The citems listed below are taken from various court Web sites like the federal PACER service and the Lee County, FL Clerks Web site. They may not necessarily be lawsuits per se.
I cannot be certain that each and every one of these cases relates to Russ Whitney. He has used many, many company names over the years. He has also formed alliances of various types over the years with various companies like Leasecomm. In some cases, an alliance may not give Whitney authority to file a lawsuit or prevent one from being filed by the company in question.
See table below...
Date |
Opposing parties |
Case number |
Synopsis |
Court |
8/15/95 | Fun Rentals Franchises, Inc. v. Kim Fonceca | 95-6108-CA-LG | Fun Rentals was a Whitney company that failed suit was for conversion, breach of contract | Lee County, FL Court |
11/9/1995 | Sgarlata, et al | 6:1995cv01144 | Unknown cause of action involving International Administrative Services, Inc. which is the same name as a company that is or was reportedly affiliated with Whitney | U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers, FL |
12/26/95 | Constatin Fontana | CACE 95017180 | contract indebtedness suit by Fontana against Fun Rentals Inc. and Russ Whitney | Broward County, FL Court |
3/11/1996 03:51:00 | Ketridge Mary Lou | File Number 3927142 Book Type: O Book/Page: 2684/2616 Legal: CS88-6465CA,2082/569 |
Lee County Court Web site says this is an Order; no other explanation | Lee County, FL Court |
5/30/1996 11:05:00 |
City of Fort Myers, FL | File Number 3971282 Book Type: O Book/Page: 2710/1749 Legal: STRAP#13-44-24-P3-00409.008A |
Failure to pay for demolition and clean-up costsagainst Whitneys wife | Lee County, FL Court |
March 5, 1997 | Tennessee Attorney General Division of Consumer Affairs | Formal Action #7853 | Many-count complaint about misleading advertising Read the actual final order for yourself for details. |
IN THE CHANCERY COURT FOR DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE AT NASHVILLE, TWENTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT STATE OF TENNESSEE |
10/13/1997 | Donahue Joe | File Number 4256729 Book Type: O Book/Page: 2877/1622 Legal: CS95-6136CA |
This involved Fun Rentals Franchising, Inc., a failed Whitney business venture | Lee County, FL Court |
1/8/1998 | Bundschu Charles C Jr | File Number 4304914 Book Type: O Book/Page: 2907/840 Legal: CS92-3775CC,OR2429/1814 |
Lee County Court Web site says this is a satisfaction of judgment document; no other explanation | Lee County, FL Court |
2/11/1998 | various people and entities named Wicklander | File Number 4324964 Book Type: O Book/Page: 2919/2570 Legal: CS97-8178CA |
Lee County Court Web site says this is a notice of dismissal; no other explanation | Lee County, FL Court |
4/7/1998 | Fortune Financial, Inc. | 2:1998cv00136 | Unknown cause of action involving Precision software Services, Inc. which is the same name as a company that is or was reportedly affiliated with Whitney | U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers, FL |
4/15/98 5/21/98 8/24/98 |
Tony Hill | May be related to Verias case below | Minnesota | |
5/1/98 5/21/98 8/24/98 |
Veritas Communications, Inc. and an individual | File number 980415066 | Unknown case facts. Whitney lost two judgments | Conciliation Court Hennepin County 857C Minneapolis |
5/8/1998 | various people and entities named Wicklander | File Number 4385485 Book Type: O Book/Page: 2957/2928 Legal: CS97-81CA,NE1/4 36-44S-24E |
Lee County Court Web site says this is a judgment; no other explanation | Lee County, FL Court |
6/2/1998 | Michigan Attorney General | AG File No. 98-10060 | Unfair, unconscionable, or deceptive methods, acts, or practices in the conduct of trade or commerce | |
9/1/1998 | Lowry | 2:1998cv00629 | Unknown cause of action involving Professional Marketing International which is the same name as a company that is or was reportedly affiliated with Whitney | U.S. District Court for the District of Utah |
2/12/1998 | Official Com. Cred. | 6:1998cv00154 | Unknown cause of action involving International Administrative Services, Inc. which is the same name as a company that is or was reportedly affiliated with Whitney | U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers, FL |
5/11/1998 | Case is styled as: In Re: International Administrative Services, Inc. | 6:1998cv00547 | Unknown cause of action involving International Administrative Services, Inc. which is the same name as a company that is or was reportedly affiliated with Whitney | U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers, FL |
2/11/1999 | Gloria F. Bonilla | Lawsuit against WIN Systems, Inc. | California | |
6/9/99 | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania D. Michael Fisher Attorney General |
No. 392 MD99 | violations of the following sub-paragraphs of §201-3(4) of the Consumer Protection Law: v. Representing that goods or services have sponsorship, approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits, or quantities that they do not have or that a person has sponsorship, approval, status, affiliation or connection that he does not have; vii. Representing that goods or services are of a particular standard, quality or grade, or that goods are of a particular style or model, if they are of another; and ix. Advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised.
