The Terms of the Trump University litigation settlement have been finalized.

( http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2016/12/trump-university-settlement-filed-232839 )

Here is the document: settlement-document-dec-2016

Unfortunately those eligible for compensation are restricted to “persons who purchased…live events within the United States since 2007…”. (from the web site http://www.trumpuniversitylitigation.com/ )

…the Court ruled that all persons who purchased “Trump University” Live Events within the United States since 2007 and have not received a full refund are Class Members in the Cohen (Nationwide) Action. Purchasers in the states of California, Florida, and New York who have not received full refunds may be Class Members in the Cohen (Nationwide) Action as well as the Low (California/Florida/New York) Action. In addition, there are senior citizen “subclasses” in California (over the age of 65) and Florida (over the age of 60) which are seeking the recovery of additional money or the imposition of fines to be paid to the states of California or Florida under laws intended to prevent financial abuse of elders.

This excludes (and I hope I am wrong) Canadians who attended programs in 8 Canadian cities. This is likely in excess of 550 people. Trump University knows the exact figure, this is an estimate derived from the documents on the http://www.98percentapproval.com/ web site.

They don’t even get a lump of coal!

 

 

 

Here are the documents from the December 20, 2016 hearing.

A final order of foreclosure was granted in the matter: CASE NO.: 2015-CA-001293-0

final-judgment-of-foreclosure-2016-dec-20

Here are the court minutes:

court-minutes-2016-dec-20

The amount owing is $151,954.87.

The property will be sold March 7 at 11:00 AM of the amount owing plus all costs is not paid.

 

 

 

It appears that the foreclosure proceeding in regard to Marco Kozlowski’s home at 710 Thompson in Maitland, Florida is coming to a possible conclusion.

Details and court documents are on the Orange County Clerk of Courts site – see https://myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com/   Just search in the civil court records for Kozlowski’s name, and you will find the case.  The documents can be downloaded.

It is “2015-CA-001293-O : ALLEN, CECILvs.SUNITA SOOKHLALL BHATIA et al.”

Here is the motion for summary judgment: motion-for-summary-judgment-of-foreclosure

This is the Notice of Hearing: notice-of-hearing-for-dec-20

 

Date ▴	Description	Pages	Doc	Request Doc
12/20/2016	HEARING – Summary Judgment – Myers, Donald A, JR
10/25/2016	Notice of Hearing Comments: 12/20/2016 @ 8:30am	2
10/18/2016	Notice of Filing Comments: Affidavit of Corroborating Atty’s Fees	4
10/17/2016	Notice of Filing Comments: Affidavit of Counsel of Record as to Attys Fees	9
10/13/2016	Notice of Filing Comments: affidavit of amounts due	8
10/13/2016	Motion for Summary Judgment Comments: OF FORECLOSURE AND ENTRY OF JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE PURSUANT TO SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT	4

It was announced today that the Trump University litigation has been settled.

Unfortunately, there are still organizations [the “evil spawn” of Trump University]  runing the “Hotel Real Estate Seminar Scam” active in Canada to this day.  Some involve people that worked with or for the Trump programs.

Below is the text of the announcement by New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman:

(From http://www.ag.ny.gov/press-release/statement-ag-schneiderman-25-million-settlement-agreement-reached-trump-university )

NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman issued the following statement on the $25 million settlement agreement reached in Trump University case:

In 2013, my office sued Donald Trump for swindling thousands of innocent Americans out of millions of dollars through a scheme known as Trump University. Donald Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Today, that all changes. Today’s $25 million settlement agreement is a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university.

I am pleased that under the terms of this settlement, every victim will receive restitution and that Donald Trump will pay up to $1 million in penalties to the State of New York for violating state education laws. The victims of Trump University have waited years for today’s result and I am pleased that their patience–and persistence–will be rewarded by this $25 million settlemen

It appears that the Trump Institute was in Vancouver as early as July, 2007. The ad from The Province (a Vancouver B.C. newspaper) dated July 24, 2007 is below. (Here it is in PDF form: the-province-ad-2007) The full text of the ad follows the image. This is quite remarkable, given what has unfolded and the litigation in regard to Trump University.

