Federal Trade Commission v. Consumer Defense LLC

• Court: District Court, D. Nevada
• Decided: December 30, 2022
• Docket: 2:18-cv-00030
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 6 * * *

7 FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, Case No. 2:18-CV-30 JCM (BNW)

8 Plaintiff(s), ORDER

9 v.

10 CONSUMER DEFENSE, LLC, et al.,

11 Defendant(s).

12 13 Presently before the court is the matter of the Federal Trade Commission v. Consumer 14 Defense, LLC et al, case number 2:18-cv-00030-JCM-BNW. 15 Upon an appeal from this court’s monetary award, the Ninth Circuit vacated the award and 16 remanded this matter for this court to determine whether a monetary award is nevertheless 17 appropriate. 18 19 Also before the court is the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”)’s motion for entry of 20 monetary judgment against defendants Jonathan and Sandra Hanley (the “Hanleys”). (ECF No. 21 391). It has filed a proposed order thereto. (ECF No. 395). The Hanleys responded to the motion 22 and the proposed order. (ECF Nos. 392, 396). The FTC replied in support of its motion. (ECF 23 No. 393). 24 25 I. BACKGROUND 26 The FTC commenced this action on January 8, 2018, seeking a permanent injunction and 27 other equitable relief pursuant to section 13(b) of the FTC Act (“section 13(b)”) and section 5538 28 of the Dodd-Frank Act against the Hanleys and eleven various corporate defendants (collectively, 1 “defendants”). (ECF No. 1). The complaint alleged defendants were participating in an unlawful 2 mortgage assistance relief services scheme in violation of section 5 of the FTC Act and multiple 3 provisions of Regulation O. (Id.); see 15 U.S.C. § 45; 12 C.F.R. Part 1015. 4 On December 5, 2019, upon motion by the FTC, this court granted summary judgment and 5 6 entered an order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment against defendants (the “final 7 order”). (ECF No. 320). The final order included an $18,428,370 monetary judgment against 8 defendants as “equitable monetary relief.” (Id.). While the final order included findings of fact 9 and liability for statutory violations, the Hanleys appealed on the sole ground that the court could 10 not award monetary relief under section 13(b). (See ECF Nos. 320, 328, 330). While on appeal, 11 12 the Supreme Court held in AMG Capital Management v. FTC, 141 S.Ct. 1341 (2021) that section 13 13(b) indeed bars awards of monetary relief. 14 The Ninth Circuit found (1) it is unclear whether this court awarded monetary relief solely 15 under section 13(b), and (2) the FTC—despite no explicit reference thereto in its pleadings—did 16 not waive reliance on section 19 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 57b, (“section 19”) for monetary 17 18 relief. (ECF No. 370). The final order was vacated in part and remanded for this court “to consider 19 in the first instance whether an award is appropriate here under section 19 of the FTC Act.” (Id.). 20 The order on mandate issued on March 18, 2022, and the FTC filed the instant motion four 21 days later. (ECF Nos. 390, 391). After adjusting for section 19’s statute of limitations, the FTC 22 now seeks a monetary judgment of $11,906,792. (ECF No. 391). In opposition, the Hanleys 23 24 request the court “reject the FTC’s demand for payment entirely” and order the FTC to refund any 25 payment the Hanleys have already made to the agency. (ECF No. 392). 26 . . . 27 . . . 28 1 II. LEGAL STANDARD 2 The Supreme Court held “[s]ection 13(b) does not explicitly authorize the [FTC] to obtain 3 court-ordered monetary relief, and such relief is foreclosed by the structure and history of the Act.” 4 AMG Cap. Mgmt., 141 S.Ct. at 1343. However, monetary relief is instead available under section 5 6 19. Id. 7 The relevant language of section 19 reads: 8 “The court in an action under subsection (a) shall have jurisdiction to grant 9 such relief as the court finds necessary to redress injury to consumers or other persons…resulting from the rule violation or the unfair or deceptive 10 act or practice…. Such relief may include, but shall not be limited to, rescission or reformation of contracts, the refund of money or return of 11 property, the payment of damages, and public notification respecting the 12 rule violation or the unfair or deceptive act or practice, as the case may be; except that nothing in this subsection is intended to authorize the 13 imposition of any exemplary or punitive damages.” 14 15 U.S.C. § 57b(b) (emphasis added). 15 The parties agree that the Ninth Circuit’s decision in FTC v. Figgie International, Inc., 994 16 F.2d 595 (1993) (hereinafter “Figgie”) is the seminal case on monetary relief under section 19. 17 (See ECF Nos. 392, 393). In Figgie, a seller of heat detectors appealed from the district court 18 19 order finding it liable for dishonest or fraudulent marketing practices and awarding damages under 20 section 19. 994 F.2d at 598. The district court awarded damages in the amount of $7.59 million 21 to $49.95 million—representative of the range between the seller’s profits and the full amount 22 spent by consumers—to be “used to provide direct redress to consumers…who can make a valid 23 claim for such redress.” Id. at 598, 605. 24 25 The Ninth Circuit vacated and remanded because “Congress provided for ‘redress,’” and 26 the seller’s “receipts and profits provide neither the top nor bottom limit of the remedy.” Id. at 27 607. Further, an award exceeding redress to consumers is punitive in nature, which is expressly 28 prohibited by the language of section 17. See 15 U.S.C. 57b(b); id. at 607 (noting disgorgement 1 of the seller’s receipts exceeding redress to consumers would be for the purposes of punishing the 2 seller). 3 Figgie instructs that whether monetary damages are appropriately awarded under section 4 19 depends on the purpose of the damages. Thus, to determine whether damages may be 5 6 appropriately awarded here depends on what purposes the monetary award may be used for. Any 7 portion that provides redress to consumers is permitted under section 19, whilst any portions that 8 are punitive and exemplary in nature are not. 15 U.S.C. § 57b(b); see Figgie, 994 F.2d at 598, 9 605, 607. 10 III. DISCUSSION 11 12 The court first addresses the vacated portion of the final order and considers the issue on 13 remand. Subsequently, the court adjudicates the FTC’s instant motion. 14 a. The final order 15 The relevant portion of the final order reads: 16 All money paid to the FTC pursuant to this Order may be deposited into a 17 fund administered by the FTC or its designee to be used for equitable relief, 18 including consumer redress and any attendant expenses for the administration of any redress fund. If a representative of the FTC decides 19 that direct redress to consumers is wholly or partially impracticable or money remains after redress is completed, the FTC may apply any 20 remaining money for such other equitable relief (including consumer 21 information remedies) as it determines to be reasonably related to Defendants’ practices alleged in the Complaint. Any money not used for 22 such equitable relief is to be deposited to the U.S. Treasury as disgorgement.

