Eight plaintiffs have filed a class action lawsuit accusing Herbalife Ltd., as well as related entities and individuals, of using misrepresentations and deceit to entice people to attend live events that are allegedly touted as “the guaranteed pathway to attaining life changing financial success” with Herbalife.
Plaintiffs Jeff Rodgers, Patricia Rodgers, Michael Lavigne, Jennifer Lavigne, Cody Pyle, Jennifer Ribalta, Izaar Valdez and Felix Valdez filed the Herbalife class action lawsuit Monday in Florida federal court.
According to the Herbalife class action lawsuit, Herbalife business opportunity participants are informed that they must attend every event if they want to be successful. Further, they are told that they must make large monthly purchases of Herbalife products to qualify for special treatment, such as trainings, mentoring sessions, photo opportunities and “VIP seating and treatment.”
Herbalife’s events are allegedly produced by its highest-ranking members. The event system is marketed with titles like “Wheel of Success,” “Cycle of Success,” or “Circle of Success.” Each event system includes a graphic representation presented to participants that drive home the core theme: attendance at Herbalife events guarantees financial success.
“On or about October 26, 2011, from the stage of the year’s largest event, Defendant Mark Addy concisely stated the mantra that is used to deceive thousands of Herbalife distributors and potential recruits in the U.S. every year: ‘If you go to all the events, you qualify for everything – you will get rich,” the Herbalife class action lawsuit says.
“This mantra has been repeated thousands of times over the past four years by the Individual Defendants in close collaboration with Herbalife.”
Herbalife reportedly produces four large-scale events each year, which cost between $50 to $120 to attend. In addition to these four events, there are semi-local Success Training Seminars held throughout the year, which cost between $30 to $50 to attend.
According to the Herbalife class action lawsuit, these events were aggressively advertised and participants who missed events were allegedly subject to “punishment” such as pestering, public shaming and other penalties.
The plaintiffs all claim they spent thousands of dollars attending the Herbalife events but, despite the defendants’ promises, they say they have received no benefits from their attendance.
Their 83-page Herbalife class action lawsuit points to a complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission in July 2016 accusing Herbalife of misrepresenting that Herbalife distributors are likely to earn a substantial income through the retail-based opportunity.
According to the FTC, there is little legitimate market for Herbalife products outside the Herbalife network, and the majority of Herbalife distributors make little or no money from the opportunity. Some distributors even lose money by purchasing Herbalife products that they are unable to sell.
Herbalife ultimately reached a $200 million settlement with the FTC in which it was prohibited from engaging in certain business practices, including making misrepresentations about income and lifestyle.
The plaintiffs filed the Herbalife class action lawsuit on behalf of themselves and a proposed Class of individuals who purchased tickets to and attended at least two Circle of Success events since 2009. They are seeking compensatory and actual damages, attorneys’ fees, pre- and post-judgment interest, costs, and other relief deemed proper by the court.
The plaintiffs are represented by Etan Mark, Donald Hadyen and Lara O’Donnell Grillo of Mark Migdal & Hayden and by Jason Jones.
The Herbalife Live Events Class Action Lawsuit is Jeff Rodgers, et al. v. Herbalife Ltd., et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-23429, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
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23 thoughts onHerbalife Class Action Says Events Falsely Promise Financial Success
mi nombre es Margarita Montes de Oca, yo conoci a los productos de Herbalife, en el 2007 estaba en una profunda depresion y me encontre una tarjeta donde decia que me podian ayudar en mi depresion y bueno ahi empeze en un club de nutricion, y bueno ahi me empezaron a lavar el cerebro y decirme que ahi en este negocio mne iba a ir muy bien, y ahi me invitaron a ur los entrenamientos y bueno ahi empezaron a jugar con mis emociones para que invirtiera mi dinero. perdi mucho dinero, inclusive iba a ver una extravaganza en texas, y me envuelven y voy asta texas, solo jugaban con mis emociones llegue asta el equipo GET pero sin mucho exito,perdi mucho dinero y me sali porque en el 2011 mi hija se quito la vida y yo cai en una profunda depresion y poco a poco ya no metia ordenes seguido y asta que deje el negocio.pero en herbalife perdi mucho dinero
Yo entre en 2008 a Herbalife, me hicieron gastar creo que eran $2400 dlls para ser supervisor y ir a reuniones mensuales en salón tenia que comprar creo que 5 enteradas, también a eventos más grandes . El producto me gusta pero te ponen mucha presión .
La persona que me metió no le importaba la persona les decían “si no tienes para comprar el producto pon tu renta de tu casa , la recuperad rápidamente”
I was another goofy goober that got duped out of my money and time. I spent $200 on the basis that I’d see a much bigger return and would help others achieve success too. I’m in California, HBL is the same here too.
I join the Heberal Life in 2014. I was a Mess for me attending the meetings. Brought the start-up kit. But the products to sell. You had to buy a certain amount of products after you received your start-up. I spent around $1,200 to possibly $1,400.00. It was a Waste of my time. Cause you had to so much selling. Till you didnt have much time for your family. Besides the date was so close to expire. Ended up. Throwing it out. I quit in 2015. Havent made a cent selling the product. WHY THIS “MUST BUY THE START-UP KIT. THAT WAS OVER $200.00. SMH
It’s no different from any other pyramid scheme.
It took me so long to realize that these pyramid schemes only make the owners rich. Not the consultants. I tried Herbalife, Home Interiors, Longaberger and a pretty explicit one. Lol. I did make a little money on the last one but not enough to make it worth all the time and effort put into the company. Idk why these companies have not been shut down or banned. And that’s just my 2¢.
I joined in 2005. The money I spent on the required start up package along the monthly required shipment was very damaging to my family. I was promised so much and enticed by financial security and freedom for me and my children and their children. Once I was in it 100% then and only then wadi informed of the monetary requirements
I joined HBL in 2005 , at that time it was mainly multi level marketing. No emphasis was made on actually selling the product, where you could actually make money. Left the company in 2007. I like the products but intensely dislike the company. My total loss around $3000
I wasted a lot of time and money , went to events etc.wasted 500 plus dollars. Wonder if I qualify?
I was in in about 2 yrs ago do i qualify for the lawsuit i was told how successful i would be and i lost money on the business opportunity i spent $100
My wife and I joined up back in 2009 and we attended the mega events in Las Vegas and plus all the money that u had to spend on getting 3 separate Web pages and then the large amount of money spent on the products so then u would supposedly get it back and then the required monthly amounts you had to spend so you could receive a commission check from having other customers sign up under you. We spent in the neighborhood of around 8000 to 9000 and in the end had product had to throw away because of expiration dates. Needless to say was finally able to get out of it and then was charged another 1200 for the following year because we didn’t get out before our 2nd year anniversary date for the Web page services. Attended local events also. Just got farther in credit card debt. Some charges were admin fee charges which I was told was included in the contract in the small writing which I was told to begin with that it was just a standard contract and needed to get it signed and sent in so would make it before the first of the month. Wish we would have read the small print on everything. Eric H. and Holly H.