BREAKING NEWS - FHTM’s Judicial Manipulation results in near DEATH!
Everyone has heard of “Death of a Salesman”, but not “Death of a Defendant”. It is so incomprehensible to understand how a company that claims its mere existence is to help as many as possible can also be so arrogant to also believe that they can manipulate the justice system to a point where they push until someone almost dies. After exposing the truth about Fortune Hi-Tec h Marketing (FHTM) Joseph Isaacs was sued in an attempt to shut him up and stifle his rights to freedom of speech.
One online poster put it this way recently on You Tube in response to an ABC news clip about FHTM from 2010. “If the fate of your business model rests at the hands of one individual, (not me) to the extent that you have to spend millions of thousands of dollars to try and shut him up then the system is just fatally flawed. Fix the PROBLEM not the SYMPTOM. This is all just a side effect of what you have created. I don’t see the worst of the worst companies out there that act like this or have to put up with this nonsense. What’s the common denominator? Stop acting like 3rd graders and run a business for once”.
Not only are they arrogant enough to think they have to the right to destroy him financially but they continued the harassment and intentional lies to the Federal courts until he was on his death bed almost gone. The facts of the briefs and filing seem to be so elusive yet the documents are merely based on unsubstantiated speculation and outright lies. The manipulation of our justice system and the never ending harassment resulted in Joe having a massive heart attack.
FHTM
has engaged in a malicious prosecution since the very beginning. Filing
a trademark violation case for using the world “Fortune” which they
knew was owned by Time Magazine, and not them, was just a way to take
advantage of Joe, cause emotional stress
and drag him through the court system, costing 100’s of thousands of
dollars that he didn’t have in order to defend against their BS. This
has been a case of malicious prosecution and Joe should be protected by
the tort laws against unjustifiable and unreasonable litigation. The ex-
FHTM general counsel, who by the way was not even licensed to practice
law in Kentucky during her tenure with them has displayed a great deal
of malice and wrongful intent. She carried pent up dislike and animosity
toward Joe, when he refused to kiss her ass.
She attempted to intimidate him as their general counsel when in fact she was acting as a lawyer illegally. She has since been reprimanded by the Kentucky Bar Association. She demonstrated sloppy legal and factual research by creating suppositions and rumors instead of facts. No evidence existed or exists to back any of their claims. There is a great imbalance in power between the parties, with an apparent desire by FHTM to intimidate or punish Joe Isaacs. A typical David and Goliath scenario unfolded from the very beginning of the drama that she created. If they had a case with legal merit they would have never agreed to a settlement which virtually dismissed all of their pending claims, in June 2011 let alone based on the terms they initiated.
FHTM continues to purposefully engage in behavior that is intended to cause severe mental anguish and they should be penalized for the intentional infliction of emotional distress. Their behavior should be deemed as extreme and outrageous. Joe am a person of average temperament who has suffered great emotional distress and grave life threatening health issues caused by the continued FHTM actions. Considering he has not worked since July 2011 and almost lost his wife to a divorce over this insane controversy, one would think they would get the point. You cannot get blood from a stone although I don’t think they will be satisfied until he is on welfare and living in a cardboard box under a bridge somewhere. I feel it is being done intentionally to cause emotional distress with reckless disregard to him as a person. This willful neglect has further resulted in damages to his reputation, loss of gainful employment and almost his death.
One
year ago, in June 2011 Joseph Isacs and FHTM entered into a settlement
agreement which was intended to eliminate the proceeding, unbelievable
financial and emotional stress and put their issues to rest forever. In
the last year they have done everything possible to manipulate the
judicial system in an effort to stall, delay or eliminate the release of
his attorney’s money from escrow. Who spends 100’s of thousands to save
50k?
Joe has backed off and left
them alone this past year since the settlement. No media interviews, no
television appearances and no blogging. It doesn’t matter. They are so
hell bent on blaming him for every negative comment made about them
anywhere on the internet that they are blinded by the fact that others
despise FHTM even more than Joe does. They have made him the scapegoat
for all of their fraudulent ways. If they spent as much time in fixing
their lies to act more like a real business then they wouldn’t need to
continue to harass and destroy Joe.
As part of that settlement, FHTM and Joe “agreed to disagree and go our separate ways”. He agreed not to give any further interviews to the media or governmental agencies. They agreed to drop the case and move on. Obviously they didn’t understand the agreed upon catch phrase because their continued malicious prosecution and harassment resulted in his stress level hitting the roof in August 2011 causing a major life threatening heart attack. Joseph underwent two major surgeries inside of a month to save his life. Doctor’s orders were to eliminate anything stressful in his life including the FHTM litigation and his job. He was forced into retirement and went broke as a direct result of the litigation by FHTM in their attempt to kill him. They don’t seem to have any remorse about his health situation, his lack of employment and income. Instead they hired another group of lawyers and pursued him harder than before. It is like they smelled the blood and won’t let up till he is gone from the face of the earth permanently.