23 (ECF No. 320 at 23–24). It permits use of the monetary award in three ways: (1) for equitable 24 relief including consumer redress and associated expenses; (2) other equitable relief reasonably 25 related to defendants’ unlawful practices; and (3) deposit to the U.S. Treasury as disgorgement. 26 27 (See id.). The court addresses each in turn. 28 1 Both statutory language and caselaw explicitly allow for direct consumer redress under 2 section 19. 15 U.S.C. § 57b(b); Figgie, 994 F.2d at 605. Moreover, both allow for associated 3 expenses. 15 U.S.C. § 57b(b); Figgie, 994 F.2d at 605. Section 19 explicitly permits, without 4 exhaustion, expenses for contract modification, monetary refund, property return, payment of 5 6 damages, and public notification of unlawful practices and availability of monetary award. See 15 7 U.S.C. § 57b(b). The Ninth Circuit permitted expenses for finding consumers, advertising 8 availability of monetary redress and falsity of misrepresentations, processing consumer claims, 9 and reimbursing consumers. See Figgie, 994 F.2d at 607.1 10 In terms of redress, the final order allows “consumer redress and any attendant expenses 11 12 for the administration of any redress fund.” (ECF No. 320). Consumer redress and attendant 13 expenses are clearly permitted as part of a monetary award. See 15 U.S.C. § 57b(b); Figgie, 994 14 F.2d at 605. However, as written, the final order is too broad. (See ECF No. 320). The Ninth 15 Circuit requires reasonable spending. Figgie, 994 F.2d at 607 (“We can see no basis for allowing 16 the [FTC] to keep money in excess of what it reasonably spends to [provide redress]….”). Section 17 18 19 would permit only “consumer redress and reasonable attendant expenses for the administration 19 of any redress fund.” See 15 U.S.C. § 57b(b); id. 20 The final order allowed for other relief where “direct redress to consumers is wholly or 21 partially impracticable or money remains after redress is completed.” (ECF No. 320). 22 Specifically, “the FTC may apply any remaining money for such other equitable relief (including 23 24 25 26 27 1 “We can see no basis for allowing the [FTC] to keep money in excess of what it reasonably spends to find purchasers of the heat detectors, advertise to them the availability of money and the importance of 28 using smoke rather than heat detectors at appropriate locations, and process their claims and reimburse them.” (emphasis added). 1 consumer information remedies) as it determines to be reasonably related to Defendants’ practices 2 alleged in the Complaint.” (Id.). Figgie precludes this type of award. 994 F.2d at 608. 3 In Figgie, the Ninth Circuit determined the district court’s order providing for money not 4 used to refund consumers to be donated to nonprofit organizations concerned with fire safety was 5 6 an “extraordinary provision” that could not “be characterized as ‘redress.’” Id. Even though 7 donating money to such nonprofit organizations is clearly related to defendants’ 8 misrepresentations, the court found that “[t]his portion of the award was outside the boundaries of 9 the discretion given to the district court by [section 19].” Id. It noted the prohibition of exemplary 10 or punitive damages demonstrated that Congress’s intent “was not to punish deceptive trade 11 12 practices,” but “only to authorize redress to consumers and others for ‘injury resulting’ from the 13 trade practice.” Id. 14 Distribution of money after redress is completed—or where it is impracticable—even for 15 purposes “reasonably related” to the Hanleys’ unlawful practices is precluded under Figgie. (See 16 ECF No. 320); 994 F.2d at 607. 17 18 Likewise, Figgie precludes disgorgement under section 19. 994 F.2d at 607. Allowing the 19 FTC to keep funds beyond not only redress, but also “other equitable relief” that is expressly 20 precluded, as disgorgement would be inconsistent and unjust. Thus, authorizing monetary award 21 “not used for such equitable relief to be deposited to the U.S. Treasury as disgorgement” is not 22 permitted under section 19. (ECF No. 320); see 15 U.S.C. § 57b(b); Figgie, 994 F.2d at 607. 