(Update: turns out the Trump Institute was also in Vancouver in early 2008 – see this blog and especially the comments: http://jnarvey.com/2008/01/12/mylife-inspiration-from-the-trump-institute/ )

The URL in the ad : http://www.trumpwn.com no longer goes to a web site. The domain though is owned by “The Trump Organization” of 725 Fifth Ave, New York City ( http://whois.domaintools.com/trumpwn.com )

Registry Registrant ID:

Registrant Name: General Counsel

Registrant Organization: The Trump Organization

Registrant Street: 725 Fifth Avenue

Registrant City: New York

Registrant State/Province: New York

Registrant Postal Code: 10022

Registrant Country: US

Registrant Phone: +1.2128322000

Registrant Phone Ext:

Registrant Fax:

Registrant Fax Ext:

Registrant Email: generalcounsel@trumporg.com

(Here is the text of the Trump Institute ad in The Province (Vancouver), Page A27, Tuesday, July 24, 2007. Please advise of any text below that does not mirror the ad shown above.)

An Open Letter From Donald Trump To All Vancouver Area Residents Who Want To Get Rich In Real Estate & Business

Trump tells all!

“I’ve made billions and now I want to share my success secrets with you.

– Donald Trump Executive Producer, The Apprentice NBC  Chairman, Trump Institute.

Dear Vancouver Area Resident.

Have you seen my TV show, The Apprentice? It’s been one of the top-rated shows on NBC for eight consecutive seasons!

Not only that, it has made me a media phenomenon and forever changed my life.

And now, at the age of 60, I’ve decided to make a bold move to share my knowledge and experience in such a way that it could be a great advantage to you.

What kind of advantage?

The best kind of the kind of advantage: the kind of advantage that could make you money and make you rich.

If you are seriously interested in hearing what I have to say about being successful, about making money and about getting rich, please read every word of this letter carefully. It contains an invitation for you to discover was taken me the better part of my life to learn and put into action.

Please let me explain.

Before The Apprentice, I was famous for building the world’s largest and most beautiful buildings, golf courses, and casinos, and for being a marketing whiz when it comes to succeeding in business. Everywhere I went people treated me like royalty and I was generally considered a big shot.

Everything Has Changed!

Because of The Apprentice, everything has changed. I have truly become a household word globally. Everywhere I go people say something to me. Sometimes they say, “Trump, you’re fired!” Or, “You’re hired!” But always, they greet me with respect, humor and friendship. It’s like they know me personally.

I love that!

With this monumental fame there comes great responsibility (and enormous opportunity) to make a huge contribution to the North American economy.

Something Extraordinary For You!

Since the amazing success of the The Apprentice I have been wondering what to do with this new power of world worldwide fame. Recently I got the idea to do something truly extraordinary and totally outside of the box.

What I’ve decided is that I want to train and educate the next generation real estate moguls and business entrepreneurs. Why?

There are two very good reasons:

Reason #1:

America’s been very good to me and my family and this is a great way I can give back to the country and help stimulate real economic growth.

Reason #2:

I believe that what I have to share will create so much success for my students that I will leave a legacy as being the father of modern real estate acquisition and entrepreneurial success.

You see, one thing you should know about me is that more than anything, I want to be known as a great businessman, maybe even the greatest!!

That’s why I have created the Trump Institute.

Want to know how I do it?

Would you like to know how I buy sell and real estate? How I pick properties for huge profits and yield equity gains?

Would you like to know what I look for when buying a business or starting a new business? If so I’m inviting you to come to a special seminar introducing Trump Institute. At this seminar you’ll see first hand (sic) the type of education I am offering.

Who Should Attend?

If you’re asking yourself, “could this be the moment that changes everything for me?” All I can say is, you’ll never know unless you try.

