18 defendants face trial after five year investigation into £25million timeshare Monster Group

Crown Prosecution Service authorises the police to press charges

monster travel court case

  • 10:02, 3 Feb 2022
  • Updated 10:06, 3 Feb 2022

A timeshare company boss who I’ve written about previously in my Daily Mirror column is among 18 people facing fraud and money laundering charges.

The Crown Prosecution Service yesterday announced that it has authorised the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit to charge Mark Rowe and 17 others with 79 counts relating to an alleged “large-scale fraud targeting timeshare owners” between January 2013 and 2017.

Rowe, 51, of Taunton and Tenerife, and the others were said to be directors, sales reps or administrators at companies including Monster Group Travel, Monster Rewards and sellmytimeshare.com.

Peter Highway, senior investigating officer from the Crime Unit, said: “This is clearly a significant step forward in a complex fraud investigation that began more than five years ago and has affected thousands who have collectively invested upwards of £25 million.”

Andrew Penhale, Chief Crown Prosecutor said: “The CPS has reviewed a file of evidence from South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and has authorised the investigation team to charge 18 people with 79 offences related to a timeshare fraud.

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are now active and that they have the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

The full list of those facing charges is as follows.

Mark Rowe, 51, of Bishops Lydeard in Taunton and Los Blanquitos in Tenerife;

Simon Walker, 55, of Costa Adeje in Tenerife;

Louise Matthews-Oakenfold, 49, of Santa Cruz, Tenerife;

Jodi Beard, 39, of Costa Adeje, Tenerife;

Deborah Frost, 58, of Edificio El Jable, Tenerife;

Samantha McCaulay (nee Jackson), 48, of San Miguel De Abona, Tenerife;

Joanne Physick, 42, of Los Christianos Arona, Tenerife;

Paul Harrison, 51, of Osmington, Weymouth, Dorset;

Nihat Salih, 53, of Upton, Poole, Dorset;

Lisa Salih, 52, of Upton, Poole, Dorset;

Nicola Rowe, 50, of Bishops Lydeard in Taunton and Los Blanquitos in Tenerife;

Barry Fox, 66, of Battenhall Place, Worcester;

David Taylor, 62, of Shiptonthorpe, East Yorkshire;

Paul Fowler, 63, of Wimborne Road, Bournemouth;

Lee Evans, 48, of Walmer Bridge, Preston, Lancashire;

Ian Frost, 50, of Edificio El Jable, Tenerife;

Josephine Cuthill-Fox, 57, of Battenhall Place, Worcester;

Joanne Taylor, 47, of Shiptonthorpe, East Yorkshire.

The first hearing is scheduled for 31 March at Westminster Magistrates' Court, London.

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Timeshare Scam Investigation

Stephen Boyd

Five year investigation into £25million timeshare scam.

We have written extensively about a number of different timeshare scammers in the past, including RSB Legal , Silverpoint , and Club La Costa . There always seems to be a pattern that emerges, particularly with regards to the organisation and setup of the companies in general. Aggressive tactics are used, significant sums charged, and they disappear after 12-18 months.

In this next case, little has been shared so far since the case is still ongoing. However, the scale could be incredibly significant if the charges against them are brought to fruition. Following a five-year investigation, 18 defendants face a trial involving a potential £25m timeshare scam . The first hearing was scheduled for 31 March at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, but no more information has since been released concerning this case.

The CPS has however provided enough information regarding the scale of operations, who was involved, and what each defendant was charged with in connection to the case.

A Monster Of A Timeshare Scam Setup

With up to 18 defendants potentially being involved, a total of 79 offences brought against them, and £25m being invested by possible victims, this case spans far and wide to say the least. Three companies are at the heart of it all as well – Monster Group Travel, Monster Rewards and sellmytimeshare.com. The defendants apparently purported to be directors, sales people and administrators of said companies, and are being charged with multiple counts of fraud, money laundering, and forgery. Thousands of people were reported to be affected by this case.

Timeshare scams are highly complex, incredibly lengthy operations that almost always end in prosecution for those committing the offences. It is always important that you do your due diligence when it comes to timeshares due to the amount of scams that are waiting out there. By doing so, you’ll avoid wasting time and protect the money you’ve worked hard for.

18 Defendants Were Charged Altogether

Those charged include:

  • Barry Fox, 66, of Battenhall Place, Worcester
  • David Taylor, 62, of Shiptonthorpe, East Yorkshire
  • Deborah Frost, 58, of Edificio El Jable, Tenerife
  • Ian Frost, 50, of Edificio El Jable, Tenerife
  • Joanne Physick, 42, of Los Christianos Arona, Tenerife
  • Joanne Taylor, 47, of Shiptonthorpe, East Yorkshire
  • Jodi Beard, 39, of Costa Adeje, Tenerife
  • Josephine Cuthill-Fox, 57, of Battenhall Place, Worcester
  • Lee Evans, 48, of Walmer Bridge, Preston, Lancashire
  • Lisa Salih, 52, of Upton, Poole, Dorset
  • Louise Matthews-Oakenfold, 49, of Santa Cruz, Tenerife
  • Mark Rowe, 51, of Bishops Lydeard in Taunton and Los Blanquitos in Tenerife
  • Nicola Rowe, 50, of Bishops Lydeard in Taunton and Los Blanquitos in Tenerife
  • Nihat Salih, 53, of Upton, Poole, Dorset
  • Paul Fowler, 63, of Wimborne Road, Bournemouth
  • Paul Harrison, 51, of Osmington, Weymouth, Dorset
  • Samantha McCaulay (nee Jackson), 48, of San Miguel De Abona, Tenerife
  • Simon Walker, 55, of Costa Adeje in Tenerife

What The Defendants Were Individually Charged With

The CPS have detailed information which states what each defendant was charged with .

Ten defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit fraud between 1 January 2013 and 31 January 2017 while being directors, sales people and administrators for all three companies:

  • Deborah Frost
  • Joanne Physick
  • Louise Matthews-Oakenfold
  • Nihat Salih
  • Paul Harrison
  • Samantha McCaulay (nee Jackson)
  • Simon Walker

Nine defendants were charged with six separate fraud incidents each, as well as committing fraud against the purchasers of Monster Credits between 1 October 2016 and 31 January 2017:

  • David Taylor
  • Josephine Cuthill-Fox
  • Paul Fowler

Two defendants were charged with money laundering between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2017 while working as directors of Monster Credits:

  • Nicola Rowe

Two defendants were charged with committing fraud between 1 August 2015 and 31 December 2017 while working in administrative roles:

Joanne Taylor was charged with five separate fraud offences as well as committing fraud against the purchasers of Monster Credits between 1 October 2016 and 31 January 2017. Louise Matthews-Oakenfold was charged with three forgery offences and Simon Walker was also charged with three fraud offences.

What The CPS Have Said On This Matter

Peter Highway, Senior Investigating Officer for South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “This is clearly a significant step forward in a complex fraud investigation that began more than five years ago and has affected thousands of people who have collectively invested upwards of £25 million.”

Andrew Penhale, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Specialist Fraud Division, said: “The CPS has reviewed a file of evidence from South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and has authorised the investigation team to charge 18 people with 79 offences related to a timeshare fraud.

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are now active and that they have the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

How Athena Law & Stephen Boyd Can Help

Being on the receiving end of a timeshare scam can feel awful. Getting duped into handing over your own hard-earned cash is simply terrible and shouldn’t happen to anyone, yet here we are. However, this all doesn’t have to end badly. In fact, it should have a happier ending instead.

That’s why, at Athena Law , we are here to help. Our highly qualified solicitors have represented hundreds of timeshare owners over the years. We have extensive experience of helping to release clients from inherently unfair and unenforceable timeshare contracts, and have brought claims that have been connected to or arisen from the sale of timeshare and similar products.

