vzdnzcdzy, cpril 23, 1970
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A petition filed Friday in Lancaster County Eitrict
Court by the Nebraska attorney general'i office charges
Bette Bonn International Modeling and Charm Schools
and the partners in the venture, Bette Bonn Ledwith and
Evelyn Parker, with deceptive trade practices.
The two defendants have filed lawsuits against Jerold
V. Fennel!, Nebraska assistant attorney general, charging
that Fennell libeled them by sending a draft of the pet?
tion to Bonn's husband, Omaha attorney Charles Ledwith
before it was filed with the court. '
Parker, of Lincoln, filed the suit against Fennell April
16 in VS. District Court in Lincoln, and Bonn,of Omaha
filed a similar suit in Omaha's US. District Court.
Fennell, director of the Consumer Protection Division
of the state attorney general's office, said the letter was
sent to Ledwith in the "normal course of procedure" in
attorney general's office, lie said the letter was meant to
indicate that the attorney general's office intended to
file the petition.
Fennell said a story in the April 23, 1975, Daily Ne
braskan about the alleged deceptive practices by the Bette
Bonn schools w?s one of several factors prompting the in
vestigation. He said there were complaints against the
school before and after the story's publication.
"Inducing F&braskass to enroS"
In the petition filed against the school's owners, Bonn
and Parker, the state alleges that:
-the defendants are currently and have been for some
time advertising instruction in a model training course.
These advertisements, written by the defendants, were
placed in "Help Wanted" sections of the classified adver
tisements in Nebraska newspapers.
-the advertisements, designed to induce Nebraskans to
enroll in the school, led prospective students to believe
that the ads were for models, modeling jobs or other paid
employment.
-the defendants, through the ads, and through oral
and written statements made to Nebraskans responding
to the ads, indicated that paying jobs would be immedi
ately available for those who enroll in their course. The
defendants also indicated that raying modeling jobs
would be available for students after the courses, that
persons would need a "modeling card" or document to
model in Omaha or Lincoln, that the school would
provide and that students would be given lessons in reg
ularly schedukd classes.
A sfcry ti & "AprH 23,.K73. :
... ..cii dcccptiVo practises
by ilio Ebffo Csr.n edicsb ;r
prcnipffng iho Investigation.;; J
-the defendants have placed few students who were
enrolled in or completed the course in paying model jobs.
The suit said no card is necessary to model in Nebraska
and many persons enrolled in the course did not receive
the promised full course and classes often were cancelled.
-the alleged law violations are deceptive trade prac
tices under state law, and Nebraskans have incurred dam
ages as the result of the defendants' practices. The amount
of damage was said to be unknown at the time.
Stop "deceptive" ads
In the petition, the state asks the court to permanent
ly and, pending a hearing on the permanent injunction,
temporarily stop the defendants from:
-advertising in the "Help Wanted" sections of papers
delivered to Nebraskans.
-advertising for students in a maimer which leads pr
ions to believe the ads are for models, modeling jobs or
other paid employment.
-falsely indicating that paying jobs will be available
upon graduation unless, at the time the student enrolls,
each student is supplied with a list of such jobs, including
salary and school graduates who have been placed in such
payingjobs.
' Crnc":a cttCTKcy Uzbcrt Ccasli,"
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dicrgcs cro fobs. Ho zzl$
his clients did not obtain rnensy
under fcfca proteoses. ;
-falsely stating that a "modeling card" is needed for
a modeling career in Omaha or Lincoln.
The state also asks that the court order the defen
dants to restore money or property which might have
been acquired by the defendants through unlawful practices.
NETV's auction
nets about $86,000
More than 1 ,700 items, priced from $25 to more than
$500, were sold in the Nebraskans for Public Television
Auction which ended Sunday.
The auction was broadcast on the Nebraska Educa
tional Television Network (NETV); which will use profits
to develop its programming, said Karen Dahlstrom, auc
tion chairwoman.
The auction began last Wednesday and ran nightly
from 6 pjn. to 1 a jn. '
Dahlstrom said about $S6jQ0O was raised for NETV
during its third auction, $11 00 more than the projected
goal, and about $31,000 more than the $55 00 raised
last year. "
Nebraska merchants contributed auction merchandise,
Dahlstron said. One unusual contribution was a Centen
nial Rifle and Pistol Set, which Dahlstrom called "a col
lector's item, because very few are . being circulated.'
Vacations, motorcycles, v furniture, appliances, tools
and scholarships from Nebraska colleges were other auc
tion items.
Dahlstrom said she did not have a final list of prices
received for each item, but some items sold at "100 per
cent or above" retail prices.
"Bidding was more active, and bids were higher this
year" than last, Dahlstrom said. She attributed the in
crease to this 'year's economy being on the upswing."
, Private citizens were the most active bidders, she said,
and- "very few, if any" business firms cast bids. Iowa,
South Dakota, Colorado and Wyoming residents also par
ticipated, she said.
Dahlstrom said about 5,000 volunteers from 38
Nebraska towns helped in the auction as auctioneers,
phone operators or soliciters for merchandise.
Students currently or formerly enrolled in the course
should be informed of such an order, the state said, so
that those allegedly injured by the defendants may re
ceive rebates for fees paid.
. The state also asked that the defendants be permanent
. ly stopped from continuing their model training business
or any other business they conduct in Nebraska until they
comply with orders resulting from court action.
Salt charges Del
Omaha attorney Robert Beach, representing both Bonn
and Parker, said the state's charges are false. He said his
clients did not obtain money under false pretenses.
Parker's suit against Fennell alleges that:
sometime before March 31, Fennell drafted or caused
to be drafted a petition naming Bonn and Parker as
defendants. The petition draft and a letter were mailed to
Ledwith March 31,
since the petition had not been filed in any court,
any false statements in the petition are not considered
allegations.
the publication of the statements in the letter to
Ledwith constituted the libel of Parker,
Fennell has deprived Parker, without due process, of
her right to enjoy a good reputation in her business and
personal affairs and the right to engage in lawful business.
as a result of Fennell's alleged actions, Parker has
suffered actual damages of $25,000 and is entitled to
exemplary or punitive damages of $250,000.
Parker asks in the suit that the court award her
$275,000 in damages plus attorney's fees and "any other
relief to which she may be entitled."
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Going, gsizg, $S5,CC3 gone, to the 1976 Nebm
kans for FtsMic Tekvisbn Acctbn. Cich RusscH, -auction
producer, mans one of the microphones.
ASUN
OG0nCsQ
The ASUN Senate is meeting
tonight at 6:30 in the Union
ballroom. Teachers College
replacement senator mil be
sworn in.
Agenda
I. Executive Report
A. Ad Hoc Committee on
Senate Structure
B. Summer Salaries
I. Open Forum
A. Don V.'esely Fee
Increase
B. Coalition of University
Reform Ron Slndetar
III. Old Business
A. Organic Act " , .
B. Computer Date Match
IV. lievt Business
A. Resolution No. tt
Gay Action Funding
B. Resolution No. 12
Senate Speaking Eriga
mertts C. Resolution No.' 13
FA3 D. Government BZt No. 1
Summer Salaries
V. Announcements
A. See you in September
O O O O O O O Li Ci O u U u O u
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STARTS TODAY AT
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Cory's
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We can talce you there"
