New Leaf Shut Down in Florida

[Libertarian]

July 7, 2005

Attorney General Files Suit Against "Debt Termination" Company

TALLAHASSEE - Attorney General Charlie Crist today filed a lawsuit against New Leaf Associates, LLC, and several associated businesses and individuals for their participation in a phony "debt termination" scheme. The lawsuit alleges that New Leaf and the other civil defendants took in more than $8 million from late 2003 until early this year by claiming they had a legal "administrative process" by which they could completely eliminate credit card and student loan debts for their clients as an alternative to bankruptcy.

An investigation conducted by the Attorney General's Economic Crimes Division revealed that New Leaf collected fees starting at almost $4,000 from approximately 2,200 clients who were lured by the promise that not only would their debts disappear but their credit scores would not be damaged. No debts were actually terminated by the program, and numerous consumers suffered financial losses as a result, the state's lawsuit asserts. The Attorney General's Office has received some 185 consumer complaints regarding the New Leaf scam, the highest total for any single complaint subject this year.

"Too many consumers are mired in debt and are desperate to find a way out of their financial dilemma," said Crist. "These defendants took advantage of their victims, who were seeking assistance to solve their financial problems. Floridians should always remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

In addition to New Leaf Associates LLC and its marketing arm, Quantum Business Consultants LLC, the lawsuit names as defendants 16 individuals and 7 business entities. The individuals, including principals and agents of New Leaf and Quantum, are: James M. Patterson, Thomas Spiller, Luke Anastasakis, Phil Plastic, Ken Keplinger, Chris Holland, Paul Greaves, Brett Merl, Richard Spiller, Kris Schnell, Cecil Taylor, Lillian Varga, George W. ("Bill") Gute, Raymond Schlang, Chad F. Polley and Christopher S. Brewer. Business entities named in the lawsuit are: Ameribiz Consulting, Inc.; Manhattan Financial Group, LLC; Legal Club Financial Corporation; RWS Consulting, Inc.; B&B Enterprises International, Inc.; Quantum Business Consultants of California, Inc., and WJC & Associates, LLC.

The defendants are charged with violating Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. They could be ordered to pay restitution to their victims and also ordered to pay civil penalties of $10,000 per violation or $15,000 for victims who were disabled or senior citizens, as well as attorney fees and costs.

A copy of the civil complaint is available at:

http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-6E3JUF/$file/NewLeafComplaint.pdf

July 7, 2005

Judge Grants Attorney General’s Request for Injunction in New Leaf Case

TALLAHASSEE - At the request of the Attorney General's Office, a Pinellas County Circuit Judge today issued an injunction against New Leaf Associates, LLC, a business accused in a lawsuit filed earlier today of running a phony "debt termination" scheme. The lawsuit alleges that New Leaf and associated companies and individuals took in more than $8 million by falsely claiming they had a legal "administrative process" that could eliminate clients' debts.

The judge's injunction prohibits the defendants from marketing debt termination services, disposing of business assets or destroying documents, and requires the defendants to disable any web sites they operate as part of the alleged scheme

If you need links: http://myfloridalegal.com/catalog.ns...art=1&Count=30

[brozer5]

brozer5

I've been in contact with a couple people who were multi-leveled into New Leaf. They contacted me after I hit on their web sites.

One is now file-ing bankruptcy ("to beat the new laws", she says); the other was first victimized by another debt elim co. to the tune of $8K
( she owes > $100k),
then conned by New Leaf out of $4k to fix all. She no longer has a phone nor e-mail.

Beware!

[Jerseee]

If this is true:

This is what happens when you try to throw FRNs "money" at a problem instead of doing due diligence yourself and being a little more responsible for your own situation.

Sorry to say that there are lots of stuff out there like this. Most Americans think that FRNs will get you out of a situation---when they are the situation.

[Logan]

I was contacted and pitched twice by Quantum Business Consultants. I even had one come to the house. I saw right through them and did my research and found them and their process lacking validity. I joined Quest International instead. Do your research and listen to your instincts. You'll be glad you did.


Logan

[brozer5]

Originally Posted by Logan

I was contacted and pitched twice by Quantum Business Consultants. I even had one come to the house. I saw right through them and did my research and found them and their process lacking validity. I joined Quest International instead. Do your research and listen to your instincts. You'll be glad you did.


Logan

Well? It's been a month that you've been in Quest; what's going on?

[Logan]

Hey Brozer5,
I am in the 9th month of the TILA violation dispute program through Quest. I am at the stage in the process of retaining a contigency lawyer, which I have done, and simply waiting for the disputed banks to tie their own noose. All in all, this process has been pretty uneventful. The banks have never, AT ALL, abided by their requirements under the law to validate my dispute or verify the debt. They keep sending "we are dumb" letters and I send them the "yes, I know you are dumb" letters and that has been pretty much it. Next step is file for judgement. I am busy with a new baby now so I am grateful for the break. I am anxious, however, for the outcome because at $1000 per violation of the TILA and FDRPA, I stand to be awarded a sizable sum. Time will tell, I know the whole system is corrupt and they may just railroad me, but my concience will be clear and I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

BTW, even if this process is lengthy, it pales in comparison to the length of time it would have taken to pay off the "alleged and fraudulent debt". It still boggles my mind, that banks monetize your strawmans signature and create the currency out of thin air and then arrogantly LOAN it back to you! The ideology is so bizarre, it is hard to imagine how they have been able to get away with it for so long.

[Judge Roy Bean]

Originally Posted by Logan

Hey Brozer5,
I am in the 9th month of the TILA violation dispute program through Quest......

Is that Quest International or Qwest International?

Qwest International is being shut down, along with Wealth Builders and Learn Waterhouse. Indictments issued:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/b...1b9indict.html

[Logan]

This is Quest International.