, the Pennsylvania Securities Commission issued a press release stating that it had issued a Summary Order to Cease and Desist against Defendants PFG, EICA and R. Koppel. According to the press release, PFG, EICA and R. Koppel had offered and sold its Premium Financing Program 28 -6- 1 to Pennsylvania residents, including Promissory Notes, without necessary 2 registrations and disclosures required by Pennsylvania securities laws. The press 3 release stated that PFG, EICA and R. Koppel were ordered to stop offering the 4 Premium Financing Program in violation of state securities law and that any 5 further offers will constitute violations of state securities law. (Id.). 6 • That on March 12, 2009, the Enforcement Section of the Securities Division of 7 the Office of Secretary of State of the State of Missouri issued an Order to Cease 8 and Desist and Order to Show Cause against Defendants B&B, GER, GEP, R. 9 Koppel, Banks and Eberle for offering and selling its Premium Financing program 10 to Missouri residents in violation of state securities laws. The Missouri action 11 was not disclosed to the Cartons until April 21, 2011 when an inquiry was made 12 into the status of the Policies. (Id. at 33-34). (On October 25, 2011, the State of 13 Missouri issued a Final Order finding that B&B, GER, GEP, R. Koppel and 14 Eberle had violated Missouri securities laws and ordered them to pay restitution 15 into an investor restitution fund.). 16 The Cartons relied upon these misrepresentations and were induced by Plotnick, R. 17 Koppel, Eberle and the B&B Entities to invest in the B&B premium financing program. (Id. at 18 30-34). On July 16, 2008, the Cartons paid $700,000.00 to the B&B Entities through Plotnick 19 and R. Koppel. (Id. at 13-14). The investment was spread over seven insurance policies 20 (collectively, “the Policies”), which insured six individuals (collectively “the Insureds”). (Id. at 21 17). Three of the Policies were through Defendant American General Life Insurance Co. 22 (“American General”) and insured Defendants–Insureds Thomas E. Colbert, Wanda D. Dean, 23 and Kenneth D. Huntley. (Id.). Thomas Colbert is a resident of Nevada, Wanda Dean is a 24 resident of California, and Kenneth Huntley is a resident of Iowa. (Id. at 7–8). Three of the 25 Policies were through Defendant Aviva Life and Annuity Co. (“Aviva”) and insured 26 Defendants–Insureds Kenneth D. Huntley, Leon E. Dean, and Samuel L. Diggle. (Id. at 17). 27 Leon Dean is a resident of California and Samuel Diggle is a resident South Carolina. (Id. at 7– 28 -7- 1 8). The final policy was through Americo Financial Life & Annuity Insurance Co. (“Americo”) 2 and insured Defendant–Insured Gloria Diaz Rivera, a resident of Puerto Rico. (Id. at 8, 17). The 3 face amounts of these policies ranged from $600,000 to $3,000,000. (Id. at 17). The beneficiaries 4 of the Policies were irrevocable life insurance trusts that bore the names of the respective 5 Insureds, e.g., “the Kenneth D. Huntley Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust” (collectively, the 6 “ILITs”). (Id. at 8, 18). The Insureds served as trustees for their respective ILITs. (Id. at 19). 7 On the American General applications for life insurance, the Insureds failed to answer the 8 question that asked for information about the “Premium Payor” if it were different from the 9 policy owner, even though third parties, viz., Plaintiffs, were in fact providing financing to pay 10 11 12 the policy premiums. (Id. at 26–28). On the Aviva applications for life insurance, the Insureds failed to inform Aviva of the premium financing arrangement. (Id.). 