WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Aug. 23 that the final three defendants in a case of allegedly deceptive marketing of dietary supplements have agreed to settle charges the agency filed in February.
There were originally nine defendants in the case, which involved the alleged deceptive formatting of radio infomercials and print advertisements. According to the FTC, the infomercials and ads used fictitious endorsers to justify the idea that the products could improve memory and reduce memory and back pain.
The final three defendants to settle are Synergixx LLC, an ad agency, its principal, Charlie R. Fusco, and Ronald Jahner. These entities and individuals have been banned from engaging in a wide range of marketing practices.
The FTC voted 2-0 to accept proposed stipulated orders, which were then filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine. The Maine Office of the Attorney General assisted the FTC in the case. The agency noted in a news release that stipulated orders have the force of law after they have been approved and signed by a district court judge.