December 31, 2002

• For Your Information: December 31, 2002
  Announced Actions for December 31, 2002
  Approved the filing of a joint brief with the United States, as amici curiae, in the matter of James E. Ryan, Attorney General of Illinois v. Telemarketing Associates (Ryan v. Telemarketing Associates, U.S. S. Ct. cert granted November 4, 2002.); authorized staff to file an amended complaint in the matter currently pending against National Audit Defense Network (NADN); Tax Coach, Inc., doing business as Tax Ready; Robert Bennington; Cort Christie; and Al Rodrigues; finalized the interim rules (as amended) that became effective February 1, 2001 relating to the statutory changes to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR Act).
• For Release: December 31, 2002
  FTC Obtains Stipulated Preliminary Injunctions with Asset Freezes Against Officers of Mark Nutritionals, Inc.
  A federal judge has entered stipulated orders for preliminary injunction with asset freezes against Harry Siskind and Edward G. D'Alessandro, Jr., the two individual defendants named in the Federal Trade Commission case filed on December 5, 2002 against Mark Nutritionals, Inc. The San Antonio, Texas-based company, and its officers, Siskind and D'Alessandro, marketed Body Solutions Evening Weight Loss Formula (Evening Formula) primarily through the use of allegedly deceptive radio ads.

December 30, 2002

• For Release: December 30, 2002
  Quicken Loans Agrees to Settle FTC Charges That It Failed to Provide Adverse Action Notices to Online Applicants Who Were Not Preapproved for Credit
  Quicken Loans Inc., a mortgage lender based in Livonia, Michigan, has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it failed to provide "adverse action" notices in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

December 26, 2002

• For Release: December 26, 2002
  Marketers of Purported "Breast Enhancement" System Settle FTC Charges
  The Federal Trade Commission today announced a settlement with a California-based company that marketed a so-called breast enhancement product, "The Isis System." According to the FTC complaint, the defendants deceptively represented that Isis would increase a woman's breast size safely and with no negative side effects.

December 24, 2002

• For Release: December 24, 2002
  Announced Action for December 24, 2002
  The Commission has approved the filing of comments with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding the availability of the 30-month stay of FDA approval of generic drug applications and revised Orange Book patent listing requirements.

December 23, 2002

• For Release: December 23, 2002
  Public/Private Partnerships to Combat Cross-Border Fraud: Notice of Public Workshop and Opportunity for Public Comment
  Workshop Will Emphasize Public/Private Partnerships to Accomplish Mutual Goals
• For Release: December 23, 2002
  Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice Provide Comments on American Bar Association Proposed Model State Law Defining the Practice of Law
  The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division on Friday released a joint letter urging the American Bar Association (ABA) to substantially narrow or reject a proposed model definition of the practice of law.

December 20, 2002

• For Release: December 20, 2002
  FTC Requires Divestitures in Connection with Baxter's Purchase of Wyeth's Generic Injectable Drug Business
  Consent Order Will Preserve Competition in Markets for Certain General Anesthetics, Neuromuscular Blocking Agents, Antiemetics, and New Injectable Iron Replacement Therapies
• For Your Information: December 20, 2002
  Announced Actions for December 20, 2002
  Authorized the staff to file comments with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning trans fatty acids in nutrition labeling; approved the issuance of a final consent order in the matter concerning Robert M. Currier.

December 19, 2002

• For Release: December 19, 2002
  Subprime Loan Victims to Receive Consumer Redress
  Nearly 28,000 First Alliance Borrowers Will Share an Initial Redress Pool of Almost $45 Million; Additional Redress of At Least $15 Million Expected

December 18, 2002

• For Release: December 18, 2002
  FTC Announces Final Amendments to Telemarketing Sales Rule, Including National "Do Not Call" Registry
  Registry Will Provide Consumers With More Control Over Telemarketing Calls They Receive; Other Changes Concern Billing Authorization, Charitable Solicitations, and Use of Caller-ID
• PARA SU DIFUSIÓN: 18 de diciembre de 2002
  LA FTC ANUNCIA LAS ENMIENDAS FINALES A LA REGULACIÓN DE VENTAS DE TELEMERCADEO, INCLUYENDO EL REGISTRO NACIONAL "NO LLAME"
  El Registro Brindará Mayor Control a los Consumidores Sobre los Llamados de Telemercadeo Recibidos; Otros Cambios Concernientes a la Autorización de Facturación, Solicitaciones para Colectas de Caridad y Utilización del Servicio de Identificador de Llamados
• For Release: December 18, 2002
  FTC and FDA Coordinate for New Consumer Health Information Initiative
  Federal Trade Commission Chairman Timothy J. Muris today participated in the announcement of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's new consumer health information initiative.