23 24 b. FTC’s motion for entry of monetary judgment 25 Consistent with the foregoing, the court must revise its monetary judgment awarded in the 26 final order. The FTC adjusted its request to account for the statute of limitations under section 19. 27 (ECF Nos. 391, 395-1). To wit, instead of the original $18,428,370, the FTC now requests 28 1 $11,906,792. (ECF Nos. 320, 391). Notably, as with the prior award, this number depends on the 2 Hanleys’ net revenues. (ECF Nos. 320, 391). 3 The Ninth Circuit has addressed how to appropriately determine redress under section 19. 4 See Figgie, 994 F.2d at 606–09. “The fraud in selling, not the value of the thing sold, is what 5 6 entitles consumers…to refunds.” Id. at 606. “[R]eceipts and profits provide neither the top nor 7 bottom limit of the remedy” when the remedy is redress. Id. at 607. The minimum amount of 8 redress should not exceed what is necessary to “mak[e] amends to someone who has been 9 wronged.” See id. at 607. In other words, the minimum amount of redress should not be more 10 than what is necessary to return consumers to the status quo by refunding them and compensating 11 12 them for their losses resulting from the seller’s unlawful practices. See id. The maximum amount 13 of redress may be the full price of what consumers spent on the service or product that was the 14 subject of deceptive practices. See id. at 598, 608. It matters not if this amount exceeds the seller’s 15 profits. Id. at 608. 16 The parties dispute the effect of FTC v. Elegant Solutions. (See ECF Nos. 395, 396). 17 18 There, the Ninth Circuit briefly discussed monetary relief under section 19. Filed Memorandum 19 Disposition at 7, FTC v. Elegant Sols., Inc., No. 20-55766, (9th Cir. June 9, 2022) (hereinafter 20 “Elegant Solutions”). Though unreported and therefore nonbinding, this court finds it persuasive. 21 In Elegant Solutions, the district court granted a monetary award under section 19 “based on a 22 calculation of consumer loss, as opposed to a calculation of net unlawful profits.” Id. (citing 23 24 Figgie, 994 F.2d at 607). The Ninth Circuit found this was a proper calculation. Id. 25 Concerning a monetary award, this case is analogous. Both matters award monetary relief 26 under section 19 pursuant to a rule violation contemplated by 15 U.S.C. § 57b(a). Thus, the proper 27 monetary award here is total consumer loss, less any refunds or chargebacks. In other words, 28 1 defendants’ net revenues. However, the monetary award is subject to limitation of how it can be 2 spent. See Figgie, 994 F.2d at 608. Any award in excess of this is to be refunded to the Hanleys. 3 See id. (instructing the district court to “modify its order to provide for refund to [the seller] of any 4 funds not expended for authorized purposes”). 5 6 To summarize, authorized purposes include only redress to consumers and reasonable 7 attendant expenses. See Figgie, 994 F.2d at 606–08. Redress may include refunds and 8 compensation for any harm resulting from the Hanleys’ unlawful practices contemplated in the 9 “FINDINGS OF LAW AND FACT” section of the final order. (See ECF No. 320). The award 10 must be sufficient to provide redress to all consumers harmed by the Hanley’s deceptive practices, 11 12 but may only be used as necessary to redress consumers who make a valid claim. Any excess is 13 to be refunded to the Hanleys. 14 IV. CONCLUSION 15 Accordingly, 16 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED that the final order (ECF No. 17 18 320) is VACATED insofar as it awards a monetary judgment against the Hanleys. 19 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the final order (ECF No. 320) still maintains full force 20 and effect against the corporate defendants. 21 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the injunctive provisions of the final order maintain full 22 force and effect against the Hanleys. 23 24 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the FTC’s motion for monetary judgment against 25 defendants Jonathan and Sandra Hanley (ECF No. 391) is GRANTED. 26 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the FTC’s proposed order (ECF No. 395) is REJECTED. 