Your success depends on you!

Ultimately, your success depends on you, and with my help you can get an education and advantage that has not only proven to work for me but it has also worked for many of the world’s richest men and women.

You see, in my quest to be the best, I have sought the advice and guidance from people who have also experienced mega-billionaire success. I have incorporated their techniques and experiences into my own personal treasure chest of successful business and real estate knowledge, strategies, and wisdom.

A Powerful Team Of Experts!

I also have an incredible team of business entrepreneurs and real estate mavens (very talented experts), who deliver my material and my lessons.

These are men and women who are highly successful professional business and real estate. They speak from my lips to your ears and they back it up experience, knowledge and wisdom. I wouldn’t put my name on it any other way.

Money-Making Skills

Through this seminar you’ll learn practical money-making advice about how to be successful in business and how I invest in real estate.

Here’s just a sample of what you’ll learn:

• You’re going to learn the Trump way to get cash back when you BUY a property.
• Learn the Trump Way yo get other people to jump-start your business.
• The Trump way to find great deals in hidden markets others don’t know about.
• The Trump way to finance your business without putting up your house or risking personal liability.
• The Trump way to build YOUR real estate empire property by property.
• You will discover the Trump Way to make piles of cash.
• You will learn the Trump Way to get the government to buy your product and rent your properties.
• You’ll see the Trump Way to negotiate with bankers – and win big!.
• The Trump Way to be your own boss – forever.
• The Trump Way to build your retirement account quickly and leave the lifestyle of your dreams.
• The Trump Way to stop paying high taxes.
• The Trump Way to build your Power Team – the right way.
• .The Trump Way to structure your business organization for maximum profit and protection.
• The Trump Way to make terrific deals on real estate in a buyers OR sellers market.

If you’re serious about winning in business or catching the world’s greatest wave of real estate profits, come to this introductory seminar. There are more opportunities in business and real estate in the Vancouver area than ever before.

This Is Your Invitation

It is for this that I’m making an absolutely irresistible invitation for you to attend my Trump Institute Introductory Seminar.

It’s free!

Here’s the deal. Admission is FREE, but you must call and make a reservation.

Sincerely,

(signed)

Donald J Trump.

P.S. When I said I was going to give you my best deal, I wasn’t kidding! See below!

P.P.S. My Best Deal! My best-selling book FREE!

As a special bonus for all seminar attendees, I am offering free, a special edition copy of my best-selling book: Think Like A Billionaire!

This is a fantastic business and real estate book and has been a best-seller in book stores around the country.

You’ll receive this book FREE with my compliments and best wishes, at the end of the seminar. There are several days to choose from and several locations available. Look for a location near you. Call today! Thank you.

Call Today or Go Online For Reservations to this Trump Institute Introductory Seminar.

Admission is FREE!

Seating is Limited!

Call Today 1-866-259-3338

(Note: I’ve not copied here the details for the hotels)

Saturday, July 28

Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside

Vancouver

Sunday, July 29

Vancouver Airport Marriott Hotel.

Monday, July 30

Hotel Grand Pacific Victoria.

Tuesday, July 31

York Business Center, Surrey

If the number is busy, please try again.

Additional materials will be offered for sale at this Introductory Conference.

http://www.trumpwn.com

 

(Update Nov 9, 2016. It appears Trump University was in Vancouver in 2009 as well: see the article “Trumped up” by Rod Filbrandt in the April 2009 Vancouver Magazine: http://vanmag.com/uncategorized/trumped-up/  or at https://web.archive.org/web/20170116003143/http://vanmag.com/uncategorized/trumped-up/ )

The student evaluation forms revealed on the http://www.98percentapproval.com/ web site put up by Trump University have proved to be a treasure trove of information. (…as well as revealing unredacted information on Ottawa participants – hello journalists !..)

The forms document the various Trump U. programs given in Canada. Recent news stories have found that the programs given in Canada featured some of the suspect instructors used by Trump  U.  This site has documented how former Trump University staff continue to work with Trump U “clones” that frequently come to Canada.