|
PA? |
12/1/2000 | FL Division of Unemployment Compensation | File Number 5013429 Book Type: O Book/Page: 3333/900 Legal: OR3198-2787 |
Cancellation of a tax lien | Lee County, FL Court |
4/19/2001 | Gagnon, et al | 2:2001 cv00200 | This is Matt Gagnon, operator of the Mazu.com Web site which rates business opportunities; See my article about Whitney litigation against Gagnon | U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers, FL |
10/04/2001 | Big Creek Development Company | This was a lawsuit against Russ Whitneys Wealth Intelligence Center of Atlanta, Inc. | Georgia | |
10/15/2001 | Delores Williams Bentley | Michigan | ||
10/24/2001 | American International Group v. Bell | 3:2001cv01954 | Unknown cause of action involving Global Resource Network which is the same name as a company that Whitney was apparently associated with | U.S. District Court, Southern District of California |
2002? | Todd Dotson | ? | Dotson sued Whitney. The case was settled. Later, Whitney sued Dotson. Whitney got his deposition in this case postponed at the end of April, 2005. | |
3/25/2002 | Giles Thomas H Scharger Jack Hildreth Lawrence F Repperger Cliff |
File Number 5395057 Book Type: O Book/Page: 3607/1168 Legal: CASE#01-9464CA,DISMISSED |
Lee County Court Web site says this is an Order; no other explanation | Lee County, FL Court |
6/25/02 | John T. Reed | 2:02-CV-288-FTM-29DNF | Trademark, libel suit, withdrawn 5/03 | U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers, FL |
8/15/2002 | Hughes Spradling Shelley M | File Number 5537052 Book Type: O Book/Page: 3706/4500 Legal: CS02-3600SP |
Lee County Court Web site says this is a judgment; no other explanation | Lee County, FL Court |
11/05/2002 | Blagman, et al | 2:2002cv00549 | ? | U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers, FL |
12/12/2002 | Panio Webb Catherine |
File Number 5652042 Book Type: O Book/Page: 3796/3599 Legal: CS02-5351 SP |
Lee County Court Web site says this is a judgment; no other explanation | Lee County, FL Court |
1/29/03 | John T. Reed | case number CACE 03-01788(21) | tortious interference with a business relationship
Reed removed this case from state to federal court |
17th District Circuit Court in Broward County (Fort Lauderdale area) |
2/12/03 | John T. Reed | Case # 03-60195 Marra/Seltzer | This is the state case above that Reed removed to federal court | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Fort Lauderdale division) |
3/19/2003 | Webb Panio Catherine | File Number 5753084 Book Type: O Book/Page: 3876/4248 Legal: CS#02-5351SP |
Lee County Court Web site says this is a judgment; no other explanation | Lee County, FL Court |
4/8/03 | Glenn Purdy | Case #C 03-60693-CIV MARRA/SELTZER | Breach of contract and Uniform Trade Secrets Act violation suit against former speaker and member of Whitneys Wealth Team listed in the back of his 2003 book Millionaire Real Estate Mentor. See articles about Whitney attempts to force John T. Reed to testify in that suit. | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Division |
6/6/2003 | Northern | 6:2003cv00765 | Unknown cause of action involving International Administrative Services, Inc. which is the same name as a company that is or was reportedly affiliated with Whitney | U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers, FL |
6/18/2003 | Merrill Lynch Pierce | 2:2003cv72363 | ? | U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan |
6/19/2003 | Pete & Tony Youngs and their company Real World Enterprises, Inc. | Civil Action File No. 1:03-CV-1697 | copyright lawsuit against Whitney and the publisher of his Millionaire Real estate Mentor book by two former Whitney instructors and members of Whitneys Wealth Team listed in the back of the book Millionaire Real Estate Mentor David Keller also defendant | United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division |
4/19/2001 | Matt Gagnon, Mazu Publishing an Oregon Corporation | See the suit against Gagnon, who is the owner of Mazu.com, above | Was criticized by Mazu.com which reviews business opportunities. Settled out of court then sued Mazu.com again later | U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers, FL |
3/25/2002 12:44:22 |
Giles Thomas H Scharger Jack Hildreth Lawrence F Repperger Cliff |
File Number 5395057 Book Type: O Book/Page: 3607/1168 Legal: CASE#01-9464CA,DISMISSED |
Lee County Court Web site says this is an Order; no other explanation | Lee County, FL Court |
