Monthly Archives: February 2019

Defendants in “Cash From Home” Business Opportunity Scheme Settle with FTC

The defendants in an alleged work-from-home business opportunity scam are banned from selling any business coaching service or business opportunity under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. “Be very skeptical of promises that you’ll make a lot of money by working from home,” said Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. […]

Gene Daniel Levoff

Litigation Release No. 24399 / February 13, 2019 SEC v. Gene Daniel Levoff, No. 2:19-CV-05536 (D.N.J. filed Feb. 13, 2019) On February 13, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed insider trading charges against a former senior attorney at Apple whose duties included executing the company’s insider trading compliance efforts. The SEC’s complaint alleges that […]

Issuance of Final Rule on Loans in Areas Having Special Flood Hazards—Private Flood Insurance

FIL-8-2019 February 13, 2019 Issuance of Final Rule on Loans in Areas Having Special Flood Hazards—Private Flood Insurance Printable Format: FIL-8-2019 – PDF (PDF Help) Summary: The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (the Biggert-Waters Act) amended Federal flood insurance legislation to require the FDIC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the […]

FTC Seeks Public Comment as Part of its Review of the Franchise Rule

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on whether to make changes to its Rule known as Disclosure Requirements and Prohibitions Concerning Franchising (“Franchise Rule”) as part of its systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides. Because the primary purpose of the Franchise Rule is to provide prospective franchisees the material information […]

FTC Enforcement Actions Yield More than $2.3 Billion in Refunds to Consumers between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018

“It is refreshing to know that the law works to help people when they have been deceived.”– Consumer who received a refund check after being charged for a “free” credit report According to a report issued by the Federal Trade Commission today, between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018, the agency’s law enforcement actions […]

FTC Announces New Sessions of its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century

The Federal Trade Commission Hearings schedule sets new dates for the two previously scheduled sessions – broadband and consumer privacy – canceled due to the recent lapse in government funding. The Hearings will also include sessions on international issues in competition, consumer protection and privacy, and the analysis of merger retrospectives, as well as a […]

Jason McDiarmid, et al.

Litigation Release No. 24398 / February 12, 2019 Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jason McDiarmid, et al., No. 17-civ-07201-SVW (C.D. Cal. filed Sept. 29, 2017) The Securities and Exchange Commission has obtained final judgments against a microcap company and its two undisclosed promoters who were charged with running a $3.3 million microcap fraud. In September […]

Michael J. Kipp, et al.

Litigation Release No. 24396 / February 12, 2019 SEC v. Michael J. Kipp, et al., No.16-CV-00258 (W.D.N.C. filed May 24, 2016) United States v. Michal Kipp and Joanne Via, , 15-cr-00244 (W.D.N.C. filed Oct. 19, 2015) A federal district court has permanently barred two former corporate officers of a North Carolina-based hygiene and sanitation company […]

Kevin R. Kuhnash and Jason P. Jimerson

On February 12, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged two former high-ranking executives of an Indiana-based plastics manufacturer with concealing from potential buyers of the manufacturer the fact that the company’s core business model was a sham. According to the SEC’s complaint, Lucent Polymers, Inc. premised its business model on its ability to transform […]