Brigette Honaker  |  April 16, 2019

Category: Consumer News

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young living essential oilsA recent class action lawsuit claims that Young Living Essential Oils is a “cult-like” pyramid scheme that makes false claims regarding its business model.

Young Living offers numerous essential oils for various semi-medicinal purposes. The company is structured as a multi-level marketing (MLM) organization, and relies heavily on recruitment and sales.

To join the company, new members reportedly have to purchase a basic starter kit from another member, costing between $100 and $260.

The Young Living class action lawsuit states that this kit includes one bottle of “stress away” essential oil, samples of other oils, an atomizer, and other resources for new members.

In order to make money from the system, members are reportedly required to “aggressively” recruit new members and encourage their recruits to continue the trend.

The Young Living Essential Oils class action claims that to be eligible to receive commissions, members are required to enroll in the Essential Rewards program. This enrollment is reportedly maintained by purchasing a monthly minimum amount of Young Living products. This amount may be more than $100 a month.

Due to this complicated compensation scheme, members may assume that they will receive commissions if they satisfy all of the criteria. However, the Young Living class action says this isn’t true.

Young Living allegedly refuses to pay their members monthly commissions if they do not earn more than $25 in a single month. If the commission is less than $25, members are allegedly issued a Young Living credit which can be used to purchase more product.

Plaintiff Julie O’Shaughnessy argues that Young Living is a “cult-like organization” and an “illegal pyramid scheme” that violates the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

The company allegedly makes false promises about the financial success and alternative lifestyle of selling Young Living Essential Oils.

“Of course, the promise of riches and alternative health remedies are simply the hook used to grow Young Living’s base of recruits, which is the true purpose of the organization and the source of immense profits—for the Defendants, not the Members,” the Young Living class action lawsuit claims.

These false promises allegedly led to hundreds of thousands of consumers such as O’Shaughnessy paying significant monthly payments to participate in the pyramid scheme.

The average loss for Young Living members in 2016 was reportedly $1,175, far from the successful lifestyle represented by Young Living.

O’Shaughnessy reportedly joined Young Living as a representative in 2015. She paid $100 to become a member and allegedly went on to pay thousands of dollars to participate in the alleged pyramid scheme, all of which is now “lost.”

The RICO class action argues that O’Shaughnessy’s experiences are not unique and may be common to individuals ensnared in the Young Living pyramid scheme.

O’Shaughnessy seeks to represent a Class of individuals who joined Young Living before Dec. 31, 2016 and enrolled as Essential Rewards members.

The Young Living RICO class action lawsuit seeks damages, injunctive relief, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

The proposed Class is represented by Nix Patterson LLP, Duggins Wren Mann & Romero LLP, and DuBois Bryant & Campbell LLP.

The Young Living Essential Oils Class Action Lawsuit is O’Shaughnessy v. Young Living Essential Oils LC d/b/a Young Living Essential Oils, Case No. 1:19-cv-00412-LY, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

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189 thoughts onYoung Living Class Action Says Essential Oil Co. Is ‘Cult-Like’

  1. Sheerine says:

    I want to be added to the lawsuit. They charge ridiculous prices and expect you to keep buying every month make money. It’s an expensive subscription service.

  2. Natalie Reed says:

    I want to be added, if possible!

  3. Bee says:

    At this point I have to laugh. To a degree I feel terrible for naive and needy women who fall prey to pyramid schemes but then again to see them calling this woman “bitter” and “unsuccessful” when bringing such a legitimate case I just have to laugh! Huns, you have to know that MLMs are the reason you have no friends outside of the company. If it feels like people are distant it’s because they’re tired of you trying to recruit/sell to them. The ones who buy feel awkward bc the products are bad and overpriced and they feel like they have to, which will inevitably result in distance anyway. And yes, eventually that $3-7k young living (or Mary Kay, or do terra) credit card bill is going to end the marriage, and you’ll be left with a house cluttered with boxes and boxes of product which will eventually expire. I hope you wake up soon and avoid this but if you wanna keep being petty Im not going to stop laughing ?

  4. Ann Kurland says:

    Please add me

  5. Leapenstein says:

    Young Living is built predominantly on people who simply use the products and have no interest in “business-building”. It’s a product-driven company that has simply chosen to bless anyone who happens to share and help others get their own no-strings attached membership, rather than pay for expensive marketing campaigns. Anyone choosing the OPTION of sharing and teaching about the oils is rightfully expected to be a “product of the product” by using/consuming the products that they represent. Conversely, with ACTUAL pyramid schemes, you spend money with nothing to show for it. Not to mention that anyone can join the company at any time and far surpass their upline if they have the grit, determination and leadership it takes to build their business. People like this bitter O’Shaugnessy lady and sites like this that perpetuate ignorant opinions, throwing cheap narrow-minded shots at a company that has done legitimate business for over 26+ years, are the worst kind of petty opportunists.

  6. Trittni03 Inc says:

    Add me, I have been VICTIMIZED bullied and discrimination at a CATHOLIC SCHOOL with family abuse of power, moral obligation tithing and a 1% chance… Add me to all, ass 1985 it’s Brittni, bitch. You wonder why we’re afraid, I’m a third party private non profit start up llc… She has woke

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