International Art Co. v. Federal Trade Commission, 6873.

• Decision Date: 01 February 1940
• Docket Number: No. 6873.,6873.
• Citation: 109 F.2d 393
• Parties: INTERNATIONAL ART CO. v. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit

109 F.2d 393 (1940)

INTERNATIONAL ART CO. v. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION et al.

No. 6873.

Circuit Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit.

February 1, 1940.

Albert H. Fry, of Chicago, Ill., for petitioners.

W. T. Kelley, Martin A. Morrison, M. Marshall Morgan, and James W. Nichol, all of Washington, D. C., for respondent.

Before SPARKS, MAJOR, and TREANOR, Circuit Judges.

MAJOR, Circuit Judge.

This is a petition to set aside a cease and desist order of the Federal Trade Commission, entered December 16, 1938, by virtue of Section 45, 15 U.S.C.A. The findings and conclusions of the Commission follow generally the allegations of the complaint. They are both of such length that they can not, with propriety, be set forth in detail.

In substance, the facts found are: Petitioners, International Art Company (herein called "Art Company") and American Discount Company (herein called "Discount Company") are separate corporations having the same office and principal place of business at 325 West Huron Street, Chicago, Illinois. They were organized by petitioner, John C. Kuck, who is president, general manager, and the owner of substantially all the stock of both corporations. The Art Company has been and is engaged in the business of offering for sale and selling tinted or colored enlargements of family and other photographs, and frames therefor. Kuck directs all activities and controls the affairs and policies of each corporation, and has general control of the representatives, agents and salesmen engaged in the operation of the business, which is conducted throughout and in many of the states. The salesmen are the ones who deal directly with the public in the soliciting and taking of orders, and work in crews under the direct supervision of what is styled as a manager or customer-manager. Each salesman is supplied by the Art Company with all blanks used in connection with the business, including a certificate certifying that the salesman is the duly accredited representative of such company. Order blanks used by the salesmen, when a sale is made, are directed and mailed to the Art Company. When the order is received and filled by the latter, it is delivered to a common carrier and shipped to its point of destination in the name of the company. In the meantime, the salesman who obtained the order has left the particular territory, and another agent known as the delivery man, with his credentials from the company, is there to receive the shipment and make delivery. He notifies the customer in the name of the company as to when personal delivery will be made to the customer's home. At that time, the contract price is collected in cash by the delivery man, or a note taken on a form furnished by the Art Company, but payable to the Discount Company. The business is conducted generally under the direction and control of Kuck.

The salesman, in connection with his sales talk, always has with him a sample picture. His object is to induce the customer to furnish a photograph of some member of the family and enter into a contract by which the Art Company agrees to paint a picture like the sample displayed. Certain false and deceptive statements are found to have been made by the salesmen by which the customer is induced to purchase. Among such are, that the sample picture has been awarded first prize, which has created a great demand therefor, and that the Art Company has arranged for its artist to paint this particular family size and, that the supply will be limited to a few people in each locality for exhibition purposes. For this reason it is represented that the purchaser will be given the picture for the actual cost of materials, or the cost of materials and delivery; that such pictures are expensive and usually sell for $30, and on some occasions the pictures are represented to have a value as high as $100; they are referred to as "oil paintings," "hand-painted" and "finely finished paintings." The prospective customer is advised that the "painting" to be furnished will be finished the same as the sample exhibited and, that the picture will be framed but that the customer need not take the frame unless desired. In instances where the "painting" to be made is of a child or baby, the salesman informs the prospective purchaser that the Chicago Tribune is preparing to hold a baby contest and that the Art Company has made an arrangement to enter its pictures in said contest. The salesman, in order to make a sale, introduces to the prospective purchaser a "draw" which consists of certain certificates enclosed in an envelope. The drawing of a "red seal certificate" entitles the prospect to one picture for $15, and a second picture free; the drawing of a "blue seal certificate" entitles the prospect to receive two pictures for $15, or one picture for half the regular price, to-wit: $7.50. The drawing of a "green seal certificate" entitles the prospect to nothing. The salesman so manipulates the drawing that the prospect draws whatever the salesman desires. The picture, as delivered, is completely framed in a hexagon designed frame, and the purchaser is informed by the delivery man that due to the odd design, it can not be procured at any other place, and if the picture is removed from the frame it will quickly deteriorate. If the salesman succeeds in selling the frame, it is at a price ranging from $22.50 to $25.

Concerning the representations thus made, the Commission found that the picture delivered is not like the sample displayed; said sample never won a prize; sales are not limited to a selected few persons in any territory; the usual price charged by the Art Company for said pictures was $7.50; that the purchaser was not given a reduced price; that the so-called "painting" was nothing more than an enlarged photograph made up by a Chicago photographer who charged 25¢ for each enlargement; that a so-called artist colors the pictures and is able to finish twenty-five or thirty pictures per day; that the entire cost of a finished picture would not exceed $1.50; that said pictures were not "paintings" as that word is understood by artists or by the public; that the Chicago Tribune did not have a baby contest in progress or even in contemplation; that the purpose of the "draw" was to convey to the mind of the prospective purchaser that he was to receive a picture at a greatly reduced price and, that he could only realize on his successful "draw" by the purchase of a picture, and that the purchaser was induced and persuaded to purchase a frame against his will and at an exorbitant price.

When the purchaser sought relief from the fraud which had been perpetrated upon him, he was informed by the Art Company that the matter was out of its hands and the purchaser was referred to the Discount Company who was the holder of the purchaser's note. The Discount Company would advise the purchaser that it was an innocent purchaser for value, and would threaten to take legal action, warning the purchaser that this would involve $10 court costs, plus attorney fees.

It was found...