In respect to Monster Travel Athena law working in conjunction with David Cox of Tess Paralegal Services Limited and litigation funders has successfully represented hundreds of victims in recovering compensation with a collective value of in excess of £6 million. Clients were represented on a “no win no fee” basis and compensation was only recovered following painstaking research and preparation of detailed witness statements (similar fact evidence) in support of  the claims.

Mr. Stephen Boyd has been a solicitor for over 20 years and has cemented his reputation as one of the leading solicitors in this field over the last decade, ably supported by his incredible team. Contact us for an independent review and allow us to pursue your claim in a legal manner.

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Let me help you exit your timeshare today..

I offer a free, initial consultation to go over the details of your particular circumstances and advise you on whether your timeshare is capable of being terminated and if you have an entitlement to financial compensation.

Stephen Boyd of Athena Law, specialist timeshare solicitor

Stephen Boyd - Specialist Timeshare Solicitor

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KwikChex has been advised by the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) of Avon & Somerset police that attempts to defraud are being made connected to the ongoing investigation into Mark Rowe and Monster Travel.

They have released the following bulletin:

We have recently been receiving higher call volumes from victims reporting another influx of cold calls, a number of people have been told that the caller is from The Timeshare Investigation Bureau  working with the  Home Office . The callers are telling people that Mark Rowe has been dealt with at court and has received a two year suspended sentence. Victims are asked to part with money in order to receive compensation allegedly owed to them.

This is not true, it is a scam.

Mark Rowe is  not  being investigated by other Country, Police Force or Organisation. The only credible update you will receive regarding proceedings against Mark Rowe will come from us, at a Police Email address. Our investigation into the sale of Monster Credits involving Mark Rowe and others is still under review by the Crown Prosecution Service and we are hoping to provide an update over the coming months.

If you have received contact of this nature we urge you to:

  • Do not engage
  • Do not part with any money
  • Do not provide your bank details or any other personal information.
  • Report the incident via Action Fraud  https://reporting.actionfraud.police.uk/login

Such scams have been common and have been increasing. Other examples include supposed recovery of monies from victims of EZE Group and ITRA, fake Spanish court rulings and misinformation regarding the status of timeshare companies.

Timeshare owners are urged to be on the alert about unsolicited contacts, such as cold calls, emails and texts. Any such approaches can be checked by contacting the Timeshare Task Force, or with Citizens Advice. If legitimate means of recovery of monies exist, owners will be advised how to go about this safely.

Unsolicited contact should be reported to national data protection agencies, such as the Information Commissioner’s Office in the UK, and as per the advice from the police, any similar attempts to pressure owners into paying monies should be reported to the authorities.

See our Cold Calling advice page for further information regarding cold calls and what actions you can take.

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Four people from Dorset to face trial following investigation into £25m timeshare scheme

The alleged offences span over a four-year time period

  • 13:47, 3 FEB 2022
  • Updated 13:55, 3 FEB 2022

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Four people from Dorset are among a total of 18 defendants facing trial on fraud and money laundering charges.

They each face a trial after a five year investigation into the £25 million timeshare scheme which relates to an alleged “large-scale fraud targeting timeshare owners” that occurred between January 2013 and 2017.

The four Dorset people that have been charged are from Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth and, along with 14 others, have been charged with 79 counts relating to timeshare fraud.

READ MORE: Former Legends nightclub to be converted to play zone, café and gym

The Crown Prosecution Service has announced that it has authorised the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit to charge Mark Rowe and 17 others with 79 counts relating to an alleged “large-scale fraud targeting timeshare owners” between January 2013 and 2017, The Mirror reports .

Rowe, 51, of Taunton and Tenerife, and the others were said to be directors, sales representatives or administrators at companies including Monster Group Travel, Monster Rewards and sellmytimeshare.com.

Peter Highway, senior investigating officer from the Crime Unit, said: “This is clearly a significant step forward in a complex fraud investigation that began more than five years ago and has affected thousands who have collectively invested upwards of £25 million.”

Andrew Penhale, Chief Crown Prosecutor said: “The CPS has reviewed a file of evidence from South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and has authorised the investigation team to charge 18 people with 79 offences related to a timeshare fraud.

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are now active and that they have the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

The full list of those facing charges is as follows:

Paul Harrison, 51, of Osmington, Weymouth , Dorset;

Nihat Salih, 53, of Upton, Poole, Dorset;

Lisa Salih, 52, of Upton, Poole , Dorset;

Paul Fowler, 63, of Wimborne Road, Bournemouth ;

Mark Rowe, 51, of Bishops Lydeard in Taunton and Los Blanquitos in Tenerife;

Simon Walker, 55, of Costa Adeje in Tenerife;

Louise Matthews-Oakenfold, 49, of Santa Cruz, Tenerife;

Jodi Beard, 39, of Costa Adeje, Tenerife;

Deborah Frost, 58, of Edificio El Jable, Tenerife;

Samantha McCaulay (nee Jackson), 48, of San Miguel De Abona, Tenerife;

Joanne Physick, 42, of Los Christianos Arona, Tenerife;

Nicola Rowe, 50, of Bishops Lydeard in Taunton and Los Blanquitos in Tenerife;

Barry Fox, 66, of Battenhall Place, Worcester;

David Taylor, 62, of Shiptonthorpe, East Yorkshire;

Lee Evans, 48, of Walmer Bridge, Preston, Lancashire;

Ian Frost, 50, of Edificio El Jable, Tenerife;

Josephine Cuthill-Fox, 57, of Battenhall Place, Worcester;

Joanne Taylor, 47, of Shiptonthorpe, East Yorkshire

The first hearing is scheduled for March 31 at Westminster Magistrates' Court, London.

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Rogue Exit Companies – Monster Travel and Others

  • By Stephen Boyd

Now that we’re in the new year, it’s the perfect opportunity for third-party companies to do their scamming rounds on timeshare owners who are becoming even more desperate to be rid of their contracts. With over 800 timeshare complaints being submitted in 2018 alone , it doesn’t come as a surprise that third party companies choose to take advantage. These companies tend to cold call or use pop-ups to not only grab attention but to be perceived as credible and trusting businesses. 

Despite April 2019’s new regime set by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) whose nature was to improve on the standards of the industry and regulate Claims Management Companies (CMC’s), there are still rogue exit companies on the horizon. Whether or not the FCA are critically observing and examining these companies, we don’t know, but what we do know is that timeshare owners are still being approached by these misleading businesses who promise them the world, but leave them in a worse position.

These companies know what they are doing – with their charm, knowledge and convincing documents, they have persuaded thousands of timeshare owners to embark upon a journey of further debt. These businesses claim that they can terminate your timeshare contract while they provide the timeshare company with ‘plastic indemnity contracts’ which don’t source the right legal requirements to terminate a contract. 

Thus, their thousand of pounds asking fee goes into their pocket without delivering their clients with an exit. This not only leaves their clients in more debt, but it leaves them in an even more distrusting position when seeking further help. An indemnity certificate must only be issued to a timeshare company if a policy and underwritten certificate can support it – if a CMC is trying to reassure you with an indemnity certificate, do not be fooled that your timeshare will be cancelled. A further letter written by the timeshare company is the only way to prove that it is.

Have you recently been approached by CMC’s of a similar nature or ones that you’re not overly sure are legitimate? If you’re unsure, here’s what to look out for:

  • Cold calling: no reputable company will tend to cold call; they most often will wait for you to get in touch with them.
  • Not regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority: ensure that you thoroughly research into the company to prove that they are regulated.
  • Written advice not provided: if the company hasn’t given you documentation of what steps you need to take, this can be seen as unprofessional and as them not taking the proper precautions.
  • Copies of communications with the timeshare developers not provided: if they haven’t proven their contact with the timeshare company, how are you to know that they are truthful?
  • The company has not been trading for a significant period of time, and its field accounts do not evidence income or assets: to be credible, you must have evidence! If the company looks brand new without any indication of successes, this is worrying.
  • Indemnity schemes containing onerous terms or which are not backed by insurance: do you understand what the scheme says? You need to ensure that you are aware of what you’re getting into and if it’s claims are insured otherwise.