27 28 1 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that judgment in the amount of ELEVEN MILLION NINE 2 HUNDRED SIX THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY-TWO ($11,906,792) is entered in 3 favor of the FTC against the Hanleys, jointly and severally, with post-judgment interest at the legal 4 rate in accordance with the following terms: 5 6 A. The monetary judgment set forth in this Section VI is enforceable against any asset, 7 real or personal, whether located within the United States or outside the United States, 8 owned jointly or singly by, on behalf of, for the benefit of, in trust by or for, or as a 9 deposit for future goods or services to be provided to, any Defendant, whether held as 10 tenants in common, joint tenants with or without the right of survivorship, tenants by 11 12 the entirety, and/or community property. 13 B. All financial or brokerage institution, escrow agent, title company, commodity trading 14 company, business entity, or Person, whether located within the United States or 15 outside the United States, that holds, controls, or maintains accounts or assets of, on 16 behalf of, or for the benefit of, any Receivership Entity, whether real or personal, 17 18 whether located within the United States or outside the United States, shall, within ten 19 (10) business days from receipt of a copy of this Order, turn over such account or asset 20 to the Receiver or his designated agent, including, but not limited to: 21 1. YapStone shall, within ten (10) business days of receipt of a copy of this Order, 22 transfer to the Receiver or his designated agent all funds, if any, in account 23 24 number xxxx8119 in the name of Jonathan Hanley and/or Sandra Hanley; 25 C. In partial satisfaction of the judgment against Defendants in Section VI.A, any financial 26 or brokerage institution, escrow agent, title company, commodity trading company, 27 business entity, or person, whether located within the United States or outside the 28 1 United States, that holds, controls, or maintains accounts or assets of, on behalf of, or 2 for the benefit of, any Individual Defendant, whether real or personal, whether located 3 within the United States or outside the United States, shall, within ten (10) business 4 days from receipt of a copy of this Order, turn over such account or asset to the FTC or 5 6 its designated agent, including, but not limited to: 7 1. E*TRADE Securities LLC shall, within ten (10) business days of receipt of a 8 copy of this Order, liquidate all holdings in account number xxxx3682 in the 9 name of Sandra Hanley and transfer the proceeds of such liquidation to the FTC 10 or its designated agent; 11 12 2. JP Morgan Chase Bank shall, within ten (10) business days of receipt of a copy 13 of this Order, transfer to the FTC or its designated agent all cash currently being 14 held in safe deposit box number xxxx3127 in the name of Sandra Hanley. 15 D. The asset freeze is modified to permit the transfers identified in this Section. Upon 16 completion of those transfers, the asset freeze as to Defendants is dissolved. 17 18 E. Defendants relinquish dominion and all legal and equitable right, title, and interest in 19 all assets transferred pursuant to this Order and may not seek the return of any assets. 20 F. All money paid to the FTC pursuant to this Order may be deposited into a fund 21 administered by the FTC or its designee to be used for equitable relief, including 22 consumer redress and reasonable attendant expenses for the administration of the 23 24 redress fund. Redress includes refunds and compensation for any harm resulting from 25 the Hanleys unlawful practices. Defendants have no right to challenge any actions the 26 FTC or its representatives may take pursuant to this Subsection. 27 28 1 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this court retains jurisdiction of this matter for purposes 2 of construction, modification, and enforcement of this order. DATED December 30, 2022.

° ee itas C. Aalan 6 UNITED, STATES DISTRICT JUDGE , : 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

es C. Mahan District Judge -ll-