WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Jan. 11 that Damian Kutzner, who allegedly helped operate a mortgage relief scheme that duped consumers and stole millions, has agreed to a court order banning him from the debt relief business.
The FTC had filed charges in May 2016 against Kutzner and four other attorneys who operated the company Brookstone and Advantis Law. According to the FTC, the operators defrauded consumers by promising “at least $75,000” through “mass joinder” lawsuits. None of the consumers, however, ever received the promised mortgage relief, the FTC argued. In another action, the FTC charged Kutzner with violating a 2003 FTC court order against him.
The stipulated order bars Kutzner from providing certain financial products and services and making misrepresentations about certain products and services. Kutzner is also the subject of an $18.3 million judgment. According to the FTC, this figure represents the amount of consumer harm for which he is responsible.
The FTC voted 3-0 to approve the stipulated final order, which was entered by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on Jan. 9.