As a reputable timeshare law firm that is fully regulated, we take every precaution in finding our clients an exit of their timeshare. Over the last 2 years, we have been assisting many hundreds  of consumer clients in recovering money lost to rogue timeshare exit and compensation companies; most notably in respect to claims that have been brought on behalf of many f hundreds of victims of Monster Travel (now in liquidation). 

These Monster Travel claims arose from the mis-selling of Monster credits, and associated timeshare termination and compensation “services”. By presenting claims towards these monster credits that were supported by similar fact evidence and through a combination of referrals to the Financial Ombudsman Service and commencement of Court Proceedings, we have so far recovered approximately £.2.6 million in compensation for clients; with more to follow. 

With such credibility and success behind us, we are able to offer our clients a service that delivers. If you are concerned about such Claim Management Companies (CMC), contact us immediately for our advice and guidance before ‘making a deal with a devil’. We can review your case free of charge so that we can offer you the best solution for your situation.

If you have already paid the CMC by credit card, we are able to act upon a no win, no fee basis when pursuing a claim against your credit card provider. By paying on a card, you may be eligible for a claim on the baseline of Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 – giving you the chance of compensation for all sums contained in the contract.

We endeavour to give you the most cost-efficient and simple solution to your timeshare contract and CMC based claims by avoiding the courts at all costs. Get in touch with us today on  0161 839 8847  or email  [email protected]  for further information.

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Judge Awards Monster an Additional $43 million and Upholds Jury Verdict, Bringing Historic Total to $336M

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A California federal judge overseeing Monster Energy Co.’s false advertising lawsuit against Vital Pharmaceuticals, Inc. upheld the jury’s nearly $293 million verdict—the largest in Lanham Act history—and awarded Monster an additional $43M after finding the case was “exceptional.”

“The judge’s additional award of $43 million, to include attorneys’ fees and all expenses, represents a complete victory for Monster.  Coming after securing the largest trademark infringement award in U.S. history, this brings the total recovered for Monster across two recent trials to over half a billion dollars,” said Allison Libeu.

In September 2022 after a five-week trial, a nine-person jury found that Vital Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (VPX) and its CEO, Jack Owoc, falsely advertised the “Super Creatine” ingredient of Bang energy drink, handing Monster a record-breaking verdict. At trial, Monster presented scientific and other evidence that Bang did not contain creatine and that creatine is not even water-soluble and cannot be put into a drink.  The jury also found that VPX stole Monster’s trade secrets and interfered with Monster’s contracts for shelf space with major retailers.

Following trial, VPX requested a new trial or judgment notwithstanding the verdict. VPX also asked, in the alternative, that the Court reduce what VPX called the jury’s “grossly excessive” damages award. The judge denied VPX’s motions in their entirety, explicitly holding that “the evidence supports the jury’s damages award.”  The judge found that “Monster presented evidence that Defendants’ false advertising harmed Monster’s sales across its product portfolio”; that “Vital engaged in a ‘widespread effort’ to interfere with Monster’s contracted shelf placements”; and that “Monster proved at trial that…Vital misappropriated [Monster’s] trade secret.”

After upholding the jury’s damages award, the Court addressed Monster’s request for equitable relief.  The Court upheld its earlier finding that Monster is entitled to a permanent injunction prohibiting VPX and Mr. Owoc “from falsely or deceptively claiming that Super Creatine is creatine, that Bang contains creatine, and that Bang or Super Creatine provide the physical, mental, health, or other benefits of creatine.”

The Court further held that the case was “exceptional” under the Lanham Act. The judge found that jury’s unanimous finding that VPX’s and Mr. Owoc’s false advertising was “willful and deliberate” reflected the substantive strength of Monster’s position.  The judge also found that VPX and Mr. Owoc litigated the case in an unreasonable manner.  “During trial, Mr. Owoc refused to cooperate at times and displayed a disrespect for the judicial process.  He repeatedly tried to reference documents that the Court had excluded.  He refused to answer straightforward questions during cross-examination, despite admonitions from the Court.  He berated Monster’s counsel and the Court had to instruct the jury to disregard any disparaging remarks this witness has made against opposing counsel.”  In addition, “Mr. Owoc contradicted his prior sworn testimony numerous times and Monster’s counsel impeached him over 50 times.”

Given the exceptional nature of the case, the judge awarded Monster an additional $20,972,953.90 in attorneys’ fees, $6,709,552.18 in costs, $101,028.60 in expert witness expenses, and $15,256,554.65 in prejudgment interest.  Combined with the jury’s verdict, Monster’s award totals $336 million, likely the largest in Lanham Act history.

The Hueston Hennigan team included John Hueston, Moez Kaba, Allison Libeu, Lauren McGrory Johnson, Sourabh Mishra, Michael Todisco, Julia Haines, Justin Greer and Amber Munoz.

Read Reuters article. Read Law360 article.

Related News

Monster wins $293m verdict against vpx in false ad trial, court confirms $175 million “blockbuster” trademark win, law360: how hueston hennigan won monster $336m false ad suit, related case study, monster energy company, won a record $293 million jury verdict, the largest lanham act award ever.

Timeshare Exit Concerns

Court orders European Consumer Claims (ECC) to refund timeshare owner in full after he takes legal action over misrepresented claims service

monster travel court case

There he was persuaded to pay several thousand pounds to achieve a timeshare exit – with the lure of a big compensation claim said to be nearly £12,000.

For a considerable time, nothing much happened and after chasing ECC, he was eventually told that his case was being referred to Spanish Lawyers using the name ‘M1 Legal’. Eventually, M1 Legal advised him that they had terminated his timeshare contract – and the case was closed – no mention of the promised ’compensation’ was made.

Mr G checked with his timeshare company who insisted his contract was still in force. He wasn’t able to get confirmation of the contract termination from anyone other than M1 Legal and his ‘solid claim’ for £12,000 had just disappeared – so he started investigating and began actions to get his money back from ECC.

Churchill House Langley Slough – an office that was used by ECC and a business known as ‘ITRA’

Mr G discovered that the offices where the meeting took place were used both for ECC and ITRA – a business that had been a key part of the infamous ‘Club Class’ businesses network that was shut down by the UK authorities in 2012 after scamming thousands of timeshare owners with false promises of timeshare exits and claims and exclusive holiday and lifestyle deals. In fact, the people behind and working for ITRA and ECC were one and the same – and the process of switching from the disgraced ITRA to the newer ECC brand was already taking place in 2017. ITRA was to be wound up in the UK High Court two years later in 2019 after consumers started suing the business when they didn’t receive the promised services they had paid thousands for.

The big claim that never was

Mr G was persuaded to pay nearly £3,000 on the basis that he would be getting back nearly £12,000 in compensation.

monster travel court case

He was even given a document by the ECC representative (see above) that advised him and took his payment – it said, “Claim Status Positive – Claim Type Spanish Supreme Court – Potential Claim Amount £11802”. There’s a problem there though – Mr G’s Timeshare was in Portugal not Spain! 

He did notice but was persuaded that it would apply across the EU – which was of course a nonsense and a gross misrepresentation.

Trying to get justice from multiple ECC entities

So Mr G filed a claim against the business he had paid –  European Claims Centre Ltd., a UK registered business – ECC UK. But this business said they weren’t responsible – they only acted as a ‘payment agent’ for the business that was put on his contract –  European Claims Centre LLC, registered in the state of Washington, USA . He couldn’t find out much about them – because the names of the people behind that company are hidden, but there certainly wasn’t any indication that they were actually providing the services he had paid for. He argued this out, but the judge said he had sued the wrong company, even though he had paid them. So, he started action against the US company on his contract.  Then ‘M1 Legal’ – the business that was originally said to be acting for him attempted to get his claim against the US company struck out too. M1 Legal, of course actually used to be called ‘European Claims Chambers’- and previously also used the ‘ECC’ brand. They have a director (he’s not a lawyer himself) that is also on record as being a director of the Spanish arms of Club Class and ITRA.

