Louis Braun, Inc

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In tye MatTrer oF LOUIS BRAUN, INC., ET AL.

CONSENT ORDER, ETC., IN REGARD TO THE ALLEGED VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND THE FUR PRODUCTS LABELING ACTS Docket C-2206. Complaint, May 1, 1972—Decision, May 1, 1972 Consent order requiring a New York City fur merchant to cease falsely and deceptively invoicing his merchandise.

Complaint Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Fur Products Labeling Act, and by virtue of the authority vested in it by said Acts, the Federal Trade Commission, having reason to believe that Louis Braun, Inc., a corporation, and Louis Braun, individually and as an officer of said corporation, hereinafter referred to as respondents, have violated the provisions of said Acts and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Fur Products Labeling 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: ParacGRapu 1. Respondent Louis Braun, Inc., is a corporation organized, existing and doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the State of New York.

Respondent Louis Braun is an officer of said corporation. He formulates, directs, and controls the policies, acts and practices of said corporation.

Respondents are fur merchants with their office and principal place of business located at 150 W. 30th Street, New York, New York. Par. 2. Respondents are now and for some time last past have been engaged in the introduction into commerce, and in the manu- %20 FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION DECISIONS Decision and Order 80 F.T.C.

facture for introduction into commerce, and in the sale, advertising and offering for sale in commerce, and in the transportation and distribution in commerce, of fur products; and have manufactured for sale, sold, advertised, offered for sale, transported and distributed fur products which have been made in whole or in part of furs which have been shipped and received in commerce; and have introduced into commerce, sold, advertised and offered for sale in commerce and transported and distributed in commerce, furs, as the terms “commerce,” “fur” and “fur product” are defined in the Fur Products Labeling Act.

Par. 8. Certain of said fur products or furs were falsely and deceptively invoiced by the respondents in that they were not invoiced as required by Section 5(b)(1) of the Fur Products Labeling Act and the rules and regulations promulgated under such Act. Among such falsely and deceptively invoiced fur products or furs but not limited thereto, were fur products or furs covered by invoices which failed:

1. To disclose that the fur contained in the fur products or furs was bleached, dyed, or otherwise artificially colored, when such was the fact.

2. To show the name or names (as set forth in the Fur Products Name Guide) of the animal or animals that produced the fur contained in the fur products or furs.

Par. 4. Certain of said fur products or furs were falsely and deceptively invoiced in violation of the Fur Products Labeling Act for the reason that they were not invoiced in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder in that the fact that said fur products or furs were composed of bleached, dyed or otherwise artificially colored fur was not disclosed in the required information on invoices covering the said fur products or furs in violation of Rule 19(a) of said rules and regulations. Par. 5. The aforesaid acts and practices of respondents are in violation of the Fur Products Labeling Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and constitute unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive acts and practices in commerce under the Federal Trade Commission Act.

Decision AND ORDER The Federal Trade Commission having initiated an investigation of certain acts and practices of the respondents named in the caption hereof, and the respondents having been furnished thereafter with a copy of a draft of complaint which the Division of Textiles and LOUIS BRAUN, INC., ET AL. 721 719 Decision and Order Furs, Bureau of Consumer Protection proposed to present to the ‘Commission for its consideration and which, if issued by the Commission, would charge respondents with violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Fur Products Labeling Act; and The respondents and counsel for the Commission having thereafter executed an agreement containing a consent order, an admission by the respondents of all the jurisdictional facts set forth in the aforesaid draft of complaint, a statement that the signing of said agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by respondents that the law has been violated as alleged in such complaint, and waivers and other provisions as required by the Commission’s rules; and The Commission having thereafter considered the matter and having determined that it had reason to believe that the respondents have violated the said Acts, and the complaint should issue stating its charges in that respect, and having thereupon accepted the executed consent agreement and placed such agreement on the public record for a period of thirty (80) days, now in further conformity with the procedure prescribed in Section 2.84(b) of its rules, the Commission hereby issues its complaint, makes the following jurisdictional findings, and enters the following order: 1. Respondent Louis Braun, Inc., is a corporation organized, existing and doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the State of New York.

Respondent Louis Braun is an officer of said corporation. He formulates, directs, and controls the policies, acts and practices of said corporation.

Respondents are fur merchants with their office and principal place of business located at 150 W. 30th Street, New York, New York.

2. The Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction of the subject matter of this proceeding and of the respondents, and the proceeding is in the public interest.

ORDER lt is ordered, That respondents Louis Braun, Inc., a corporation, and its officers, and Louis Braun, individually and as an officer of said corporation, and respondents’ representatives, agents and employees, directly or through any corporate or other device, in connection with the introduction into commerce, or the manufacture for introduction into commerce, or the sale, advertising or offering for sale in commerce, or the transportation or distribution in commerce, of any fur product; or in connection with the manufacture for sale,