(I’ll remind readers again that the warning given by the Competition Bureau needs to be taken seriously. Later today yet another hotel seminar pitch is being given in Edmonton by an organization that has used Trump Institute staff)

For some of the news coverage see:

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/world/canadians-that-taught-trump-university-courses-were-involved-in-multimillion-dollar-swindle

and

http://vancouversun.com/business/local-business/when-trump-university-came-to-vancouver-the-list-of-presenters-included-the-names-of-a-drug-trafficker-and-a-fraudster

The Ad below ran in the Vancouver Sun January 5, 2010. (Your humble correspondent is pleased to report that www.trumprsvp.ca, the domain referenced in the ad,  now points to this site)  The text of the ad follows the image.

[Text of a Vancouver Sun ad for “Trump Education” January 5, 2010)

(Photo of Donald Trump)

Learn from the Real Estate Master

Let Trump’s Experts teach you the master strategies from one of the most successful, and most admired, real estate investors in the world.

“I can turn anyone into a successful real estate investor.”

(signed)

Donald J. Trump

Chairman, Trump Education

Attend a FREE Trump Real Estate Investing Workshop and Learn How to:

• Take advantage of the rock-bottom U.S. real estate market.
• Buy properties at deep discounts.
• Invest for long-term gains, positive cash flows, and pass1ve 1ncome.
• Generate quick cash with buy-and-flip deals.
• Get creative financing to invest without risk.
• Locate buyers and investors to create recession-proof income.
• Analyze deals, make offers, and negotiate like a professional.
• Identify profitable investments right in YOUR neighbourhood.

What Trump Students Have Been Saying:

“I thought the t raining was great. The team in charge made sure we got and understood everything that was presented. It was very obvious that they k new what they were doing. I would highly recommend this t o anyone.”

-Gail M.

“Excellent resource. Trump supplies the information that I have been searching for my whole life. Thank you for all that you do! The instructors are great. You are making a difference in my life. Thank you.”

-Dana B.

First time ever in the Vancouver area!

Make a change for the new year today!

Space is limited, reserve your seat NOW!

Buy Property in Canada and the U.S.A. with Trump’s “market-perfect” strategies!

Monday, January 11^th
1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Delta Vancouver
Airport Hotel
3 500 Cessna Drive
Vancouver, BC

Tuesday, January 11^th
1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Vancouver
65 5 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC

Wednesday, January I3th
1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Executive Hotel & Conference Centre Burnaby
4201 Lougheed Highway
Burnaby, BC

Thursday, January 14^th
1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel
15269 104th Avenue
Surrey, BC

Call or Go Online Today to Register:
888-841-4577

TrumpRSVP.ca

(Lion Logo Image)

Trump Education

 

---

For the last two weeks full page ads for the Nick Vertucci “Fortunes in Flipping” real estate seminar have been running in the Toronto edition of 24 Hours and also at least once in the Toronto Sun (September 24 page 47).

(Oct. 3, 2016 update: Nick Vertucci will also be flipping Calgary – see http://nickflipscalgary.com/ – the dates are October 13, 14 and 15, 2016. There is no longer a “24Hours” paper in Calgary, so it will be interesting to see what media promote and profit from these events. There are usually radio ads that also promote these events. Look out Calgary!  Update Oct. 10, 2016  The Calgary Sun has been running full page ads for a week. The Sun is owned by Postmedia, the publisher of 24 Hours Toronto.)

(Update: Nick Vertucci is flipping Edmonton November 4 and 5, 2016.  The domain “canadaflipsnick.com” now comes to this site!)