Distraught and exasperated, he turned to KwikChex, who arranged for him to be represented by a UK lawyer. M1 Legal instructed a barrister to defend ECC, but to no avail –  on Friday 22 November, some 3 years and 8 months after he paid ECC, a judge ordered that he be refunded in full.

Lost money to a timeshare exit scam?

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Father and daughter Dominic and Stephanie O’Reilly were convicted last year of defrauding mainly elderly consumers in a huge scam

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Scammers target Monster Travel customers

www.timesharebusinesscheck.org

KwikChex has been advised by the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) of Avon & Somerset police that attempts to defraud are being made connected to the ongoing investigation into Mark Rowe and Monster Travel.

They have released the following bulletin:

We have recently been receiving higher call volumes from victims reporting another influx of cold calls, a number of people have been told that the caller is from The Timeshare Investigation Bureau  working with the  Home Office . The callers are telling people that Mark Rowe has been dealt with at court and has received a two year suspended sentence. Victims are asked to part with money in order to receive compensation allegedly owed to them.

This is not true, it is a scam.

Mark Rowe is  not  being investigated by other Country, Police Force or Organisation. The only credible update you will receive regarding proceedings against Mark Rowe will come from us, at a Police Email address. Our investigation into the sale of Monster Credits involving Mark Rowe and others is still under review by the Crown Prosecution Service and we are hoping to provide an update over the coming months.

If you have received contact of this nature we urge you to:

  • Do not engage
  • Do not part with any money
  • Do not provide your bank details or any other personal information.
  • Report the incident via Action Fraud  https://reporting.actionfraud.police.uk/login

Such scams have been common and have been increasing. Other examples include supposed recovery of monies from victims of EZE Group and ITRA, fake Spanish court rulings and misinformation regarding the status of timeshare companies.

Timeshare owners are urged to be on the alert about unsolicited contacts, such as cold calls, emails and texts. Any such approaches can be checked by contacting the Timeshare Task Force, or with Citizens Advice. If legitimate means of recovery of monies exist, owners will be advised how to go about this safely.

Unsolicited contact should be reported to national data protection agencies, such as the Information Commissioner’s Office in the UK, and as per the advice from the police, any similar attempts to pressure owners into paying monies should be reported to the authorities.

See our Cold Calling advice page for further information regarding cold calls and what actions you can take.

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Persistence Pays Off – A Series of Monster Trademark Disputes

By: Kathleen Wills

Monster Energy Co. (“Monster Energy”), frequent trademark plaintiff, recently found itself on the receiving end of a trademark infringement lawsuit brought by California company Outdoor Pro Shop, Inc. (“Pro Shop”). Pro Shop’s complaint alleged trademark infringement for its consumer goods such as hats, cups, and clothing, and online retail services offered in connection with its MONSTER FISHING, MONSTER FISHING TACKLE and MONSTERFISHING.COM (MONSTER FISHING) marks, and sought declaratory judgment on the issue of its own non-infringement vis-à-vis MONSTER FISHING and Monster Energy’s registered marks. 1

According to the complaint, Pro Shop does business in outdoor sports and offers various services and goods from an online retail store, spanning apparel, fishing products, books, knives, and binoculars in connection with its MONSTER FISHING mark. 2 On the other side of the “v,” Monster Energy markets, develops, and distributes energy drinks, beverage ware, and apparel. 3 But before this complaint was filed on August 22, 2020, Pro Shop tried to secure a trademark for “MONSTER FISHING” at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”), which Monster Energy opposed. 4 The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) stayed Monster Energy’s appeal pending resolution of the lawsuit. Pro Shop states that Monster Energy has opposed three additional applications for its marks: (1) the MONSTER mark in stylized form for retail store services featuring products related to fishing and fishing-related products; (2) the MONSTER FISHING TACKLE mark in stylized form for advertising and business services relating to consumer goods for outdoor activities; and (3) the MONSTERFISHINGTACKLE.COM mark, for retail store services featuring consumer goods for outdoor activities. 5

In June, the court granted Monster Energy’s Motion to Dismiss, which largely focused on the lack of evidence or support as to the date(s) of Pro Shop’s first use of the unregistered mark in commerce. 6 Pro Shop was permitted to file an amended complaint, which it did on July 6, 2021, along with a table outlining Pro Shop’s first use of the goods and services in connection with the MONSTER FISHING mark. 7 In the amended complaint, Pro Shop clarifies that its infringement claims for hats, cups, and clothing are based on prior use of its marks for those goods, and that confusion is not likely with respect to the parties’ respective services due to the differences in nature of the parties’ respective purchasers and channels of trade. 8

While this case is still pending before the court, looking at other litigation and oppositions involving Monster Energy can provide some key takeaways.

I. Cases Where Monster Energy Prevailed

In 2019, Monster Energy sued a student-entrepreneur, Mason McGuire, who had just teamed up with a manufacturer to create caffeine-infused energy tablets without a sugar crash. 9 The product was sold under the brand name MONARCH ENERGY, in connection with the following logo:

Monarch

Monster Energy filed a notice of opposition at the USPTO in late 2019; McGuire failed to answer the notice and default was entered against him and the registration refused. Recent review of Monarch Energy’s website reveals use of a new logo for this product.

In another case, the TTAB sided with Monster Energy Co. and refused to allow a small company to register the MONSTER TOWEL mark for its beach towels. 10 The Board considered evidence that Monster Energy has previously used its name and mark on promotional towels, specifically athletic towels, and concluded that consumers could reasonably find MONSTER TOWEL on beach towels to be an extension of that existing product line. The judge explicitly stated that “[t]he commercial strength of the Monster Energy Marks for energy drinks outweighs any conceptual weakness and entitles the marks to abroad scope of protection with respect to those goods.” Given the MONSTER ENERGY mark’s strength, even “collateral merchandise” outside of energy drinks, like beach towels, can be sufficiently similar and infringing. The judge explained that the similarity of marks is measured by proximity of the goods in nature and whether, under all of the circumstances, consumers would perceive one type of towel as originating from the same source.

In the Central District of California, Monster Energy prevailed against an automotive company, Integrated Supply Network LLC (“ISN”), who was originally ordered to pay over $10 million for its infringing use of the trademarks MONSTER and MONSTER MOBILE, along with black and green trade dress, for automotive products including motorcycles, motorcycle helmets, replica cars, and automotive wheels. 11 After the Ninth Circuit vacated the damages awards and remanded for consideration, the district court found that an award for disgorgement of profits in the amount of $10 million was appropriate to ensure ISN was not unjustly enriched by its past infringement. 12 The court then enjoined ISN from using: (1) any trademark or name that uses or includes the word “Monster,” or any variant such as Monstrous, Monstrosity, or Monsta, and (2) any trade dress with a black and green color combination with such words that would be confusing under (1). 13 Monster Energy was able to successfully argue that prospective purchasers would associate the infringing goods with its registered mark, or believe that the infringing product could be endorsed or sponsored by the party asserting its mark. 14 Counsel for Monster Energy stated: “The major takeaway from this case is that Monster Energy is able to assert its trademark and trade dress rights against what might appear at first blush to be unrelated goods.”

And 2021 has already been a busy year for Monster Energy. In February 2021, Monster Energy filed a complaint against a competing energy drink company, Powernation LLC, for infringement based on use of a logo for “Clutch Energy” featuring a black and green color scheme and three parallel lines on its cans. 15 Monster Energy’s complaint specifically references Powernation’s social media accounts, which contain images of the two companies’ drinks sold in the same store cooler, as evidence of knowledge of Monster Energy’s marks and willful infringement of those marks by causing customer confusion. On August 16, 2021, the parties filed a stipulation of settlement and permanent injunction. 16

In May 2021, Monster Energy filed a complaint against a fitness equipment company, Bear KompleX, which sells items such as handgrips, weight belts, and compression sleeves with a BEAR CLAW logo. 17 The logo appears in various colors — including green and black. This case is still pending.