December 17, 2002

• Media Advisory: December 17, 2002
  FTC to Announce Consumer Protection Initiative
  The Federal Trade Commission will hold a press conference on Wednesday, December 18, 2002 at 1:00 p.m. EST to announce a consumer protection initiative.
• For Your Information: December 17, 2002
  Announced Action for December 17, 2002
  The Commission has approved the filing of a joint brief with the Department of Justice (DOJ), as amici curiae, in the matter of Verizon Communications, Inc. v. Law Offices of Curtis V. Trinko, No. 02-682 (U.S. S. Ct.).
• For Release: December 17, 2002
  "Project Busted Opportunity" Defendants Settle FTC Charges
  Nevada Company to Pay Over $155,000 in Consumer Redress

December 16, 2002

• For Release: December 16, 2002
  Temporary Restraining Order Issued Against Trek Alliance
  "Multi-Level Marketing" Plan Is An Illegal Pyramid, Agency Alleges

December 13, 2002

• For Your Information: December 13, 2002
  Announced Actions for December 13, 2002
  Approved a settlement regarding the collection of assets on behalf of two defendants in Affordable Media, LLC.; approved the publication of a Federal Register notice extending the time period for submitting public comments regarding issues addressed at the FTC's recent weight loss advertising workshop.; approved the publication of a Federal Register notice regarding the ceiling on allowable charges for certain disclosures under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

December 12, 2002

• For Release: December 12, 2002
  Court Halts Illegal Canadian Lottery Scheme
  A U.S. district court has granted a preliminary injunction halting the operation of Canadian telemarketers who illegally marketed lottery tickets to senior citizens in the United States in violation of federal laws.

December 11, 2002

• For Release: December 11, 2002
  FTC Competition Director Announces Best Practices for Merger Investigations
  Presenting keynote remarks at an annual conference on "Current Topics in Merger and Antitrust Enforcement" in Washington, DC, today Federal Trade Commission Competition Director Joe Simons announced the Bureau's new "Guidelines for Merger Investigations," which are designed to incorporate recently developed best practices into the merger review process.
• For Release: December 11, 2002
  FTC Settles with Remaining "Triad" Defendant
  Defendant to Post $100,000 Bond Before Engaging in Telemarketing and To Post $500,000 Bond Before Engaging in Negative Option Sales

December 10, 2002

• For Release: December 10, 2002
  FTC Chairman Muris Outlines Agency's Positive Agenda
  In a speech today in New York City to the Milton Handler Antitrust Review, Federal Trade Commission Chairman Timothy J. Muris discussed his philosophy about the appropriate content of the FTC's competition policy strategy and explained the logic of the positive agenda used to implement the strategy.
• For Your Information: December 10, 2002
  Announced Actions for December 10, 2002
  Seal lifted on FTC federal district court complaint; authorized the FTC staff to amend a complaint in the matter currently pending against Inspired Ventures, Inc., et al.
• For Release: December 10, 2002
  Federal Court Cites Funeral Home with Civil Contempt, Levies Fine of $500 per Day
  A U.S. district court in New York on October 25, 2002 cited Morehead McKim Gallaher Funeral Directors, Inc., and its director, Michael Bannon, with civil contempt for failing to comply with its June 28, 2002 order enforcing a civil investigative demand (CID) issued to the respondents by the Federal Trade Commission.

December 9, 2002

• For Release: December 9, 2002
  Cross-Border Credit Card Fraud Halted
  Defendants Charged With Violating Federal Laws
• For Release: December 9, 2002
  FTC Charges South Carolina Resident with Operating Phony Envelope Stuffing Work-at-Home Business Opportunity
  The Federal Trade Commission charged a South Carolina resident using various company names with deceptively marketing his purported envelope stuffing employment opportunities to consumers over the Internet.
• For Release: December 9, 2002
  FTC Halts Texas-Based Advance-fee Loan Scheme
  Promised Guaranteed Loans, Consumers Paid $79 Up-front, Receiving Nothing in Return

December 5, 2002

• For Release: December 5, 2002
  Body Solutions Products Come under Fire by the FTC
  Agency Alleges Weight Loss Claims Are False
• PARA SU DIFUSIÓN: 5 de diciembre de 2002
  LOS PRODUCTOS BODY SOLUTIONS SON FUERTEMENTE CUESTIONADOS POR LA FTC
  La Agencia Alega que las Afirmaciones sobre Pérdida de Peso Son Falsas
• For Release: December 5, 2002
  Canadian Telemarketers Targeting Elderly Settle FTC Charges
  Settlement Provides For Nearly $1 Million For Consumer Redress

December 4, 2002

• Media Advisory: December 4, 2002
  Heavily Advertised Weight-Loss Product Comes Under Fire by the FTC
  On Thursday December 5, 2002, the Federal Trade Commission will hold a press availability to announce a law enforcement action filed against marketers of a widely advertised weight loss product.
• For Release: December 4, 2002
  Investment Seminar Promoter Wade Cook Settles FTC Charges
  Seminar promoter Wade Cook has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that he and his companies violated the terms of a federal district court order barring unsubstantiated earnings claims at financial seminars and requiring rate of return disclosures and redress payments.
• For Release: December 4, 2002
  Former FTC Chairman Robert Pitofsky Named Recipient of 2002 Miles W. Kirkpatrick Award
  Former Federal Trade Commission Chairman Robert Pitofsky has been named this year's recipient of the Miles W. Kirkpatrick Award. Current FTC Chairman Timothy J. Muris called Pitofsky "one of the founding fathers of the modern FTC," citing his continuing commitment to consumer protection.

December 3, 2002

• For Release: December 3, 2002
  National Academy of Arbitrators Settles Charges That it Restrained Competition by Restricting Advertising, Solicitation
  Organization's Ethics Code to be Revised
• For Your Information: December 3, 2002
  Announced Action for December 3, 2002
  Approved a petition from Aventis S.A., the successor company to Hoechst AG and Rhone-Poulenc S.A. (RP) (the respondents), to reopen and modify a final consent order regarding the 1999 merger of the two companies.
• For Release: December 3, 2002
  Bogus Domain Name Seller Settles FTC Charges
  ".USA," ".Brit," Deceptively Marketed as Useable