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David Crystal, Inc.

Volume 52 · 52 F.T.C. 856

Citation
52 F.T.C. 856
Docket
6412
Complaint
1955-09-13
Decision
1956-02-22
Document type
consent order
Case type
consumer protection
Statutes
FTC Act (section 5)
Industry
wearing apparel
Outcome
consent order entered
Relief
cease_and_desist; compliance_reporting
Hearing examiner
EVERETT F. HAYCRAFT (Hearing Examiner)
Commission counsel
R. D. Yo'ung, Jr
Respondent counsel
Arnold M. Grant
Source
Original volume PDF
Original PDF
This decision as a PDF

deceptive advertisingproduct labeling

Cite this decision

David Crystal, Inc., 52 F.T.C. 856 (1956). Consumer Law Library, https://consumerlawlibrary.org/decisions/v052-0111

Report an error in this record (decision id v052-0111)

Order status: presumptively_terminable_pre_1995. Sunset may be extended by the latest qualifying federal-court complaint alleging an order violation; complaints, dismissal/appeal outcomes, and respondent-specific extensions are not fully tracked.

Cited by 0 later FTC decisions

Cites

Text (OCR of the scan at left; may contain errors)

IN THE MATTER OF DAVID CRYSTAL, INC.

CONSENT ORDER, ETC., IN REGARD TO THE ALLEGED VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ACT Dooket 6412. Complaint, Sept. 13, 1955-Decision, Feb. 22, 1956 Consent order requiring a manufacturer in New York City to cease representing-through use in advertisements in periodicals and on attached labels the word "London, the word "Limited" or its abbreviation "Ltd. , a pictorial simulation of the British Royal Coat of Arms, and the phrase By Appointment to H. M. the Late King George VI" that the men s and women s clothing it manufactured was made in England. Before Mr. Everett F. H ayc'taft hearing examiner. Mr. R. D. Young, Jr. for the Commission. Mr. Arnold M. Grant of New York City, for respondent. COl\IPLAIN'l' Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act and by virtue of the authority vested in it by said Act, the Federal Trade Commission, having reason to believe that David Crystal, Inc. a corporation, hereinafter referred to as respondent, has violated the provisions of said Act, and it appearing to the Commission that a proceeding by it in respect thereof would be in the public interest, hereby issues its complaint, stating its charges in that respect. as follows:

PARAGRAPH 1. . Respondent, David Crystal, Inc., is a corporation organized, existing and doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the State of New York, with its office and principal place of business located at 498 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York. PAR. 2. Respondent is now, and for several years last past has been, engaged in the design, manufacture, sale and distribution of men s and women s wearing apparel.

In the course and conduct of its business, respondent ships its said wearing apparel from the State of New York to the purchasers thereof located in various other States and in the District of Columbia, and maintains, and has maintained, a course of trade in said wearing a pparel, in commerce, between and among the various States of the United States and in the District of Columbia. 3. In the course and conduct of its business as aforesaid, and for the purpose of inducing the purchase of its said wearing apparel, in commerce respondent made and is now making certain DAVID CRYSTAL, INC. 857 856 Complaint statements in advertisements inserted in periodicals and on labels attached to said wearing apparel. Among and typical, but not all inclusive, of said statements so made are the following: (a) By Appt Shirtmakers to H.M. the Late King George VI IZOD LTD.

( Coa t of Arms) of London Izod of London, New York 18, New York (b) A.

IZOD LTD. ( Coa t of Arms) of London American Producers-David Crystal, Inc.

(c) A. .1. IZOD LTD.

of London Armigene Sleeve Golfer Pat. #2 668, 955 by Vin Draddy ( d) The shirts, walking shorts, and beach trunks, all designed by Izod of London. * * * PAR. 4. Through the use of the a.foresaid statements, and others of similar import but not specifically set out herein, respondent represented and now represents that its said wearing apparel was and is designed and manufactured in London, England. PAR. 5. The aforesaid statements and representations were and are false, misleading and deceptive. In truth and in fact, said wearing apparel was not and is not designed or manufactured in London, England, but on the contrary said wearing apparel was and is designed and manufactured in New York New York, by David Crystal, Inc., respondent herein.

PAR. 6. There is a preference on the part of substantial numbers of the purchasing public for wearing apparel designed or manufactured in London, England.