Who
in their sane mind would ever think that such a respectable company
would spend all of their resources on attempted murder? Why not be happy
that Joe agreed to leave them alone? Why not move on, fix your
scandalous ways and continue screwing people, but leave him alone? They
knew of his heart attack last summer but yet instead of going their
separate ways, as agreed, they dug in harder, deeper and became more
vicious. Their intentions are clear - don’t rest until Joe Isaacs is
dead and gone. Can this be considered attempted murder?
INDUSTRY ALERT - FHTM reps earn less in 2010 and 2011 accordfing to their own Income Disclosure Statements - LOL
BREAKING NEWS - Ex rep Suzanne Combs seeks $3 Million+ in damages
BREAKING NEWS - Plaintiffs file Appeal in Class Action Case
INDUSTRY ALERT - Burn Lounge shut down and ordered to pay 17 Million in restitution - Federal Judge rules that 50% of MLM commissions must come from sales outside of reps
The U.S. Federal District Court (Central
District of California) has now issued its Final Order (3/12) in the
closely watched case of F.T.C. vs. Burnlounge, Inc., et.al.
The case is one of only a handful of pyramid cases in recent decades
that was contested through a full trial in federal court. As with other
pyramid cases, the principal concerns of the regulators and the Court
were the Company’s heavy emphasis on recruiting and sales to
participants rather than to non-participant customers, and the
widespread use of exaggerated income claims in promoting the
opportunity. The FTC charged Burnlounge, its CEO, and three of the
company’s top independent sales reps with operating an illegal pyramid
scheme and with making deceptive earnings claims in violation of Section
5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. The personal purchase of
higher-priced packages provided participants with immediate higher award
levels and eligibility for increased rates of commissions under the
compensation plan. The Court’s initial decision and opinion, published
in July 2011, found the defendants guilty of the charges. Among other
things, the Court cited evidence that while the Company’s total sales
approximated $28 million, only $1 million was derived from music sales
to the company’s 50,000 non-participant customers. On the other hand,
nearly $27 million represented personal purchases by more than 60,000
participants. During it’s nearly 2 years of operation, the Company paid
out about $17 million to the participants in commissions and bonuses.
They used the old Excel comp. plan just like FHTM does. Trouble lingers
for all.
ALERT - FHTM (Excel) pioneer and Canadian NSM Gilbert Anderson defects from FHTM and takes his huge team to ACN!
Taxbot could be putting FHTM reps in trouble with IRS by claiming bogus expenses
BREAKING NEWS - Xoom Energy is owned by FHTM competitor ACN - FHTM legal counsel runs ACN Legal Advisory Board - conflict??
XOOM
Energy claims to be a progressive company providing electricity and
natural gas solutions to customers in deregulated markets across the
U.S. -
XOOM Energy is ONLY available in select markets in California, Michigan and Texas.
However, they are NOT endorced or regulated by any Utility Commission in the USA. They are not an energy company!!
Looks like ACN is positioning itself to purchase FHTM - Is Orberson ready to cash out!
FHTM RESCINDS DSA APPLICATION - MEMBERSHIP DENIED in 2011
Fortune Qualifies for the 2011 Charles Ponzi Award
Could Bankruptcy or a sale to ACN be looming on the horizon?
Breaking News from the MLM HelpDesk
Troy Dooley stands behind Yvonne day and class action lawsuit
BREAKING NEWS - TEXAS AG FORCES SETTLEMENT OF $1.5 Million FROM FHTM AFTER PYRAMID ALLEGATIONS
BREAKING INDUSTRY ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!! Herbalife has just been ruled an illegal pyramid scheme by the Belgium Superior Court
"The court states that Herbalife is in breach of Articles 91, 4 and 99
of the Act regarding market practises and consumer protection because it
has established,
managed or promoted a pyramid scheme, whereby the
consumer or a business stands to make money which is more likely the
result of introducing new consumers or businesses
into the scheme
than from the sale or use of products. The court orders cessation of
this breach and thus of the Herbalife pyramid scheme." SOUND FAMILIAR??
BREAKING INDUSTRY ALERT! Did the "Donald" Fail at MLM? Is the Trump Network Going out of business - Top leaders leave
Breaking News - MLM Rankings - FHTM is 127 out of 150 in 2011 - Ouch! Business populatity drops -32.87% from previous rating period
Breaking News - DSN places FHTM at 92 out of 100 in 2010 - This is a 10
point downward spiral from 2009. In 2011 they drop off list.
Note:
The DSN Global 100 list is an independent project of DSN and is NOT
affiliated with any national Direct Selling Association (DSAs) or the
World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA).
BREAKING NEWS - Judge Coffman lifts stay in Kentucky class action case
proceeds against Fortune and all defendants....discovery is next!
