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MLM Lawyer Kevin Grimes Pays $1.175 Million to Settle ZeekRewards Claims

26 September 201610 June 2015 by Tracy Coenen

Last year, infamous “MLM Lawyer” Kevin Grimes was sued by the receiver in the Zeek Rewards Ponzi scheme case. The gist of the suit was that Grimes knew or should have known that Zeek Rewards “…was perpetrating an unlawful scheme which involved a pyramid scheme, an unregistered investment contract and/or a Ponzi scheme.” The lawsuit alleged that Kevin Grimes and his firm Grimes & Reese PLLC (that firm is now R&R Law Group, while Grimes has joined the scumbag MLM attorneys at Thompson & Burton) knew that ZeekRewards was perpetrating a Ponzi scheme and provided the company with a bogus “compliance program” meant to make the company look legitimate.

The case has been settled, and Grimes will pay $1.175 to the receiver. Via Patrick Pretty:

“MLM Lawyer” Sued For Legal Malpractice

26 September 201611 September 2014 by Tracy Coenen

This may be old news to some of you, but I’m finally getting around to writing about it. In June 2014, the receiver in the Zeek Rewards Ponzi scheme case sued the infamous MLM lawyer Kevin Grimes (and his law firm) for legal malpractice, negligence and breach of fiduciary duty. The lawsuit initiated by receiver Kenneth Bell names Kevin Grimes and the law firm Grimes & Reese PLLC, and alleges damages of $100 million. (A separate lawsuit against Howard Kaplan also makes similar claims.)

The lawsuit alleges that Grimes knew or should have known that Zeek Rewards “…was perpetrating an unlawful scheme which involved a pyramid scheme, an unregistered investment contract and/or a Ponzi scheme.”

Background

The Securities and Exchange Commission sued RVG Venture Group, LLC (dba ZeekRewards) in 2012, alleging that it was a $600 million Ponzi scheme (also called pyramid scheme). Of course, up until that point, participants in the multi-level marketing industry were claiming that ZeekRewards was a legitimate and legal MLM. (That’s what the lawyers said, anyway!) The company was forced into receivership later that year, with the receiver seizing assets to attempt to pay back victims of the scheme.

Another reason for Gerald Nehra to dislike the FTC Business Opportunity Rule: Lots of companies will have to comply!

14 August 201117 July 2008 by Tracy Coenen

Another letter opposing the FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule was submitted by MLM attorney Gerry Nehra. His problem in this letter? The fact that there are many companies that would have to comply with the rule and the FTC cited the wrong number! Why would it matter if there are 150 or 1,500 companies that are multi-level marketing schemes? If they need to be regulated, they need to be regulated, no matter how many there are!

MLM attorney Gerald Nehra and the FTC’s proposed Business Opportunity Rule

14 August 201117 July 2008 by Tracy Coenen

I thought it might be some fun to do a little research on Gerald Nehra, the attorney for Shop To Earn, who likes to intimidate bloggers who write negative reviews of MLMs. I found this item from Nehra, in response to the FTC’s proposed Business Opportunity Rule.

The rule is unlikely to be enacted in any form that will do something to stop the abuses by multi-level marketing companies. Nonetheless, these comments are fun to read. Nehra’s biggest complaint in this note? The fact that it will take time to comply with the rules! Heavens, no!

Word is Getting Out About ShopToEarn Lawyer Gerald Nehra’s Threats to Bloggers

15 August 201116 July 2008 by Tracy Coenen

Blatant acts of consumerism are occurring all over the internet. Far and wide, bloggers are banding together to spread the word about multi-level marketing attorney Gerald Nehra threatening bloggers on behalf of his client, Shop To Earn.

It all started a few weeks ago when blogger Everyday Finance wrote a post about the ShopToEarn and ShopToEarth program. He highlighted both positives and negatives that he found with their MLM program. It wasn’t long before he got a cease and desist email from Gerry Nehra (former attorney for mlm giant Amway), threatening legal action if he didn’t take down his negative comments about the company.

Shop To Earn Lawyer Ups the Ante with Financial Blogger

19 May 201215 July 2008 by Tracy Coenen

ShopToEarn is a multi-level marketing company recruiting new members who can receive a small percentage of cash back on their internet purchases. If they recruit enough new people into the scheme, who pay the $450 fee and do some shopping of their own, they can make a little more money.

I have a dim view of this program, and so does Everyday Finance. The blogger at Everyday Finance was threatened by MLM attorney Gerald Nehra about posting his opinions on the company. The blogger amended parts of his original article, making it very clear that he was citing personal opinions (both good and bad) about the program. I got my own cease and desist letter this week from Gerry Nehra and Shop To Earn.

More Bullying of Bloggers by Shop To Earn Attorney Gerald Nehra

19 May 201214 July 2008 by Tracy Coenen

Earlier today I reported that I had been threatened by Gerald Nehra, attorney for multi-level marketing company ShopToEarn for writing about my opinions on the company here. I am not the first blogger that he and Shop To Earn have threatened, and the threats continue.

The blogger writing Everyday Finance has been threatened more than once by Gerry Nehra because he posted his personal review of Shop To Earn and the ShopToEarth program. He had some concerns about the program, the Shop To Earth products, how commissions are paid out, and the MLM structure. I quoted from his analysis here. He found some positives and negatives with the program.

More threats have been issued to this blogger, so he now has this posted on his blog:

Daryl on Fifteen Frightening Facts About Usana Health SciencesNo wonder why USANA is still in the business up to now and received much awards.. :'(

MLM Game on WorldVentures Pyramid Scheme LawsuitThe company is doing very poorly. They had a planned mass layoff and blamed it on Covid. ...

Des on WorldVentures Pyramid Scheme LawsuitHow is this pandemic affecting WV? In 2013 they had 500k reps in the US, In 2019 they only had...

Marc on Updates to MLM Income Disclosure StatementsKristy, Tracy is right: Primerica is terrible. You can learn more about them right here at Fraud Files; just type...

Tracy Coenen on Mary Kay Cosmetics: Destroying Half a Million Women a YearConnie- Thanks for your comment on an article that was written 12 years ago. Also, please visit pinktruth.com for more...

Connie on Mary Kay Cosmetics: Destroying Half a Million Women a YearYou clearly have nothing better to do other than being a negative influence to others... leave people alone and live...

Tracy Coenen on Updates to MLM Income Disclosure StatementsPrimerica is terrible. There are plenty of investment companies willing to bring you on as a financial representative. Find one...

Tracy Coenen on Create Your Own Multi-Level Marketing Company in Ten Easy Steps!Ah, yes. Blame the victim. The fact is that 99% of people lose money in MLM because of how the companies...