FOR RELEASE: JULY 20, 1992
DAVID DU PONT HELD IN CONTEMPT OF COURT FOR
VIOLATING PREVIOUS COURT ORDER
A federal court has found David L. du Pont in civil contempt
after finding that he operated a new modeling agency business in
Chicago, called the Model & Talent Directory, in violation of a
permanent injunction the court had issued against him on Jan. 24,
1992 at the request of the Federal Trade Commission. The
permanent injunction followed FTC charges that du Pont misrepre-
sented the employment assistance and opportunities he offered
consumers, and falsely stated that his principal source of income
was from commissions on fees paid by clients.
The contempt order entered by Judge Norma L. Shapiro on July
15, permanently bans du Pont from engaging in the offering,
marketing, or sale of modeling, acting or employment-related
goods or services. The order also requires du Pont to pay to the
FTC within 45 days all money obtained through the operation of
the Model & Talent Directory for redress to consumers. The
defendant also is ordered to pay the FTC reasonable attorney's
fees in connection with this case.
The order further provides that if du Pont fails to comply
with the provisions of the order, the court will order that he be
held in custody pending his compliance, and the court will hold a
hearing to determine whether du Pont should be held in criminal
contempt.
- more -
(Du Pont3--07/20/92)
The order stems from FTC charges, filed in 1990, that du
Pont and his firm, Dupont Model Management, Inc., operating under
different names in at least eight cities, falsely claimed that
Dupont was a modeling agency that would place consumers in jobs
as professional models. In addition, the court found that
Dupont's principal source of income was from the sale of
professional quality photographs it told consumers they had to
have in order to get promoted as models.
This is the second time du Pont has been held in contempt in
connection with this case. On Dec. 2, 1991, upon finding that du
Pont operated three new businesses in violation of the
preliminary injunction -- Metro Model Management, Moda Model
Management, and the Casting Directory -- the court held du Pont
in civil contempt. In the contempt order being announced today,
the judge found that "Mr. du Pont has proved unwilling or unable
to engage or participate in the modeling business in anything
other than a misleading way."
The FTC's petition seeking the contempt order was filed in
the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The judge signed the order holding du Pont in contempt on July
15, and it was entered the same day.
Copies of the order are available from the FTC's Public
Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; TTY 1-866-653-4261.
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT: Brenda A. Mack, Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2182
STAFF CONTACT: Eileen Harrington, Bureau of Consumer Protection
202-326-3127
or
Mamie Kresses, Bureau of Consumer Protection
202-326-2070
(Civil Action No. 90-7695)
(dupont3)