6/25/02 | John T. Reed | 2:02-CV-288-FTM-29DNF | Whitney and his corporation sued Reed for trademark infringement; false designation, description and origin under the Lanham Act; common law trademark and servicemark infringement; unfair competition; libel, trade libel. Whitney withdrew this suit without having received anything from Reed. | U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers, FL |
3/31/03 | John T. Reed | 03-60597 CIV-Seitz/Bandstra | Defamation per se of business reputation | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, Miami Division |
10/28/2003 | Ogunfowokan Femi | File Number 6025850 Book Type: O Book/Page: 4105/3302 Legal: CS03SC001966 |
Lee County Court Web site says these are Court Papers; no other explanation | Lee County, FL Court |
8/12/2003 | Sean Frederick, Don Frederick, Markus Group a Canadian Corporation | 0:2003cv61544 | Apparently these defendants were former independent contractor associates of Whitney. Complaint for Breach of contract, violation of FL Trade Secrets Act, Copyright infringement | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Division |
2003 | Better Business Bureau of West Florida | 03-15947 CACE (09) | Whitney is attempting to sue the BBB as part of a class action. The class has not yet been certified and may not be. He also originally sued the national headquarters of the BBB but they got the case dismissed as to them. | Broward County, FL Court |
11/17/2003 | Todd Dotson, Laurie Dotson, Dotson Consulting Group, Radical Real Estate | 0:2003cv62052 Altonag | Whitney suit against Dotson after previously having settled with him. | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Division |
12/19/2003 | Davis | 2:2003cv01108 | Unknown cause of action involving Professional Marketing International which is the same name as a company that is or was reportedly affiliated with Whitney | U.S. District Court for the District of Utah |
1/27/2004 | Xcentric Ventures (RipoffReport.com, BadBusinessBureau.com) | 2:2003cv00047 | Motion to dismiss filed by Xcentric Ventures and denied | U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers, FL |
2/12/2004 | Northen v. Key Enterprises, Inc. | 8:2004mc00004 | Unknown cause of action involving International Administrative Services, Inc. which is the same name as a company that is or was reportedly affiliated with Whitney | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California |
4/9/2004 08:42:34 |
Franklin Derek | File Number 6216692
Book Type: O |
Lee County Court Web site says these are Court Papers; no other explanation | Lee County, FL Court |
1/23/2004 | Guy Cozzi | 04-60101-CIV-Cohn/Snow | Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Division |
4/16/2004 | Dotson Consulting Group (Todd Dotson) | 4:204cv00278 | Click here to see a detailed descrpiton of the case file | U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas |
4/30/2004 | Purvis Andrews S | File Number 6247438 Book Type: O Book/Page: 4277/150 Legal: CS#04-CA-678 |
Lee County Court Web site says these are Court Papers; no other explanation | Lee County, FL Court |
6/30/04 | Robert E. Yates | Case No. 04-CA-002668 | hostile work environment and retaliatory discharge claim under Americans ith Disabilities Act with Lee County Office of Equal Opportunity and Florida Whistleblowers Act suit against Whitney Education Group, Inc. | Lee County, FL Court |
7/31/04 | Robert E. Yates & John T. Reed | Breach of contract against Yates and tortious interference with a business relationship and Uniform Trade Secrets Act against Reed | Lee County, FL Court | |
8/12/04 | Robert Blagman, Blagman-century Media, Blagman Media International, Inc. | CV-640-FTM-29DNF | Complaint alleges that defendants were supposed to pay TV stations to air Whitney’s infomercials. When they did not, the commercials were not aired. Whitney says they prepaid the defendants but the defendants did not buy the spots. Breach of contract, breach of implied contract, unjust enrichment, and equitable accounting. | U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers, FL |
9/15/2004 | Verio, Inc. (for being John T. Reeds Web host company) | 2:2004cv00462 | False designation of origin, false description, false representation under 15 USC 1125(a) [trademark law]; common law trademark infringement; tortious interference with a business relationship; defamation per se of business relationship | U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers, FL |
Copyright 2005 by John T. Reed
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