Federal Trade Commission v. EDebitPay, LLC

The Federal Trade Commission sued Defendants EDebitPay, LLC, Dale Cleveland, and William Wilson, alleging that their online marketing of prepaid debit cards and short-term loans to consumers in the subprime market violated section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45 . The parties settled and stipulated to the terms of a Final Order. Thereafter, the FTC applied for an order to show cause why Defendants should not be held in contempt for violating the Final Order through their marketing of two products: a shopping club membership program and a “no cost” debit card. The district court held Defendants in contempt and awarded the FTC the full amount of loss by consumers, $3,778,315.04. We affirm the contempt order in its entirety.

I.FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

EDebitPay markets online prepaid charge cards and related products. Cleveland and Wilson own EDebitPay and serve as its Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively.

The FTC filed suit, alleging that Defendants violated the Federal Trade Commission Act in several respects. Defendants and the FTC ultimately settled the matter and stipulated to the terms of a Final Order, which the…