13 The Insured signed promissory notes in their capacities as trustees of their respective 14 ILITs, promising to repay the loans obtained from the Cartons and agreeing to an interest rate of 15 20% per annum on those loans. (Id.). This amount became payable either: (a) the day following 16 17 the two year anniversary of the note; (b) the date of the death of the insured; (c) the date of any breach; or (d) the date of any default. (Id. at 20). Limited liability companies were created 18 19 20 bearing the names of the Insureds (Plaintiffs Kenneth Huntley II, LLC; Kenneth Huntley IV, LLC; Leon Dean II, LLC; Gloria Diaz II, LLC; Thomas Colbert V, LLC; Wanda Dean II, LLC; 21 and Samuel Diggle II, LLC) (collectively, the “LLCs”), and the Insureds executed collateral 22 assignments assigning and pledging the insurance policies to the LLCs as collateral to secure the 23 loans financing the first two years of premium payments. (Id. at 21). The Cartons obtained an 24 interest in the LLCs reflecting the percentage of the funding they provided for the respective life 25 insurance policy premiums, and in August 2008 they received a package of documents that 26 27 28 -8- 1 included the insurance application for each policy, the secured promissory note, the collateral 2 assignment, and other relevant documents. (Id. at 16, 25). 3 The loans were all set to expire between June and September of 2009. (Id. at 27–29). 4 However, in July of 2009, the Cartons received letters informing them that additional investors 5 6 had been brought in to pay a third year of premiums on four of the Policies, thus decreasing the 7 Cartons’ percentage interest in the Policies. (Id. at 25–26). None of the Policies were sold, and 8 apparently all of the policies have since lapsed for non-payment. (See Mot. to Dismiss 5, ECF 9 No. 90). The Cartons never received their principal or the guaranteed interest on their 10 11 investment. (First Am. Compl. 26–30). The Cartons sued several parties in this Court, including Plotnick, EPSN, R. Koppel, 12 13 14 Eberle and the B&B Entities, and others. (See Compl., Doc. 1). Plaintiffs brought fourteen causes of action. (See id.). Plaintiffs filed the First Amended Complaint (“FAC”), which joins the LLCs 15 as Plaintiffs and lists the same fourteen nominal causes of action: (1) Securities Fraud under § 16 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act and SEC Rule 10b-5; (2) Declaratory Judgment 17 (rescission); (3) Declaratory Judgment (refund of premiums); (4) Securities Fraud under Nevada 18 19 Revised Statutes (“NRS”) section 90.660; (5) Fraud; (6) Constructive Fraud; (7) Breach of Contract (B&B Investment Agreements); (8) Breach of Contract (Loan Documents); (9) 20 21 Foreclosure; (10) Unjust Enrichment; (11) Injunctive Relief; (12) Breach of Fiduciary Duty; (13) 22 Deceptive Trade Practices under NRS Chapter 598; and (14) Professional Negligence. (See First 23 Am. Compl., July 12, 2011, Doc. 43). 24 On December 7, 2011, the Court entered an Order [Doc. 129] ruling that “this was a 25 standard STOLI arrangement under which investors were in substance the true owners of the 26 Policies, the arrangement violated public policy and the Policies were void ab initio.” The 27 28 -9- 1 STOLIs were therefore invalid and void ab initio under the respective laws or public policies of 2 Nevada, California, Iowa, and South Carolina, in which states the STOLIs were issued. 3 On August 23, 2012, United States Magistrate Judge Peggy A. Leen entered an Order 4 [Doc. 181] granting the Plaintiffs’ Motion for Sanctions [Doc. 149] against Defendants Robert L. 5 6 Eberle (“Eberle”); and B&B Equities Group, LLC; Global Equity Resources, LLC; Pro Financial 7 Group, Inc.; Pro Fi Group, Inc.; Estate Planning Solutions Network, LLC (the “Corporate 8 Defendants”) for their failure to comply with discovery obligations, comply with court orders, 9 and participate in this case. Magistrate Judge Lien then made a Report and Recommendation 10 [Doc. 181] to the Court that the answers of Eberle and Corporate Defendants be stricken and 11 Default Judgment be entered against them based on the factors set forth by the Ninth Circuit. 12 On November 26, 2012, this Court adopted the Report and Recommendation, Ordered 13 14 that the Answers of Eberle and the Corporate Defendants are stricken and granted Default 15 Judgment in favor of the Plaintiffs against those Defendants. See Order dated November 26, 16 2012, Doc. 187. 17 18 The Report and Recommendation [Doc. 181] and the Order [Doc. 187] are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth verbatim. 19 III. DAMAGES 20 21 The Court having found good cause to enter Default Judgment against Robert L. Eberle, 22 B&B Equities Group, LLC, Global Equity Resources, LLC, Pro Financial Group, Inc., Pro Fi 23 Group, Inc., and Estate Planning Solutions Network, LLC, the focus now turns to the amount of 24 damages. 