II. Cases Where Monster Energy Lost

Despite these examples, Monster Energy does not always prevail against alleged trademark infringers. After a six-year trademark dispute, the Toronto Raptors beat Monster Energy’s opposition against its application for a “claw-tearing-through-basketball” logo. The TTAB found facial differences between the marks such as the direction of the scratching or tearing to preclude a likelihood of confusion, even though Monster Energy’s marks are conceptually strong. The TTAB also noted that the team’s marks had been used in commerce long before Monster Energy began using its asserted marks. Similarly, in October 2020, Monster Energy lost a two-year battle to another sports team, the Cleveland Monsters, regarding its marks’ registration at the USPTO. There was one critical reason for the minor league hockey team’s win: it had already registered three MONSTER marks years before the litigation, including LAKE ERIE MONSTERS for clothing, retail services, sporting activities, and beer (specifically excluding energy drinks). Before 2016, when the Cleveland Monsters were known as the Lake Erie Monsters, the team registered their logos for clothing. 18 The hockey team was able to successfully persuade the TTAB that there was no previous confusion in the marketplace between the parties’ respective MONSTERS marks and, most importantly, that while Monster Energy has priority for beverages, it did not for sports sponsorships, hockey, or facility services. The TTAB found that Monster Energy acquiesced to the hockey team’s twelve-year use of the MONSTERS mark when the Cleveland Monsters were known as the Lake Erie Monsters and registered its first mark in 2010 — years before the company rebranded and registered its new name with the USPTO. The TTAB dismissed the opposition in October 2020.

An undergraduate student from Harvard, Stephen Norberg, also prevailed in a challenge brought by the energy drink company. Norberg found himself on the receiving end of a USPTO petition for cancellation from Monster Energy for his mark THUNDER BEAST, which he used to sell his glass-bottled root beer in packaging that featured a bison. 19 The energy drink company argued that Norberg’s registered mark was too similar to its slogan, “Unleash the Beast,” as well as Norberg’s phrase “Fights monsters,” which was included on the website “in protest.” In a plot twist, Norberg hired an attorney whose portfolio of cases including at least eight other businesses facing down Monster Energy. Monster Energy withdrew its petition and filed a separate lawsuit against THUNDER BEAST for alleged fraudulent and malicious conduct. The parties ultimately settled and stipulated to a dismissal with prejudice 20 — but not before the judge commented on the merits of the case: “I don’t know why we’re here, other than you’re trying to crush this root beer company out of business.” 21

And, finally, Monster Energy litigates and enforces its marks beyond the United States. Monsta Pizza, a small pizzeria in the United Kingdom, successfully beat Monster Energy in front of the Intellectual Property Office, when it argued that its name was not infringing and that it did not sell energy drinks. 22

III. Takeaways

Monster Energy has spent in excess of $8.5 billion promoting and marketing its trademarks and trade dress, with $4.6 billion of that spend related to its Claw Icon Mark and trade dress. 23 Although the TTAB has referred to Monster Energy as a “prolific litigant,” it has also explicitly denied considering that fact when making its decisions. 24 Monster Energy’s results demonstrate how persistence pays off – spending the time and money to enforce your brand’s identity can help strengthen the scope of protection to which these assets are entitled. However, as the Monster Energy cases also illustrate, there are numerous factors at play when it comes to evaluating just how far trademark rights can be extended, and Monster Energy is one brand that is notorious for pushing that line. When undertaken judiciously, a robust enforcement program can serve as another tool in your competitive arsenal to help differentiate your products and services from those of competitors.

[1] Outdoor Pro Shop, Inc. v. Monster Energy Co ., Order, No. 20-cv-05999-BLF, at *1 (N.D. Cal. 2021).

[2] Outdoor Pro Shop, Inc. v. Monster Energy Co ., Compl., No. 20-cv-05999-BLF, at *2-3 (N.D. Cal. 2020).

[3] Outdoor Pro Shop, Inc. v. Monster Energy Co ., Mot. to Dismiss, No. 20-cv-05999-BLF, at *3 (N.D. Cal. 2021).

[4] Adam Lidgett, Monster Energy Doges Outdoor Pro Shop TM Suit, For Now , Law360 (June 22, 2021).

[5] Supra note 2, at 3, referring to Application Nos. 88568305, 88459017, and 88448889 filed between 2019 and 2020.

[6] Outdoor Pro Shop, Inc. v. Monster Energy Co ., Order Granting Mot. to Dismiss with Leave to Amend, No. 20-cv-05999-BLF (N.D. Cal. 2021).

[7] Outdoor Pro Shop, Inc. v. Monster Energy Co ., First Am. Compl., No. 20-cv-05999-BLF, at *1 (N.D. Cal. 2021).

[8] Id. at 9, 12-13.

[9] Sam Corey, How similar is too similar? Monster Energy files notice of opposition over company’s logo , The Union, www.theunion.com/news/how-similar-is-too-similar-monster-energy-files-notice-of-opposition-over-companys-logo/ (Sept. 10, 2019).

[10] Bill Donahue, Monster Energy Beats ‘Monster Towel’ Trademark at TTAB , Law360, www.law360.com/articles/1325908/ (Nov. 4, 2020).

[11] Bill Donahue, Citing Romag Ruling, Monster Wants $10M In Trademark Fight , Law360, www.law360.com/articles/1329979/citing-romag-ruling-monster-wants-10m-in-trademark-fight (Nov. 18, 2020).

[12] Monster Energy Co. v. Integrated Supply Network LLC , Case No. 5:17-cv-00548, Order re: Plaintiffs’ Mot. for Disgorgement of Profits (April 12, 2021).

[13] Monster Energy Co. v. Integrated Supply Network LLC , Case No. 5:17-cv-00548, Stipulated Final Consent Judgment (C.D. Cal. June 14, 2021).

[14] Steve Brachmann, Monster Energy Prevails on Trademark Claims, Wins Punitive Damages , IPWatchdog, www.ipwatchdog.com/2018/12/23/monster-energy-prevails-trademark-punitive-damages/id=104053/ (Dec. 23, 2018).

[15] Monster Energy Co. v. Powernation LLC , Case No. 5:21-cv-00270, Compl. at 16 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 17, 2021).

[16] Monster Energy Co. v. Powernation LLC , Case No. 5:21-cv-00270, Stip. For Entry of Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction at 2 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 16, 2021).

[17] Kenan Farrell, Monster Energy sues Fitness Company over Claw Icon , Indiana Intellectual Property Blog, https://indianaintellectualproperty.com/2021/05/28/monster-energy-sues-fitness-equipment-company-over-claw-icon/ (May 28, 2021).

[18] Eric Perrott, Slaying the Monster: How a Minor League Hockey Team Beat Monster Energy and Registered Their ‘Cleveland Monster’ Trademarks , Gerben Law Firm, https://www.gerbenlaw.com/blog/slaying-the-monster-how-a-minor-league-hockey-team-beat-monster-energy-and-registered-their-cleveland-monster-trademarks/ (July 18, 2021).

[19] Andrew L. Yarrow, A D.C. root beer company, an energy drink behemoth and an ugly trademark fight, Washington Post, www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/a-dc-root-beer-company-an-energy-drink-behemoth-and-an-ugly-trademark-fight/2019/10/21/5f2b190c-e156-11e9-8dc8-498eabc129a0_story.html (Oct. 21, 2019).

[20] Monster Energy Co. v. Thunder Beast LLC , Case No. 5:18-cv-01367, Stipulated Dismissal (C.D. Cal. 2019).

