Coral Calcium Marketer Found in Contempt of Court

CHICAGO--On June 29, a U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, found Kevin Trudeau in civil contempt for violating a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) preliminary injunction issued in June 2003. Judge Robert W. Gettleman found Trudeau violated the injunction by disseminating promotional materials for coral calcium that suggest the product is a cure for cancer and other diseases; he ordered Trudeau cease all marketing of coral calcium and reserved the right to impose further remedial measures.

FTC's preliminary injunction prevented Trudeau, Robert Barefoot and their related companies from making false and unsubstantiated claims for Coral Calcium Supreme. The claims at issue include coral calcium's ability to treat or cure cancer, multiple sclerosis and heart disease. Barefoot settled FTC's charges in January 2004; however, the charges against Trudeau are still pending.

Information on the most recent court action is available online (www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/07/trudeau.htm).