#1 US Litigation law firm quits representing FHTM in class action - Why?
Promise of big paycheck evaporates - KSAT news in Texas
What an incredible revolation from Tim Sales in 2011!!! - MLM is NOT willable, trustable, sellable business enterprise
"Multi-level
marketing companies are legalized scams that are taking billions of
dollars out of the pockets of consumers each year.
When are consumers going to demand that the government crack down on these legalized pyramid schemes?", President Clinton
TV personality Barbara McKay quits FHTM and moves entire team to VISALUS - Golden Boy Trey Knight runs to new MLM from Fortune
BREAKING NEWS - THIRD LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST FHTM BY EX-REP! (6/11)
BREAKING NEWS - Judge finds MLM Burn Lounge guilty of operating an illegal Pyramid Scheme
November 6, 2011 - Pyramid Scheme Alert on Fortune
November 16, 2011 - http://www.thecherokeean.com/news/2011-11-16/Statewide/Kentuckybased_Network_Marketing_Company_to_Refund_.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2011/11/15/kentucky-company-to-repay-13m-to.html
https://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?id=3907
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/15/kentucky-company-to-repay-texans-up-to-13m/
November 22, 2011 - Promise of big paycheck evaporates - KSAT news in Texas
November 24, 2011 - USA Today update on FHTM
November 28, 2011 - The Fraud Files on Fortune Texas settlement
December 7, 2011 - KiiiTV news broadcast on FHTM and the FTC investigation
December 7, 2011 - Daily Pyramid report
http://www.whas11.com/news/business/I-Team-Inivestigation-Fortune-Hi-Tech-Marketing-94266814.html
FHTM's Dunn & Bradstreet 8/2011 Report shows drastic drop to a 1R3 rating
Major delinquencies to primary vendors - Not debt free!!
BREAKING NEWS - DuPont revokes FHTM's right to use Logo & Name - LIE unfolds
FHTM receives cease and desist letters from GE, Time Inc. and DuPont
BREAKING NEWS - Fortune Reps No longer able to sell Verizon Wireless 4/1/11
BREAKING NEWS - AT&T dumps FHTM. No more AT&T products. 3/1/11
Multiple Class Action and IR lawsuits filed against Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing (FHTM) Racketeering (RICO), Fraud and Illegal Pyramid Scheme in 2010 and 2011
USA Today Article: "Multilevel or Pyramid? Sales people find it hard to earn much" 2/7/11
FTC Consumer Alerts -Pyramid Scheme Alert YouTube video
In the fine print, Fortune Hi Tech Marketing says 71 percent of reps are actually paid. 28 percent earn zero. view full article
BREAKING NEWS - Second Class Action Lawsuit filed in California (Dec. 22, 2010)
The 1st class-action lawsuit was filed against Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing (FHTM), its officers, directors, Presidential Ambassadors and all National Sales Managers claiming fraud, pyramid scheme and RICO violations in the Eastern District of the Federal Courts on September 2, 2010 - exactly 10 years after Fortune started.
Defendants listed in the lawsuit are: Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing, Paul C. Orberson, Jeff Orberson, Thomas A. Mills, David Mills, Billy Stahl, Simon Davies, Ruel Morton, Todd Rowland, Ashley Rowland, Todd & Ashley, Inc., Mike Misenheimer, Steve Jordan, Joel McNinch, Chris Doyle, Ken Brown, Jerry Brown, Bob Decant, Joanne McMahon, Terry Walker, Sandi Walker, Sherri Winter, Trey Knight, Kevin Mullins, Scott Aguilar, Molly Aguilar, Nathan Kirby, Dwayne Brown, Aaron Decker, Susan Frank, Ramiro Armenta, Angelina Armenta, Alexis Adame, Teresa Adame, Darla DiGrandi, Matt Morse, Matt Barrett and Roberto Rivera.
The defendants' promotion of an illegal pyramid scheme is a per se scheme to defraud under the mail and wire fraud statutes; thus, the defendants have committed racketeering acts by promoting an illegal pyramid scheme by using and causing others to use the mail and by transmitting and causing others to transmit, by means of wire in interstate commerce, writing, signs, signals, pictures and sounds, all in furtherance of and for purposes of executing a scheme or artifice to defraud, namely an illegal pyramid scheme.
