| 9523401 B218049 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA COMMISSIONERS: In the Matter of 1554 CORPORATION, a
corporation, and DOCKET NO. C-3733 DECISION AND ORDER The Federal Trade Commission having initiated an investigation of certain acts and practices of the respondents named in the caption hereof, and the respondents having been furnished thereafter with a copy of a draft complaint that the Bureau of Consumer Protection proposed to present to the Commission for its consideration and that, if issued by the Commission, would charge the respondents with violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45 et seq.; and The respondents, their attorney, and counsel for the Commission having thereafter executed an agreement containing a consent order, an admission by the respondents of all the jurisdictional facts set forth in the aforesaid draft of complaint, a statement that the signing of said agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by respondents that the law has been violated as alleged in such complaint, and waivers and other provisions as required by the Commission's Rules; and The Commission having thereafter considered the matter and having determined that it had reason to believe that the respondents have violated the said Act, and that a complaint should issue stating its charges in that respect, and having thereupon accepted the executed consent agreement and placed such agreement on the public record for a period of sixty (60) days, now in further conformity with the procedure prescribed in § 2.34 of its Rules, the Commission hereby issues its complaint, makes the following jurisdictional findings and enters the following order: 1. Respondent 1554 Corporation is a California corporation, with its office and principal place of business located at 6100 Variel Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91367. Respondent 1554 Corporation has traded and done business as The Mellinger Company. Respondent Brainerd L. Mellinger, III, is president of the corporate respondent. Individually, or in concert with others, he formulates, directs and controls the acts and practices of the corporate respondent, including the acts and practices alleged in the draft complaint. His principal office or place of business is the same as that of the corporate respondent. 2. The Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this proceeding and of the respondents, and the proceeding is in the public interest. ORDER Definitions For purposes of this order, the following definitions shall apply: 1. "Mellinger Plan" shall mean the Mellinger World Trade Mail Order Plan. 2. "Business opportunity" shall mean an activity engaged in for the purpose of making a profit. 3. "Competent and reliable scientific evidence" shall mean tests, analyses, research, studies, or other evidence based on the expertise of professionals in the relevant area that has been conducted and evaluated in an objective manner by persons qualified to do so, using procedures generally accepted in the profession to yield accurate and reliable results. I. IT IS ORDERED that respondents 1554 Corporation, a corporation, its successors and assigns, and its officers, and Brainerd L. Mellinger, III, individually and as an officer of said corporation, and respondents' agents, representatives and employees, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division or other device, in connection with the advertising, offering for sale, sale or distribution of the Mellinger Plan, or any other product or service concerning business opportunities, in or affecting commerce, as "commerce" is defined in the Federal Trade Commission Act, do forthwith cease and desist from making any representation, in any manner, directly or by implication: A. that consumers who use such product or service typically succeed in readily starting and operating profitable businesses; B. that consumers who use such product or service typically earn substantial income; or C. otherwise concerning the performance, benefits, efficacy or success rate of any such product or service, unless, at the time of making such representation, respondents possess and rely upon competent and reliable evidence, which when appropriate must be competent and reliable scientific evidence, that substantiates the representation. II. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents 1554 Corporation, a corporation, its successors and assigns, and its officers, and Brainerd L. Mellinger, III, individually and as an officer of said corporation, and respondents' agents, representatives and employees, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division or other device, in connection with the advertising, offering for sale, sale or distribution of any product or service, in or affecting commerce, as "commerce" is defined in the Federal Trade Commission Act, do forthwith cease and desist from: A. Using, publishing, or referring to any endorsement (as "endorsement" is defined in § 255(b), Part 255, Title 16, Code of Federal Regulations) unless respondents have good reason to believe that at the time of such use, publication, or reference, the endorsement reflects the honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experience of the endorser and contains no express or implied representations which would be deceptive or unsubstantiated if made directly by the respondents; or B. Representing, directly or by implication, that any endorsement of the product or service represents the typical or ordinary experience of members of the public who use the product or service unless such representation is true and unless, at the time of making the representation, respondents possess and rely upon competent and reliable evidence, which when appropriate must be competent and reliable scientific evidence, that substantiates such representation. Provided, however, respondents may use such endorsements if the statements or depictions that comprise the endorsements are true and accurate, and if respondents disclose clearly, prominently, and in close proximity to the endorsement: 1. what the generally expected performance would be in the depicted circumstances; or 2. the limited applicability of the endorser's experience to what consumers may generally expect to achieve; i.e., that consumers should not expect to experience similar results. III. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for five (5) years after the last date of dissemination of any representation covered by this order, respondents, their successors and assigns, shall maintain and upon request make available to the Federal Trade Commission for inspection and copying: 1. All advertisements and promotional materials setting forth any representation covered by this order; 2. All materials that were relied upon to substantiate any representation covered by this order; and 3. All test reports, studies, surveys, demonstrations or other evidence in their possession or control, or of which they have knowledge, that contradict, qualify, or call into question such representation or the basis upon which respondents relied for such representation, including complaints from consumers or governmental entities. IV. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that: A. Respondent 1554 Corporation shall notify the Federal Trade Commission at least thirty (30) days prior to any proposed change in the corporation such as dissolution, assignment, or sale resulting in the emergence of a successor corporation, the creation or dissolution of subsidiaries or any other change in the corporation which may affect compliance obligations arising under this order; and B. Respondent Brainerd L. Mellinger, III, shall, for a period of three (3) years from the date of service of this order, promptly notify the Commission of the discontinuance of his present business or employment, or his affiliation with a new business or employment, with each such notice to include his new business address and a statement of the nature of the business or employment in which the respondent is newly engaged as well as a description of the respondent's duties and responsibilities in connection with the business or employment. V. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents, their successors and assigns, shall forthwith distribute a copy of this order to each of their operating divisions and to each of their officers, agents, representatives, or employees engaged in the preparation and placement of advertisements, promotional materials, product labels or other such sales materials covered by this order, and shall obtain from each such person or entity a signed statement acknowledging receipt of the order. VI. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this order will terminate on April 14, 2017, or twenty years from the most recent date that the United States or the Federal Trade Commission files a complaint (with or without an accompanying consent decree) in federal court alleging any violation of the order, whichever comes later; provided, however, that the filing of such a complaint will not affect the duration of: A. Any paragraph in this order that terminates in less than twenty years; B. This order's application to any respondent that is not named as a defendant in such complaint; and C. This order if such complaint is filed after the order has terminated pursuant to this paragraph. Provided further, that if such complaint is dismissed or a federal court rules that the respondent did not violate any provision of the order, and the dismissal or ruling is either not appealed or upheld on appeal, then the order will terminate according to this paragraph as though the complaint had never been filed, except that the order will not terminate between the date such complaint is filed and the later of the deadline for appealing such dismissal or ruling and the date such dismissal or ruling is upheld on appeal. VII. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents, their successors and assigns, shall, within sixty (60) days after service of this order, file with the Commission a report, in writing, setting forth in detail the manner and form in which they have complied or intend to comply with this order. By the Commission. Donald S. Clark ISSUED: April 14, 1997 |