25 defendants: 26 The Plaintiffs asserted the following causes of actions against the defaulted Robert L. Eberle: (1) Securities Fraud under § 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act and 27 SEC Rule 10b-5; (4) Securities Fraud under Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) section 90.660; 28 -10- 1 (5) Fraud; (6) Constructive Fraud; (7) Breach of Contract (B&B Investment Agreements); (10) 2 Unjust Enrichment; (12) Breach of Fiduciary Duty; (13) Deceptive Trade Practices under NRS 3 Chapter 598; and (14) Professional Negligence. 4 B&B Equities Group, LLC, Global Equity Resources, LLC, Pro Financial Group, Inc., 5 6 and Pro Fi Group, Inc.: (1) Securities Fraud under § 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act and 7 SEC Rule 10b-5; (4) Securities Fraud under Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) section 90.660; 8 (5) Fraud; (6) Constructive Fraud; (7) Breach of Contract (B&B Investment Agreements); (10) 9 Unjust Enrichment; (12) Breach of Fiduciary Duty; and (13) Deceptive Trade Practices under 10 11 NRS Chapter 598. Estate Planning Solutions Network, LLC: (4) Securities Fraud under Nevada Revised 12 13 14 Statutes (“NRS”) section 90.660; (5) Fraud; (6) Constructive Fraud; and (10) Unjust Enrichment. In determining the amount of damages, the Court notes that the investment scheme 15 promoted by these Defendants was determined to be illegal STOLI transactions which are void 16 ab initio under the laws of the states in which the insurance policies were issued. In such a 17 situation, the Court will attempt to “restor[e] . . . the status quo of the parties”, putting the parties 18 19 as close to their original positions as is “reasonably possible and demanded by the equities of the case.” Mackintosh v. Cal. Fed. Sav. and Loan Ass'n., 113 Nev. 393, 407, 935 P.2d 1154, 1163 20 21 22 (1997). In this case, the Cartons transferred $700,000.00 to R. Koppel, which was then shared with the defaulted defendants and various other parties. The Court will attempt to restore the 23 Cartons to the position they occupied before the transfer of the $700,000.00. While there are 24 likely many methods of calculating damages under these various causes of action, the most direct 25 and straightforward way to achieve the intended result of restoring the Cartons to their original 26 positions is by examining the remedies available under federal and state securities laws. 27 28 -11- 1 Nevada state law provides that a person who offers or sells a security in violation of 2 Nevada State Securities laws “is liable to the person purchasing the security. Upon tender of the 3 security, the purchaser may recover the consideration paid for the security and interest at the 4 legal rate of this State from the date of payment, costs and reasonable attorney’s fees, less the 5 6 amount of income received on the security.” N.R.S. 90.660(1) (emphasis added); see Nagy v. 7 Grobstein, 2006 WL 2385383, *2 (D. Nev. 2006) (“Therefore, the Court finds that Grobstein 8 should be jointly and severally liable for the amount of money paid for the unregistered 9 securities, $300,000.00. See 15 U.S.C. § 77e(a)(1); Nev. Rev. Stat. 90.660(b),(f). While 10 Defendant Grobstein complains that this is inequitable because the other defendants were never 11 served, Grobstein never took any of the avenues available to protect his rights in this case.”). 12 13 14 Federal law is consistent with this remedy. Under federal law, “a district court has broad equity powers to order the disgorgement of ill-gotten gains obtained through the violation of the 15 securities laws. Disgorgement is designed to deprive a wrongdoer of unjust enrichment, and to 16 deter others from violating securities laws by making violations unprofitable.” SEC v. First Pac. 17 Bancorp, 142 F.3d 1186, 1191 (9th Cir. 1998) (quotation marks and citations omitted). “[T]he 18 19 amount of disgorgement should include all gains flowing from the illegal activities.” SEC v. JT Wallenbrock & Assocs., 440 F.3d 1109, 1114 (9th Cir. 2006) (quotation marks omitted). 20 21 22 Whether the person retained the money or used it for other purposes is irrelevant, he or she will be liable for funds retained and funds dissipated. JT Wallenbrock, 440 F.3d 1109 at 1111-12. 