Close

54 Million Reasons to Hire an FTC Defense Attorney

Defense of Illinois Attorney General FTC Consumer Fraud Investigations -- $54 Million Reasons to Hire an FTC or Illinois Attorney General Consumer Fraud Defense Lawyer

Recently, the FTC announced that it had reached a settlement with defendants of a multi-million dollar business coaching company to resolve claims that they deceived consumers by claiming they could earn “six figures in 90 days.” As part of the settlement, the defendants agreed to entry of a $54,000,000 judgment which will be suspended pending compliance with the other terms of the settlement. Included among these terms, the defendants must turn over money and other assets totaling approximately $1.9 million.

In its complaint, the FTC alleged that the defendants persuaded consumers to pay for various tiered memberships, each costing more than the previous, promising consumers that the memberships would lead to the consumers learning how to earn substantial incomes with online businesses. In addition to making false claims about the amount of money people could earn, the company falsely promised to provide individualized coaching from successful marketers, who in fact were simply just salespeople selling additional membership tiers, according to the FTC.

In total, the FTC alleged that the defendants took in millions of dollars though the scheme. Consumers, on the other hand, did not fare as well with most never earning the promised income and losing more than tens of millions dollars and some losing more than $50,000. The individual defendants were former executives of the company. This settlement comes on the heels of an earlier settlement with three other defendants involved in the same alleged coaching scheme. The Commission voted 5-0 to approve the settlements.

These settlements serve to highlight an important lesson: violating FTC rules and guidelines can have substantial consequences for a business. The cost of an FTC investigation can be high but the financial penalties the FTC can impose can be much higher. FTC penalties routinely run into the millions and can force a company out of business forever.

But even when the FTC does not impose crushing financial penalties, an FTC investigation can be a major distraction costing both time and money and taking you away from being able to run your business. For these reasons, if you or your business ever find yourselves the target of an FTC investigation or an investigation by a state attorney general, it is always advisable to retain an experienced FTC defense attorney to represent you and your business during such an investigation.

Even better than having an experienced attorney represent your business during an FTC investigation is to avoid such an investigation altogether. An attorney can help with this by reviewing your advertising and marketing materials for compliance before they are disseminated to consumers. An FTC attorney can review these materials to determine whether they are free from deceptive or unsubstantiated claims. And you should also always be certain to maintain proper substantiation for claims made in your advertising. Doing this will go a long way in the event the FTC initiates a compliance investigation.

Lubin Austermuehle’s Chicago consumer fraud and business fraud defense lawyers assist businesses accused of fraud defend lawsuits or actions or the target of investigation by the Illinois Attorney General or the FTC.

Our Chicago business lawyers have more than thirty-five years of experience helping business clients on unraveling complex business fraud and breach of fiduciary duty cases. Our Chicago consumer fraud and FTC investigation defense lawyers represent companies in Illinois Attorney General and FTC consumer fraud investigations and prosecution. Our Chicago business dispute attorneys also represent individuals, family businesses and enterprises of all sizes in a variety of legal disputes, including disputes among partners and shareholders as well as lawsuits between businesses and consumer rights, auto fraud, and wage claim individual and class action cases. In every case, our goal is to resolve disputes as quickly and successfully as possible, helping business clients protect their investments and get back to business as usual. From offices in Elmhurst and Wilmette, near Waukegan, and Oak Brook, we serve clients throughout Illinois and the Midwest.

If you’re facing a business or class-action lawsuit, Illinois Attorney General or FTC investigation, or the possibility of one, and you’d like to discuss how the experienced Illinois consumer fraud defense attorneys at Lubin Austermuehle can help defend your business, we would like to hear from you. To set up a consultation with one of our Naperville and Chicago business law attorneys and class action and consumer trial lawyers, please call us toll-free at 630-333-0333 or contact us online.


Business & Commercial Litigation
Client Reviews
★★★★★
"I was referred to Peter Lubin from someone in the car business to handle a law suit. From the moment I made the appointment Peter and his staff were outstanding. This wasn't an easy case, most lawyers had turned me down. However, Peter took the time to meet with me and review everything. He took on the case, and constantly communicated with me about updates and case information. We beat this non-compete agreement case in record time. I would use him again and recommend him to my closest family and friends. 5 stars is not enough to thank him for his service." Sebastian R.
★★★★★
"I worked on two occasions with Peter Lubin and his staff. They took their time with me and discussed each and every item in detail. The group makes you feel like you are part of the family and not just another hourly charge. I recommend Peter to anyone who asks me for a referral. If you are looking for a top notch attorney at a reasonable rate, look no further than Lubin Austermuehle." Kurt A.
★★★★★
"Excellent law firm. My case was a complicated arbitration dispute from another state. Was handled with utmost professionalism and decency. Mr. Peter Lubin was able to successfully resolve the case on my behalf and got me a very favorable settlement. Would recommend to anyone looking for a serious law firm. Great staff and great lawyers!" Albey L.
★★★★★
"I have known Peter Lubin for over 30 years. He has represented me on occasion with sound legal advice. He is a shrewd and tough negotiator leading to positive outcomes and averting prolonged legal hassles in court. He comes from a family with a legal pedigree and deep roots in Chicago's top legal community. You want him on your case. You need him on your opponents case. He won't stop fighting until he wins." Christopher G.
★★★★★
"Peter and his team helped us with an auto fraud case. They communicated well (timely and very responsive), investigated deeply, and negotiated a very good settlement. We were able to resolve our significant issue without a large burden and in a manner that allowed for us to come out ahead. I'd recommend Peter and his team strongly!" R.J. Callahan
★★★★★
"Peter was really nice and helpful when I came to him with an initial question about a non-compete. Would definitely reach out again, recommended to everyone." Johannes B.
Contact Us