October 23, 2000
A federal court in Tampa, Florida has ordered a temporary halt to the allegedly deceptive sales practices of three Sarasota-based companies marketing work-at-home paralegal business opportunities.

The court order follows a complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission against Para-Link International, Inc., AAA Family Centers, Inc., The Liberty Group of America, Inc., and the companies' three owners and operators. The FTC said the companies marketed and sold their paralegal training kits and other work-at-home opportunities - at a cost of $395 - $495 each - to consumers across the United States, with claims that these "paralegals" achieve incomes of over $200 per hour or as much as $2,000 per week, and that the defendants would provide a steady stream of case referrals.

According to the FTC, few consumers who purchased the "kits" or other business opportunities from the defendants ever realized such incomes. In addition to the temporary restraining order, the court ordered an asset freeze, and appointed a receiver to take charge of the companies.

According to the FTC's complaint, the defendants used sites on the World Wide Web, unsolicited e-mail, and newspaper advertisements to promote and sell their paralegal training and employment opportunity kits.

Many of the ads and/or e-mails contained representations such as: "Make Over $200 An Hour," and "You Can Process Simple Divorces and Bankruptcies From Home and Make Over $200 An Hour in as little as 30 Days!!!"; and urged consumers to call a toll-free number. Consumers who called were told that in exchange for a payment of $395-$495, they would receive a work-at-home kit that would provide all they needed to get started in performing paralegal services, such as preparing divorce or bankruptcy petitions.

Consumers were told by the defendants that no advance degrees or prior paralegal experience were needed, and that the defendants would provide all the necessary training and support and would issue kit purchasers a paralegal diploma.

The kits included (1) computer software; (2) a set of six audio tapes that "explains everything about the industry;" (3) a training video; (4) over 88 sample forms, including forms for creating a simple divorce or bankruptcy; and (5) training manuals. The defendants also promised to provide kit buyers with ongoing assistance, and assured kit buyers that once they passed various qualifying tests, they would provide a steady stream of case referrals - as many as "10-20 cases per week" - and would pay them $30 per case. Purchasers of the kits also were promised that they would be assigned personal "trainers" who would help them correctly complete the qualifying exams.

The FTC has asked the court to issue a permanent injunction, and to order the defendants to pay redress to consumers. A hearing on the FTC's request for a preliminary injunction has been scheduled for November 9, 2000.