23 “[W]here two or more individuals or entities collaborate or have a close relationship in engaging 24 in the violations of the securities laws, they [may be] held jointly and severally liable for the 25 disgorgement of illegally obtained proceeds.” Id. at 1117 (citation and quotation omitted). 26 While these penalties may seem harsh, they are intended as a deterrent and as a means for 27 investors to recover damages. See U.S. Code Cong. & Admin. News 1995, pp. 679, 687 (“The 28 -12- 1 success of the U.S. securities markets is largely the result of a high level of investor confidence 2 in the integrity and efficiency of our markets. The SEC enforcement program and the availability 3 of private rights of action together provide a means for defrauded investors to recover damages 4 and a powerful deterrent against violations of the securities laws”); see also Bateman Eichler, 5 6 Hill Richards, Inc. v. Berner, 472 U.S. 299, 310, 105 S.Ct. 2622, 86 L.Ed.2d 215 (1985) 7 (“Moreover, we repeatedly have emphasized that implied private actions provide ‘a most 8 effective weapon in the enforcement’ of the securities laws and are ‘a necessary supplement to 9 Commission action’”). 10 11 Eberle and the Corporate Defendants collaborated in the STOLI scheme to induce the Cartons to invest, causing the Cartons to lose $700,000.00. The insurance policies have been 12 13 14 determined to be illegal and void ab initio and there is no value in the Cartons’ investment. The Cartons have not received any income from the investment or had any of their principal 15 investment returned to them. The Cartons have suffered actual damages from the Defendants’ 16 actions in the amount of $700,000.00. Under the standards set forth above, the Court finds 17 Eberle and the Corporate Defendants (except for EPSN who was not named in this cause of 18 19 action) jointly and severally liable to the Cartons in the amount of $700,000.00 as a disgorgement for all gains flowing from their violations of federal and state securities laws. 20 21 Because the Cartons have not received any income from the STOLI, there is no offset. 22 Awarding the Plaintiffs this relief satisfies the Court’s goal of putting the parties as close to their 23 original positions as is “reasonably possible and demanded by the equities of the case.” 24 Nevada law also provides for interest at the legal rate from the date of payment, which is 25 currently 3.25%, see N.R.S. 99.040(1), or $63.19 per day from July 16, 2008 (the date the 26 Cartons transferred their money the Defendants) until repaid. As of December 15, 2012, the total 27 accrued interest at the legal rate of 3.25% is $9,100.00. 28 -13- 1 Additionally, Nevada allows the Cartons to recover their costs and reasonable attorney’s 2 fees. According to Local Rule 54–16, a party requesting attorneys’ fees must file a motion 3 demonstrating the reasonableness of the award, an itemization and description of the work 4 performed, an itemization of all costs, and an attorney affidavit. Plaintiffs are entitled to an 5 6 award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs and may submit such a motion complying with LR 7 54-16 if they choose. 8 IV. 9 10 11 JUDGMENT Accordingly and Good Cause Appearing therefor: IT IS ORDERED that DEFAULT JUDGMENT IS ENTERED in favor of Plaintiffs and against Defendants Robert L. Eberle, B&B Equities Group, LLC, Global Equity Resources, 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 LLC, Pro Financial Group, Inc., Pro Fi Group, Inc., and Estate Planning Solutions Network, LLC, jointly and severally, in the amount of $709,100.00, representing $700,000.00 in principal compensatory damages and $9,100.00 accrued interest. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs are entitled to an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Judgment shall accrue interest at the rate of 3.25%, until paid in full. Dated this 10th day of March, 2014. DATED and DONE this ____ day of ____________________, 2011. 22 23 24 25 26 27 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Submitted By: CHRISTENSEN JAMES & MARTIN By: /s/ Wesley J. Smith Wesley J. Smith, Esq. Attorneys for Plaintiffs 28 -14-

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