[21] Lauren Berg, Monster Energy Living Up To Name With TM Suit, Judge Says , Law360, https://www.law360.com/articles/1194422/monster-energy-living-up-to-name-with-tm-suit-judge-says (Aug. 30, 2019).

[22] Matthew Howe, Pizzeria wins trademark case against Monster Energy , Samuels Solicitors, https://www.samuels-solicitors.co.uk/news/monster-energy-trademark-infringement-case (last accessed July 18, 2021).

[23] Monster Energy Co. v. Powernation LLC , Case No. 5:21-cv-00270, Compl. at 11 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 17, 2021).

[24] Bill Donahue, Monster Energy Beats ‘Monster Towel’ Trademark at TTAB , Law360, www.law360.com/articles/1325908/print?section=foodbeverage (Nov. 4, 2020).

This article appeared in the August 2021 issue of MarkIt to Market ® . To view our past issues, as well as other firm newsletters, please click here .

This article appeared in the October 2022 issue of MarkIt to Market. To view our past issues, as well as other firm newsletters, please click here.

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Judge Upholds Biden Program Giving Some Immigrants Short-Term Legal Status

The initiative allows up to 360,000 people a year from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to live and work in the United States if supported by a financial sponsor.

A woman in a green head scarf sits across a desk from a woman in a white parka.

By Miriam Jordan

A federal judge on Friday allowed the Biden administration to continue a program that it has used to give temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Known as humanitarian parole, the program has offered people from the troubled countries an alternative to entering the United States illegally, and has been central to the administration’s strategy to curb the influx of migrants arriving at the U.S. southern border.

President Biden has faced considerable criticism for his administration’s handling of the border, and Texas and other Republican-led states had sued the administration to block the parole program. But Judge Drew B. Tipton of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas sided with the administration, saying the states had failed to establish they had standing on any of their claims.

The Homeland Security secretary, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, said he was pleased by the decision in a statement on Friday, calling the program “a key element of our efforts to address the unprecedented level of migration throughout our hemisphere.”

The ruling is a blow to Texas, which has filed a spate of lawsuits against the Biden administration as part of its effort to shape immigration policy, historically a federal responsibility.

The states that signed onto the lawsuit, including Florida, Tennessee and Arkansas, argued that the program had burdened them with additional costs for health care, education and law enforcement. They also argued that the Biden administration was simply inviting many people who otherwise would have entered the country illegally to come to the United States.

Even as the overall number of migrant crossings has stayed at historically high levels, the number of unlawful crossings by nationals from countries in the program has declined. The judge concluded that the states could not argue they had been harmed by a program that had led to a reduction in border crossings.

“The record establishes that the number of CHNV [Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan] nationals entering the United States since the program’s implementation has dramatically decreased by as much as 44 percent,” the judge wrote in his 31-page decision.

“Plaintiffs, therefore, are unable to demonstrate that they have been injured by the program, and as a result they lack standing to bring these claims,” he added.

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Read the Federal Judge’s Ruling

A U.S. district judge allowed the Biden administration to continue a program that it has used to give temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Texas is almost certain to appeal the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which covers Texas, and the case could end up in the U.S. Supreme Court, experts said.

The lawsuit, filed last year by Texas on behalf of 21 states, was the first to challenge the use of the president’s immigration parole authority in federal court. The program allows nationals of designated countries to obtain a two-year period of parole, or temporary permission, to live and work in the United States, provided they have a financial sponsor to support them.

As of the end of January, nearly 360,000 people had been approved to participate. Sponsorship typically comes from a relative or other individual, who is often backed by a house of worship whose members pool funds.

“Today’s decision is a victory for people who have jumped at the opportunity to sponsor loved ones under this program, and it is a critical repudiation of Texas’ attempt to hold immigration policy hostage for the entire country,” said Monika Y. Langarica, senior staff attorney for the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at the U.C.L.A. School of Law, which defended the program in court.

Last summer, the Supreme Court overturned a 2022 decision by Judge Tipton and ruled that the Biden administration could set priorities for which undocumented immigrants to arrest. That ruling influenced the outcome of the humanitarian parole case, according to legal experts, because it sent the message that states had to prove they were being adversely affected by a policy to sue; they couldn’t go to court just because they disagreed with it.

Judge Tipton, who was appointed by President Donald J. Trump, also noted that state expenditures related to illegal immigration declined after the program was put in place.

“The court has before it a case in which plaintiffs claim that they have been injured by a program that has actually lowered their out-of-pocket costs,’’ he wrote.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, which advocates on behalf of immigrants, called the ruling “a big success for the Biden administration.”

The use of parole authority goes back decades. It was used to admit nearly 200,000 Cubans in the 1960s and more than 350,000 Southeast Asians after the fall of Saigon in the Vietnam War. The Biden administration unveiled a humanitarian parole program in April 2022 for Ukrainians fleeing war, with no cap on the number of participants. None of the 21 states who joined the lawsuit have sought to terminate the program for Ukrainians.

In introducing a new humanitarian parole program , first for Venezuelans in late 2022 and then for Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans in January 2023, the federal government was aiming to dissuade people from trying to cross the U.S. southern border illegally by offering the possibility of a legal pathway for which they could apply from their home countries.

Nan Langowitz has sponsored two Venezuelan families and her synagogue in Wellesley, Mass., has assisted families from Afghanistan and Syria. Ms. Langowitz, who submitted a declaration to the court in favor of the program, said she was “elated” by Friday’s ruling.

“I look forward to continuing to welcome other newcomers who can contribute their energy to our country,” she said.

Miriam Jordan reports from a grass roots perspective on immigrants and their impact on the demographics, society and economy of the United States. More about Miriam Jordan

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Multiple arrests made in connection with a product known as “Monster Credits”

Eze directors sentenced to prison

A number of allegations of Fraud have been made in relation to a product sold by Mark Rowe known as “Monster Credits”. The companies named within the allegations that are currently under investigation include Monster Group SL, Monster Rewards Ltd, Hollywood Marketing SL, Complete Internet Solutions and the trading name SellMyTimeshare.TV.

As a result, on Tuesday 28th November 2017 a series of arrests were made across the UK and a number of properties were searched both in the UK and in Tenerife. All persons arrested have since been released under police investigation.

Consumers who have concerns about these and connected businesses are advised to immediately file a report with Action Fraud online via   http://actionfraud.police.uk  or by calling 0300 123 2040.

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Selling Travel Experiences Online – How to Get 6% More via Daniel Bensley – Business Development Manager, Qubit

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  • International

April 18, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

By Kathleen Magramo , Helen Regan , Jack Guy, Ed Upright, Aditi Sangal , Adrienne Vogt , Christina Maxouris, Tori B. Powell and Aya Elamroussi , CNN

Jailed WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich appears at Moscow court to appeal terms of detention

From CNN's Stephanie Halasz

US journalist Evan Gershkovich stands inside a defendants' cage before a hearing to consider an appeal on his arrest at the Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia, on April 18.

Jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is appearing at the Moscow City Court hearing to appeal the terms of his detention.

He is asking that his pre-trial detention be under house arrest rather than in jail.

Gershkovich is standing in a glass cage, arms folded, standing up as journalists scramble in.

The US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy is standing to the right of the cage with lawyers.

Gershkovich was detained in late March and  formally charged with espionage .

The US State Department has officially designated Gershkovich  as wrongfully detained by Russia.

Wagner chief threatens former fighters who claim to have been ordered to commit atrocities

From CNN's Tim Lister

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, attends a funeral ceremony at the Troyekurovskoye cemetery in Moscow, Russia, on April 8.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russia's Wagner private military company, has threatened retribution against two former Wagner fighters who claimed they had been ordered to commit atrocities against civilians in eastern Ukraine.

The two men appeared on a video made by Vladimir Osechkin, the founder of Gulagu.net, a human rights organization targeting corruption and torture in Russia.

Prigozhin confirmed on his Telegram channel that he had watched parts of the video.