Your can find the ads in the online edition of 24 Hours – see http://eedition.toronto.24hrs.ca/epaper/viewer.aspx – Sept. 12-26, 2016

It is not know yet who will be the presenter in Toronto. (registration for the program is on this web site: http://nickflipstoronto.com/ )

There will be presentations in Mississauga (Mississauga Grand Banquet and Event Centre on September 28), Toronto ( Marriott Toronto Bloor Yorkville Hotel on September 29), Markham ( Hilton Toronto Markham Suites Conference Centre on Sept. 30), Scarborough ( Delta Hotel Toronto East on October 1), and in Oakville (Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Oakville on October 2.)   Will the management of these hotels provide the warning set out by the Competition Bureau? (see link below)

(detail from the ad)

These are pretty much straight out of the playbook  for “Trump University” style seminars. The free “VIP TECH Packages” are very cheap products – the watch (if it is like what is usually handed out) is almost certainly not a “GPS” watch. The USB drive contains the audio of a couple of talks by Mr. Vertucci. It is not disclosed where the $20 gift card can be spent.

(detail from the ad)

In December 2015 this group came to Vancouver B.C.  The presenter for Nick Vertucci’s program then was Gus Fernandez of Seattle – who had been a presenter for the Trump Institute:  (Note:  Gus Fernandez has now removed the image below from on his web site: http://www.finances4today.com/ (UPDATE: the Trump Institute image below is on this page:  http://www.finances4today.com/about-gus/ ))

The text on the Fernandez site used to say:

“Gus has years of front line experience starting, growing and protecting the entrepreneur’s entry into real estate and small business. He has served as a Senior Instructor for the Trump Institute and Robert Kiyoaski’s Rich Dad Poor Dad ‘Launch Your Business’ series.  Beyond his entrepreneurial expertise, he is sought after as a ‘curriculum architect’ for emerging companies.  He has also served HQ management stints with Exxon, Alcoa and AT&T.”

Examples of the recent 24 Hours ads are below.

Here is the Toronto Sun Ad: (Page 47, Sept. 24, 2016)

Reporter Sam Cooper of the The Vancouver Sun and Province did a story in July 2016 on these seminars – see

http://theprovince.com/news/local-news/free-real-estate-flipping-seminar-streams-people-into-50000-course

or

“http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/free-real-estate-flipping-seminar-streams-people-into-50000-course” (here is the archived story: https://web.archive.org/web/20160710172445/http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/free-real-estate-flipping-seminar-streams-people-into-50000-course )

The presenter in Vancouver was Michael Syme (photo). At the seminar he would not give the reporter his full name.  From the article:

…However, The Sun found archived photos of the online auctioneer that matched photos of the Vertucci pitchman in Richmond. A 2009 online profile for Michael J. Syme of Idaho, Utah and Hawaii, says he “is a popular online auctions expert, educator … (who) started selling on the Internet nearly seven years ago after losing his job. Mr. Syme for years has made his living selling with online auctions, where he has made over $12,000 a month … he now shares his ‘auction success secrets’ with tens of thousands of people around the world.”

Bankruptcy records for Michael J. Syme of Utah show that in 2003 he owed debts to a long list of creditors including the U.S. International Revenue Service and Utah Division of Consumer Protection.

This true objective of course is not just to get folks to go to the free hotel event. It is not to just get registrants for the offered 3 day program. The sting, like the other seminar presenters in this game, is enrollment in a very expense ongoing program that may be of no or little value.

“Don’t Flip for “Free” Real Estate Investment Seminars” See the warning on the Competition Bureau of Canada web site:
http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/04069.html

It turns out there was a series of Doonsbury cartoons lampooning Trump University in 2005. Who know that both Trump University and it’s spawn would be so prominently in the news 11 years later?

(This excellent post dissects the con – “How Trump University Relied Heavily On The Craft Of Con Men – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-university-con_us_5756b5e6e4b0ca5c7b4ff16b  – that Doonsbury mocks)

Enjoy!

