UNITED
STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF UTAH, CENTRAL DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
In the Matter of
NU SKIN INTERNATIONAL, INC., a
corporation
CONSENT DECREE
WHEREAS: Plaintiff, the United States of America, has
commenced this action by filing the Complaint herein;
defendant Nu Skin International, Inc., has waived service
of the Summons and Complaint; the parties have been
represented by the attorneys whose names appear
hereafter; and the parties have agreed to settlement of
this action upon the following terms and conditions,
without adjudication of any issue of fact or law and
without defendant admitting liability for any of the
matters alleged in the Complaint;
THEREFORE, on the joint motion of plaintiff and
defendant, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED as
follows:
1. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter
and the parties.
2. The Complaint states a claim upon which relief may
be granted against the defendant under Sections 5(l),
9, 13(b), and 16(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act,
15 U.S.C. §§ 45(l), 49, 53(b), and 56(a).
3. The following definition shall apply to this
Consent Decree: "Commission's Order" shall mean
the Federal Trade Commission ("Commission")
Order in FTC Docket No. C-3489 (1994), a copy of which is
attached herewith as Exhibit A and made a part of this
Consent Decree.
CIVIL PENALTY
4. Pursuant to Section 5(l) of the Federal
Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45(l),
defendant Nu Skin International, Inc., its successors and
assigns, shall pay to plaintiff a civil penalty of One
Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000).
Defendant shall make this payment to the United States
Treasury within ten (10) days of the date of entry of
this Consent Decree by electronic fund transfer in
accordance with the instructions provided by the Office
of Consumer Litigation, Civil Division, U.S. Department
of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530. In the event of any
default in payment, which default continues for ten (10)
days beyond the due date of payment, the entire unpaid
penalty, together with interest, as computed pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1961 from the date of default to the
date of payment, shall immediately become due and
payable.
INJUNCTION AGAINST ORDER
VIOLATIONS
5. Defendant Nu Skin International, Inc., its
successors and assigns, and its officers, agents,
representatives, and employees, and all persons in active
concert or participation with any one or more of them who
receive actual notice of this Consent Decree by personal
service or otherwise, are hereby enjoined from ever
violating, directly or through any corporation,
subsidiary, division, or other device, any provision of
the Commission's Order.
6. In the event that the Commission's Order is
hereafter modified, defendant's compliance with such
Order as so modified shall not be deemed a violation of
this injunction.
7. Nothing in this Consent Decree shall prohibit
defendant from making any representation for any product
that is specifically permitted in labeling for such
product by regulations promulgated by the Food and Drug
Administration pursuant to the Nutritional Labeling and
Education Act of 1990.
PERSONS AFFECTED; CONTINUING
JURISDICTION
8. Defendant Nu Skin International, Inc., its
successors and assigns, shall, within thirty (30) days of
the entry of this Consent Decree: A) provide this Consent
Decree to each of its current officers and managers, and
to its agents, representatives, and employees having
responsibilities with respect to the subject matter of
this Decree, and secure from each such officer, manager,
agent, representative, and employee a signed statement
acknowledging receipt of this Consent Decree; and B)
provide a dated and signed notification letter in the
form set forth in Exhibit B to this Consent Decree to
each of its distributors who: (1) are located in the
United States; and
(2) either received a commission check or placed an
order for products or services from defendant during the
year immediately preceding the entry of this Consent
Decree. Within ten (10) days of complying with this
paragraph, defendant, its successors and assigns, shall
file an affidavit with the Court and serve the
Commission, by mailing a copy thereof, to the Associate
Director for Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection,
Federal Trade Commission, 6th and Pennsylvania Avenue,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580, setting forth the fact and
manner of its compliance, including the name and title of
each person to whom a copy of the Consent Decree has been
provided. For a period of five (5) years from the date of
entry of this Consent Decree, defendant, its successors
and assigns, shall: A) provide this Consent Decree to
each of its future officers and managers, and to its
future agents, representatives, and employees having
responsibilities with respect to the subject matter of
this Decree, within three (3) days after the person
assumes the position; and B) provide a dated and signed
notification letter in the form set forth in Exhibit B to
this Consent Decree to each of its future distributors
who are located in the United States within three (3)
days after the distributor assumes the position.
9. For a period of five (5) years from the date of
entry of this Consent Decree, Defendant Nu Skin
International, Inc., its successors and assigns, shall
maintain and make available to the Commission, within
thirty (30) days of the date of receipt of a written
request, business records demonstrating compliance with
the terms and provisions of this Consent Decree.
10. This Court shall retain jurisdiction of this
matter for the purpose of enabling any of the parties to
this Consent Decree to apply to the Court at any time for
such further orders or directives as may be necessary or
appropriate for interpretation or modification of this
Consent Decree, for the enforcement of compliance
therewith, or for the punishment of violations thereof.
JUDGMENT IS THEREFORE ENTERED in favor of plaintiff
and against defendant, pursuant to all of the terms and
conditions recited above.
Dated this ________ day of _______________, 1997.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
The parties, by their respective counsel, hereby
consent to the terms and conditions of the Consent Decree
as set forth above
and consent to the entry thereof. Defendant waives any
rights that may arise under the Equal Access to Justice
Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412.
FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FRANK W. HUNGER
Assistant Attorney General
Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
District of Utah
BY: ___________________________________
Assistant United States Attorney
District of Utah
EUGENE M. THIROLF
Director
Office of Consumer Litigation
___________________________________
Attorney
Office of Consumer Litigation
Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, D.C. 20530
FOR THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION:
___________________________________
ELAINE D. KOLISH
Associate Director for Enforcement
Bureau of Consumer Protection
___________________________________
JUSTIN DINGFELDER
Assistant Director for Enforcement
Bureau of Consumer Protection
ROBERT M. FRISBY
CAROL J. JENNINGS
LAURA KOSS
Attorneys
Division of Enforcement
Bureau of Consumer Protection
Federal Trade Commission
Washington, D.C. 20580
FOR THE DEFENDANT:
NU SKIN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:
President
Nu Skin International, Inc.
ARNOLD AND PORTER
Attorneys for Defendant
555 12th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 942-5000
BY:
RICHARD L. ROSEN, ESQ.
RANDAL M. SHAHEEN, ESQ.
Members of the Firm
EXHIBIT B
Dear U.S. Distributor:
In 1994 Nu Skin International, Inc. (NSI) consented to
the issuance of a cease and desist order (Order) by the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC now alleges that
NSI did not have competent and reliable scientific
evidence, as required by the Order, to substantiate
certain claims made by NSI and its distributors that
chromium picolinate and L-carnitine reduce body fat
and/or promote muscle development. These claims have
appeared in advertising and promotional materials for
Metabotrim, OverDrive, Glycobar, Appeal Lite, and
Breakbars.
As a result of discussions with the FTC, NSI has
agreed to the entry of a consent decree (Decree) in the
United States District Court in Utah. The Decree is for
settlement purposes only and does not constitute an
admission of violations of the Order by NSI. Pursuant to
the Decree, NSI has agreed to the payment of a $1.5
million civil penalty and an injunction prohibiting
future violations of the Order. The injunction applies to
NSI, its officers, agents, representatives, and
employees, and all persons in participation with any of
the above who receive actual notice of the Decree.
Accordingly, NSI has withdrawn and destroyed all prior
materials containing the contested claims. We suggest
that you do the same.
The Decree requires that NSI provide a copy of this
notice to each of its current and future distributors.
If you have questions or would like a copy of the
Decree, you may contact NSI at (801) 345-. Thank you for
your cooperation.
Sincerely yours,
NSI
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