PAR. 7. In the course and conduct of its business respondent was and is in substantial competition in commerce with other corporations and with firms and individuals engaged in the sale of wearing apparel of the same nature as that sold by respondent. PAR. 8. The use by respondent of the foregoing false, misleading and deceptive statements and representations had, and now have the tendency and capacity to mislead and deceive the purchasing public into the erroneous and mistaken belief that such representations and statements were and are true and to cause substantial numbers of the purchasing public, because of such erroneous and mistaken belief, to purchase substantial quantities of respondent' , Decision 52 F. T. ;C. products. As a result, trade has been and. is now being unfairly diverted to respondent from its competitors and substantial injury has been and is now being done to competition in commerce. ' PAR. 9. The aforesaid acts and practices, as herein alleged wer:e and are all to the prejudice and injury of the public and of respondent' s competitors and constituted and now constitutes unfair and deceptive acts and practices and unfair methods of competition in commerce within the intent and meaning of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

INITIAL DECISION BY EVERETT F. HAYCRAFT, HEARING EXAMINER The Federal Trade Commission issued its complaint against the above-named respondent on September 13, 1955 , charging it with having violated the Federal Trade Commission Act through the making of certain false, misleading and deceptive representations regarding the place of design and manufacture of men s and women s wearing apparel. In lieu of submitting answer to said complaint, respondent entered into an agreement for consent order with counsel supporting the complaint, disposing of all the issues in this proceeding, which agreement has been duly approved by the Director and the Assistant Director of the Bureau of Litigation. Respondent, pursuant to the aforesaid agreement, has admitted all the jurisdictional facts alleged in the complaint and agreed that the record may be taken as if findings of jurisdictional facts had been duly made in accordance with such allegations. Respondent in the agreement waived any further procedural steps before the hearing examiner and the Commission; the making of findings of fact or conclusions of law; and all of the rights it may have to challenge or contest the validity of the order to cease and desist entered in accordance with this agreement. It was further provided that the record on which the initial decision and the decision of the Commission shall be based shall consist solely of the complaint and said agreement; that the agreement shall not become a part of the official record unless and until it becomes a part of the decision of the Commission; that said agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by. respondent that it has violated the law as alleged in the complaint The agreement also provided that the order to cease and desist issued in accordance with said agreement may be entered in this proceeding without further notice to respondent; that when entered, it shall have the same force and effect as if entered after a full hearing; that it may. be altered, modified or set aside in the DAVID 'CRYSTAL, INC. 859 856 Order manner provided for other orders; and that the complaint may be used in construing the terms of the order. This proceeding having now come on for final consideration by the hearing examiner on the complaint and the aforesaid agreement for consent order, and it appearing that said agreement provides for an appropriate disposition of this proceeding, the aforesaid agreement is hereby accepted and is ordered filed upon becoming part of the Commission s decision in accordance with Sections 3.21 and 3.25 of the Rules of Practice, and in consonance with the terms of said agreement, the heal~ing examiner makes the following jurisdictional findings and order: 1. Respondent David Crystal, Inc., is a corporation existing and doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the State of. New York, with its office and principal place of business located at 498 7th Avenue, in the City of New York, State of N ew Y ork. 2. The Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction of the subject matter of this proceeding, which is in the public interest, and of the. respondent hereinabove named; the complaint herein states a ' cause: provisions of the.01 action against said respondent under the Federal Trade Commission Act.

ORDER is ordered, That the respondent, David Crystal, Inc. , a cor- It poration, its officers, agents, representatives and employees, directly in connection with theor through any corporate or other device, .offering for sale, sale and distribution of wearing apparel in commerce, as "commerce" is defined in the Federal Trade Commission Act, do forthwith cease and desist from: 1. Representing directly or by implication that the country of ,origin of the design or manufacture of respondent' s wearing apparel is England or any part of the British Isles, or any other country, if such is not the fact.

2. Using any pictorial representation which simulates in appear- :ance the British Royal Coat of Arms unless aecompanied by clear and conspicuous language indicating country of origin. 3. Using the word London to designate the place of design or manufacture of wearing apparel sold or manufactured by rewas designed or manu-spondent unless in fact said wearing apparel as the case might be.factured in London, England, " or its abbreviation "Ltd. " to des- 4. Using the word "Limited ignate, describe or refer to any wearing apparel which respondent manufactures or designs unless the word "Limited" or its abbrevia- Decision 52 F. T. Coo tion "Ltd." is used as part of the name of a corporation actuallyin existence.

5. Using the phrase "By Appointment to H. M. the Late King.. George VI" or any other words or phrases of similar import to. designate, describe or refer to any wearing apparel which respondent manufactures, sells and distributes unless said wearing apparel is designed or manufactured in England or the British Isles. DECISION OF THE COMMISSION AND ORDER TO FILE REPORT OF CO~fPLIAN CE Pursuant to Section 3.21 of the Commission s Rules of Practice the initial decision of the hearing examiner shall, on the 22nd day of February, 1956, become the decision of the Commission; and,.accordingly: It is ordered That the respondent herein shall, within sixty (60) days after service upon it of this order, file with the Commission a report in writing setting forth in detail the manner and form, in which it has complied with the order to cease and desist.. &:

STERN BROTHERS JEWELRY MFG. CO. ET AL. 861 Complaint

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