Former President Donald Trump exultantly declared a “Total and Complete Victory” on Tuesday, October 17th, after a significant legal triumph in the case of Doe et al. v. Trump Corp. et al.
This comes after a prolonged legal battle, with the latest ruling strongly in favor of Trump.
The case revolves around a class-action suit filed by anonymous investors represented by Roberta Kaplan against the Trump family and their corporate entity, the Trump Organization.
The ruling, handed down by the court, unequivocally favored Trump’s position. It emphasized that the case in question did not meet the criteria for class-action status.
This critical determination effectively quashed Kaplan’s efforts to pursue the suit on behalf of a broader group, limiting it to individual claims.
Trump’s exultant message underscores the personal significance of this legal victory for him.
“Today we had a Total and Complete Victory against Far Left Lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, on her ridiculous ACN Class Action Suit, yet another Election Interference Case. It was ruled that there can be no Class Action, and Certification was denied!” Trump said.
The investors alleged substantial financial losses due to their involvement with the American Communications Network (ACN), which they claimed was promoted as a telecommunications pyramid scheme.
Represented by New York firm Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP, the investors contended that the Trumps concealed their substantial earnings from ACN over a decade, in exchange for assuring potential salespeople that there was minimal risk in selling its phone service.
The earlier ruling, delivered by U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in May, granted dismissal of the case against the Trump children.
This decision was made with the intention of streamlining the issues to be addressed at trial.
Roberta Kaplan, the investors’ attorney, welcomed this development and emphasized that the depositions provided by key Trump figures revealed Donald J. Trump as the central figure in the alleged fraudulent scheme.
The trial date has been set for January 29, 2024, and will focus on counts of fraud, false advertising, and unfair competition.
Notably, the deposition responses and testimonies of the younger Trumps can be utilized as evidence against the remaining co-defendants.
This legal battle traces its roots back to 2018 when four investors filed a federal class-action complaint, alleging that they were misled by Trump’s endorsement of ACN.
The investors believed they were receiving independent assessments of the company, rather than being enticed into involvement in exchange for substantial payments.
The complaint outlined that ACN charged investors $499 for registration, promising commissions from product sales at small “motivational rallies.”
The scheme involved recruits hosting events for acquaintances, and showing DVDs to encourage investment. Some versions of the DVD featured a personal endorsement by Donald Trump.
However, investors reportedly recouped less than 10% of their initial investments.
From 2005 to 2015, Trump and three of his adult children were prominently featured in promotional material for ACN, further establishing their association with the company.
The recent ruling represents a major milestone in Trump’s legal battles.
It reinforces his position as a formidable figure in the legal arena and provides fresh impetus for his supporters.