“I can say the following: if at least one of these accusations against me is confirmed, I am ready to be held accountable according to any laws," he said.

“If none is confirmed, I will send a list of 30-40 people who are spitting at me like Osechkin ... that the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine is obligated to hand over to me for a 'fair trial,' so to speak.”

Prigozhin said the account was a "fragrant lie" and Wagner fighters "have never touched and do not touch" children.

Some context: Prigozhin was referring to video interviews with former Russian convicts Azamat Uldarov and Alexey Savichev – who were both pardoned by Russian presidential decrees last year, according to Gulagu.net.

Uldarov, who appears to have been drinking, details how he shot and killed a 5 or 6-year-old girl.

He called it: “A management decision. I wasn’t allowed to let anyone out alive, because my command was to kill anything in my way.”

CNN cannot independently verify their claims or identities in the videos but has obtained Russian penal documents showing they were released on presidential pardon in September and August 2022.

Read more here:

Two Russians claiming to be former Wagner commanders admit killing children and civilians in Ukraine | CNN

Two Russians claiming to be former Wagner commanders admit killing children and civilians in Ukraine | CNN

Putin asked for situation update during visit to troops in russian-occupied kherson, kremlin says.

From CNN's Tim Lister and Teele Rebane

Russian President Vladimir Putin disembarks a helicopter as he visits the headquarters of the "Dnieper" army group in the Kherson Region, Ukraine, in this still image taken from handout video released on April 18, 2023.

In video released by the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s convoy can be seen passing a sign that indicates he visited Henichesk, a town in southern Kherson that has become a headquarters for Russian forces.

Putin spoke with senior commanders about the situation in the south of Ukraine while he was there on Monday.

“I do not want to distract you from your direct duties related to command and control,” Putin said. “Therefore, we are working here in a business-like manner, briefly, but concretely.”

“It is important for me to hear your opinion on how the situation is developing, to listen to you, to exchange information. I would ask you to start your report with the situation in the Kherson direction, then in the Zaporozhzhia direction," he continued, according to the Kremlin.

Some context: Russian forces occupy parts of both regions and some analysts think the front will be the focus of a Ukrainian counter-offensive in the coming months.  

Airborne Forces: Putin also said that he had asked Mikhail Yuryevich Teplinsky, the head of Russia's Airborne Forces called the VDV, to "express his thoughts," adding that Teplinsky has been at the front line "for quite a long time and made a very detailed report.”

Until recently, Teplinsky was thought to have fallen out of favor with the Russian defense ministry, but UK intelligence suggested last week that he had been rehabilitated.

“Teplinsky is likely one of the few senior Russian generals widely respected by the rank-and-file... His recent turbulent career suggests intense tensions between factions within the Russian general staff about Russia’s military approach in Ukraine,” the UK Ministry of Defence said.

Teplinsky was in charge of the relatively successful withdrawal from west of the Dnipro River in November 2022 and had been " previously dismissed from the theatre in January," the UK Ministry of Defence added.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based analytical group, said that “Teplinsky remains highly unlikely to restore the VDV to its prior status as an elite force due to widespread losses to the most elite Russian units that are now being restaffed with poorly trained mobilized personnel.”

It said his reappearance “additionally suggests that the Russian military command is likely seeking to place an increased emphasis on the role of VDV elements in Russian offensive operations.”

Ukrainian commander says Russians "unsuccessful" in most areas of frontline

From Olga Voitovych in Kyiv

The commander of Ukraine’s land forces said that despite multiple assaults, Russian forces have failed to break through Ukrainian defenses along several parts of the frontline where they have concentrated forces. 

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said on the Land Forces Telegram channel Tuesday: “The enemy is conducting offensive actions in several directions simultaneously. But the enemy's actions are unsuccessful on most of them.”

Syrskyi said that in the Kupiansk direction, the northern part of the frontline in Kharkiv region “the enemy attempted to conduct offensive actions, but thanks to the accurate fire of our artillery, fled before even reaching the line of attack."

He also said Russia's actions were unsuccessful in the Lyman direction, near the borders of Donetsk and Luhansk.

“Nevertheless, the Bakhmut direction remains the epicenter of the fighting. This is where the enemy is concentrating most of its efforts and does not abandon the goal of taking control of the city at any cost. Currently, the enemy is increasing the activity of heavy artillery and the number of air strikes, turning the city into ruins,” Syrskyi said “Our soldiers inflict significant losses on the enemy and significantly slow down its offensive. The battle for Bakhmut continues. The situation is currently under control."

While Syrskyi’s claims cannot be independently confirmed, there’s no evidence to suggest that Russian forces have made any substantive gains in Luhansk, Kharkiv or Donetsk regions in recent weeks.

Bakhmut: Separately, the Border Guard Service of Ukraine acknowledged that “the battle for Bakhmut has moved to the central part of the city," adding that in some areas, Ukrainian defenders are separated by a few meters from Russian occupiers.

It also said that Russian forces appeared to have plenty of munitions, deviating from a "shell hunger," or lack of ammo supplies , preciously reported by the Russian private military group Wagner.

Blinken reiterates calls for the release of detained Wall Street Journal reporter

From CNN's Alex Stambaugh 

Antony Blinken arrives for a news conference at the conclusion of a G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Karuizawa, Japan, on Tuesday, April 18.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday reiterated calls for the release of detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich .

On Monday, US Ambassador to Moscow Lynne Tracy  visited  Gershkovich in prison, the US embassy said on  Twitter .

Blinken told reporters in the Japanese town of Karuizawa, where G7 foreign ministers have gathered for talks, that "based on what Ambassador Tracy has said, that he is in good health and good spirits considering the circumstances."

"Severe consequences" if Russia uses chemical, biological or nuclear weapons in Ukraine, G7 foreign ministers say

From CNN's Alex Stambaugh

This picture shows the start of the fifth working session of a G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Karuizawa, Japan on Tuesday, April 18.

G7 foreign ministers said Russia would be met with "severe consequences" for any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, and that those supporting Russia in Ukraine would face "severe costs."

"Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and its threat to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus are unacceptable. Any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences," a communique issued Tuesday by the ministers said.

"We remain committed to intensifying sanctions against Russia, coordinating and fully enforcing them," it said. "We reiterate our call on third parties to cease assistance to Russia’s war, or face severe costs."

The group also strongly condemned Russia's "widespread use of information manipulation and disinformation" to gain support for its war against Ukraine.

It also said the group of ministers support "exploring the creation" of an international tribunal based in Ukraine's judicial system to prosecute crimes of aggression against Ukraine. 

The communique comes as G7 foreign ministers wrap up three days of talks on Tuesday in the central Japanese town of Karuizawa in Nagano prefecture. 

What to know about Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was jailed for 25 years after publicly criticizing the Ukraine war

A screen set up at a hall of the Moscow City Court shows live feed of the verdict in the case against Vladimir Kara-Murza in Moscow on April 17.

Vladimir Kara-Murza , a prominent Russian human rights advocate and Kremlin critic, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after publicly condemning Moscow’s war in Ukraine, in a decision that was condemned as politically motivated and draconian by the international community.

Kara-Murza will appeal the sentence, his lawyer, Vadim Prokhorov, told CNN on Monday.