June 6, 2005: http://doonesbury.washingtonpost.com/strip/archive/2005/6/6

June 7, 2005: http://doonesbury.washingtonpost.com/strip/archive/2005/6/7

June 8, 2005: http://doonesbury.washingtonpost.com/strip/archive/2005/6/8

June 9, 2005: http://doonesbury.washingtonpost.com/strip/archive/2005/6/9

June 10, 2005: http://doonesbury.washingtonpost.com/strip/archive/2005/6/10 

June 11, 2005: http://doonesbury.washingtonpost.com/strip/archive/2005/6/11 

 

The Marco Kozlowski / At Will Events / At Will Education  / U.S. Property Success  / Wealth in USA seminar events are back in Toronto this week. Yet another new name for the same old con.

The new name is “Wealth in USA”, the domain is www.wealthinusa.com  No mention of Marco Kozlowski now that he cannot fully control Google search results.

The name “Stefan Harlan” (…@willevents.com ) is used in promotional materials and communications. ( See ” http://willevents.com/ ” (Very cute …@wilevents…avoids the old “atwillevents” name..The address for At Will Events is 765 East 340 South, American Fork, UT)

This is on the heels of the firestorm of controversy surrounding the disclosure of the Trump University documents (there are thousands of stories now) and the warning by the Canadian Competition Bureau.

(This amazing blog post tells a story about the links of Trump University to older seminar scam organizations.)

Beware: These hotel events are the setup for the usual up-sell and sting.  If you want to know what will go on just read the Trump University Playbook (2010 version) and the various documents posted on this web site.

Read the BBB warnings (Update 19 June 2016: the original BBB page linked here is now deleted – “404” , see this saved version of the page) about similar seminars from SuccessPath and others. Read the Gazette and CBC stories on these programs.

Here is a screen grab from the site:

Here is the address of “Wealth in USA” and a Google street view of the fabulous offices…

 

see https://gallery.mailchimp.com/028de8672d5f9a229f15e9edf/images/18b4f836-1f02-40e3-b5b9-a2cba6226d2e.jpg

 

 

The Globe and Mail on May 26, 2016 (in print May 27) ran a story by reporter Mike Hager on “Success Path” real estate seminars:

For the full story see: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-real-estate-seminars-prey-on-house-hunters-promise-insider-tips-lawyer/article30182672/

Excerpts from the story:

“Almost every month, real estate seminars in and around Vancouver promise ordinary people the insider tips and tricks needed to find a backdoor into the region’s frenzied housing market.

Inevitably, many of these free seminars end with the promise that attendees will learn real secrets and even get connected with a group of mysterious private investors if they pay thousands, on the spot, for another workshop or a mentorship.

…

About 20 tickets have been sold to the upcoming three-day workshop, at which at least one instructor and three experts will work with the participants, Mr. Carlson said. He denied allegations in complaints published on the Better Business Bureau website that experts at these events size up participants to sell them more courses, not to gauge what types of real-estate deals they can start making. He added that attendees are all invited to seek more education at one of his company’s intensive, $10,000 investor summits, which are held about five times a year in Las Vegas.

Tom Rogers, a 77-year-old from B.C.’s Sunshine Coast, said he and his son paid for this weekend’s three-day workshop to get connected to SuccessPath’s network of U.S. and Canadian private lenders. The pair wants the promised loans – at interest rates below 4 per cent – to buy properties in Canada to fix and flip.

“If there’s some hitches there, then I’ll be going to get my money back,” Mr. Rogers said. “I’m mainly after their contacts, their investor contacts.”

He said consumer complaints are “obviously bad news,” and added that “unfortunately, there are gullible people in the world that don’t take the time to do the research themselves.”

Last week’s energetic free seminar started with a brief video from reality TV home improvement gurus Tarek and Christina El Moussa, who apologized for having to stay behind in California filming their HGTV show Flip or Flop. The El Moussas did not respond to requests for comment.

In the short clip, the couple described how flipping property changed their lives dramatically.

“Four years ago, we never imagined we’d be where we are today. We went from driving cars we hated, living in places we hated, to driving the most amazing cars money can buy, living in the house of our dreams, with a beautiful yard. Literally, our life is better than we ever anticipated,” Mr. El Moussa says.”