Full text of the Class Action Litigation filed on Sept. 2, 2010 - Case Number: 5:2010cv00305
Analysis of this IDS by Pyramid Scheme Alert
Kentucky BBB file on Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing (FHTM)
Full text of the Class Action Litigation filed on Sept. 2, 2010
Case Number: 5:2010cv00305
Recent News Reports, Media events and litigation documents for FHTM (links to the published media sources):
September 3, 2010 - WHAS11 investigative report - Class action lawsuit filed against Kentucky company
http://hubpages.com/hub/Fortune-Hi-Tech-Marketing-violates-RICO-Fraud-laws-class-action-filed
September 4, 2010 - MLM (The truth) discusses FHTM class action
September 6, 2010 - The MLM Attorney discusses the FHTM class action lawsuit
September 7, 2010 - Business for Home discusses FHTM class action lawsuit
September 8, 2010 - Lexington Herald Leader Article (www.kentucky.com)
September 8, 2010 - Pyramid Scheme Alert article
September 13, 2010 - Home Biz News and Discussions
September 13, 2010 - The MLM Blog
September 14, 2010 - MLM News Site: FHTM, Pyramids and Lawsuits
September 18, 2010 - Lawyers & Settlements Website Article
October 15, 2010 - USA Today Expose: "Fortune Hi-tech: American Dream or Pyramid Scheme"
October 15, 2010 - USA Today Expose: "Multi-level sales reps urged to sign up others"
October 15, 2010 - USA Today Expose: "Paul Orberson touts benefits of multi-level marketing"
October 16, 2010 - ABC Money News
October 17, 2010 - Lexis Nexis News
October 18, 2010 - NewsFactor.com
October 18, 2010 - Pittsburg Tribune Live: Direct sales or pyramid? Multilevel firm makes enemies, millionaires
October 23, 2010 - Advocate-Messenger (Lexington, KY): Lawsuit calls Fortune Hi-Tech pyramid scam; Boyle execs involved
October 27, 2010 - Central Kentucky News: Lawsuit calls Fortune Hi-Tech pyramid scam - Boyle execs involved
November 2, 2010 - Langley Advance (Vancouver, Canada): Marketing Company questioned after many local complaints
December 4, 2010 - Star News Online (Wilmington, NC): Fortune or Misfortune? State looking into possible pyramid scheme
December 4, 2010 - Star News Online (Wilmington, NC): American Dream becomes Financial Nightmare
December 22, 2010 - 2nd class-action lawsuit filed against FHTM in California
December 23, 2010 - WHAS11 ABC News from Lexington, KY: 3rd update to the FHTM story
December 27, 2010 - Home Business News (H-Biz): Another state another lawsuit
January 10, 2011 - MLMBlog: Boom or Bust, a year in review for FHTM
February 7, 2011 - USA Today Article: "Multilevel or 'Pyramid'? Sales people find it hard to earn much"
February 7, 2010 - ABC NEWS TO GO: "Many in multilevel marketing sales find it hard to earn much"
February 7, 2011 - Mlive.com: Be wary of MLM companies if you are looking to earn money
February 7, 2011 - WZZM13-ABC News - Many in MLM find it hard to earn much
March 4, 2011 - WFAE 90.7 FM - Charlotte, NC: Economic Woes fuel Get-Rich-Quick Scams (Listen to interview of Roy Cooper - NC Attorneys General)
March 25, 2011 - Corporate Fraud Watch: Amway & FHTM are American Dream made Nightmare
March 28, 2011 - The Fraud Files Blog: Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing: Multi-level marketing scam or pyramid scheme?
March 31, 2011 - The Fraud Files Blog: Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing: Real money made from recruiting, not product sales
April 3, 2011 - Obtainer Online (Europe's news source): North Carolina Solicitor General investigates Fortune
April 4, 2011 - London Starr - Corporate Frauds Watch: Fortune Hi-Tech Loses Verizon Wireless
April 5, 2011 - Kentucky.com - Local Marketing firm being investigated, sued
May 16, 2011 - FOX News expose on Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing - Fraud Files
June 16, 2011 - THIRD LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST FHTM BY EX-REP!
June 30, 2011 - How to avoid MisFortune
July 21, 2011 - Burn Lounge found guilty of Pyramid Scheme
November 6, 2011 - Pyramid Scheme Alert on Fortune
November 16, 2011 -http://www.thecherokeean.com/news/2011-11-16/Statewide/Kentuckybased_Network_Marketing_Company_to_Refund_.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2011/11/15/kentucky-company-to-repay-13m-to.html
https://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?id=3907
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/15/kentucky-company-to-repay-texans-up-to-13m/
November 22, 2011 - Promise of big paycheck evaporates - KSAT news in Texas
November 24, 2011 - USA Today update on FHTM
November 28, 2011 - The Fraud Files on Fortune Texas settlement
December 7, 2011 - KiiiTV news broadcast on FHTM and the FTC investigation
December 7, 2011 - Daily Pyramid report
January 2012 - NPROS NEWS - FHTM to refund millions
February 1, 2012 - MLMBLOG - Is the Trump Network Going out of business - Top leaders leave
February 2012 - FTC's new business rules throw MLM distributors under the bus
This site is an aggregation of news stories compiled from major media sources including print, television and US Court files. It DOES NOT conatin any self published content or commentary.