Here's what you need to know:

  • On trial for treason: Kara-Murza was initially detained one year ago, hours after  an interview with CNN  in which he criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “regime of murderers.” He was on trial for criminal offenses that included treason, spreading fake news about the Russian army, and facilitating activities of an undesirable organization. Kara-Murza has long been critical of Putin and has survived two poisonings.
  • Sentence: The Moscow City Court on Monday sentenced Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison in the case of treason, discrediting the army and participating in the activities of an undesirable organization. He was also sentenced to restriction of movement for six months after his release, banned from working in journalism for seven years after release and ordered to pay a fine of 400,000 roubles (roughly $5,000). 
"I am in jail for my political views. For speaking up against the war in Ukraine. For years of fighting against Putin's dictatorship," he said in his closing statement to the court on April 10. "Not only do I not repent for any of this – I am proud of it."
  • Praised for "courage": His wife, Evgenia Kara-Murza, praise him for his "courage, consistency and honesty in your many years of work," in a statement after the sentencing. She told the London-based radio station LBC that neither she nor their children have spoken with him since last April, and added their children are “terrified” about their father’s wellbeing.
  • "Shameless and simply fascist": Is how fellow jailed Russian opposition figure  Alexey Navalny  described the prison sentence handed to Kara-Murza, according to an audio statement shared by his team.
  • Deteriorating health: Maria Eismont, a lawyer for Kara-Murza, warned of his deteriorating health, in comments outside court following his sentencing. Eismont said Kara-Murza was diagnosed with polyneuropathy – a condition that develops when nerves in the body's extremities are damaged – when he was taken for an examination to a civilian hospital in Moscow at the end of March. 
  • Global condemnation: The  United States ,  United Kingdom  and  Germany  have all condemned the sentencing, among other countries. UK officials are also investigating the possibility of sanctioning everyone involved in Kara-Murza's trial, Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said.

Putin visits troops at military headquarters in Russian-occupied Ukraine

From CNN’s Angus Watson and Josh Pennington

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, visits the headquarters of the "Dnieper" army group in the Kherson Region in this still image taken from handout video released on April 18, 2023.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited troops at a military base in Ukraine's southern Kherson region which is partly held by Russia, state media TASS reported Tuesday.

The Kremlin confirmed later Tuesday that the visit took place on Monday.

During the visit, Putin spoke with commanders from the airborne forces of Russia’s “Dnieper” army unit, while also meeting with other senior officers, according to TASS. 

One of the purposes of the visit was to get a “report” from commanders on the situation in both the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia directions, TASS added. 

It's morning in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know

From CNN staff

Heavy fighting is ongoing in and around the contentious eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, said the Ukrainian military’s General Staff.

Moscow is interested in ending the conflict in Ukraine  "as soon as possible ," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after meeting with Brazil's foreign minister.

Here's what else to know:

  • Wagner commanders: Two Russian men who claim to be former Wagner Group commanders have told a human rights activist that they killed children and civilians during their time in Ukraine. The claims were made in video interviews with Gulagu.net, the founder of a human rights organization targeting corruption and torture in Russia.
  • Attacks in Bakhmut:  The Russian Ministry of Defense has said that "assault detachments" have  captured two districts  in the center and northwest of the embattled city of Bakhmut. It comes after the Ukrainian military said Russia launched " unsuccessful attacks " against the Bakhmut suburbs. The move suggests an attempt by Moscow to encircle Ukrainian soldiers within Bakhmut.
  • Kremlin critic gets 25-year sentence:  Vladimir Kara-Murza, a prominent British-Russian human rights advocate and Kremlin critic, was sentenced to  25 years  in prison by the Moscow City Court on Monday after publicly condemning Russia's war in Ukraine. The  United States ,  United Kingdom  and  Germany  have all condemned the sentencing, among other countries. Kara-Murza said he is  "proud"  and stands "by every word I have spoken."
  • Detained American:  US Ambassador to Moscow Lynne Tracy  visited  detained Wall Street Journal reporter  Evan Gershkovich on  Monday, the US embassy said on  Twitter . After the visit, the White House said it wants more  frequent and routine  access to the journalist.
  • Ukrainian grain:  Ukraine has accused Moscow of threatening the  United Nations-brokered Grain Initiative , saying ship inspections in Turkish territorial waters have been blocked for the second time on Monday, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure. Russia has maintained its position and said prospects for extending the grain deal have not been improving.
  • Russian oil:  Moscow's  oil exports  have bounced back to levels last seen before it invaded Ukraine, despite a barrage of  Western sanctions . According to the International Energy Agency, Russian exports of crude oil and oil products rose in March to  their highest level  since April 2020.
  • Meetings with Brazilian officials:  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet with Brazilian President  Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva . Lavrov said Russia is "interested" in  ending the conflict in Ukraine  "as soon as possible" following a meeting earlier Monday with his Brazilian counterpart. Brazil's president said over the weekend that he discussed creating a group of countries willing to mediate talks between Russia and Ukraine with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

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Biden admonishes the Supreme Court for overturning Roe v. Wade

In his third State of the Union address Thursday, Joe Biden did what was once unthinkable: directly challenge Supreme Court justices about one of their opinions, addressing them personally. 

Biden brought up the conservative majority’s landmark reversal of Roe v. Wade. He had begun to read an excerpt of the decision when he began a brief aside, looking right at the justices sitting in the front row.

“With all due respect, justices, women are not without ... electoral or political power," he said.

Then, in what appeared to be an ad-libbed moment, he added, "You’re about to realize just how much …” before Democrats in the chamber jumped to their feet and cheered. 

The justices, dressed in their traditional black robes, sat expressionless but looking forward as the applause and reaction thundered around them. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was among those sitting beside the group, stood to applaud.

politics political law

It rare to see any interaction between a president and the Supreme Court justices, but in 2010, conservative Justice Samuel Alito appeared to mouth "not true" or "simply not true" when President Barack Obama criticized the court's ruling in Citizens United, removing corporate campaign spending limits.

Alito has not attended a State of the Union address since then.

Biden hit on several themes related to women's reproductive rights, including an Alabama Supreme Court decision that has caused mass confusion in the state over in vitro fertilization.

monster travel court case

Natasha Korecki is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.

monster travel court case

'Too dangerous': Mike Lindell cancels Supreme Court voting machine stunt

M yPillow CEO Mike Lindell says he will not travel to the U.S. Supreme Court to reveal evidence about voting machines as he had promised.

In recent days, Lindell teased his stunt, promising to personally visit the high court on Thursday.

"This is big, everybody," Lindell told Steve Bannon on Saturday. "This is what we've been waiting for."

Want more breaking political news? Click for the latest headlines at Raw Story.

The pillow executive claimed to have "explosive" new evidence in the election case of Republican Kari Lake — currently campaigning to represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate — that would prove voting machines were being used to rig elections.

ALSO READ: Two Trump legal lifelines are tilting Election 2024 in Donald's favor

But on Tuesday, Lindell said he no longer planned to hold an event at the court.

"The Supreme Court case, the lawyers will be turning it in later on on Thursday," Lindell said of his purported evidence. "We were going to do it right on-site at the Supreme Court, but they said, no, Mike, it's too risky."

"It's going to be too dangerous," he added. "The evidence we're going to put in this case has never been seen before. And the only reason we're able to do it is because they kicked this case out on standing. Had they not done that, we wouldn't be able to add this new evidence."

"And it is so explosive."

Watch the video from Real America's Voice below or click here .

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IMAGES

  1. Monster travel group boss and 18 others come to trial

    monster travel court case

  2. Friendly Timeshare Advice Since 1997

    monster travel court case

  3. Steve Harmon

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  4. Scammers target Monster Travel customers

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  5. iM2875 Storm Travel Case

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  6. Monster Jam Superstore

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COMMENTS

  1. Monster Travel trial update

    Monster Travel trial update. Posted on May 6, 2022. Following the recent first trial held on 31 March at Westminster Magistrates' Court, London. An update has been published outlining where the case goes from here. All 18 defendants were in attendance and a timetable has been set and agreed to deal with as many routine legal matters as ...

  2. 18 defendants face trial after probe into £25million timeshare Monster

    Rowe, 51, of Taunton and Tenerife, and the others were said to be directors, sales reps or administrators at companies including Monster Group Travel, Monster Rewards and sellmytimeshare.com.

  3. £25m timeshare scam

    A Monster Of A Timeshare Scam Setup. With up to 18 defendants potentially being involved, a total of 79 offences brought against them, and £25m being invested by possible victims, this case spans far and wide to say the least. Three companies are at the heart of it all as well - Monster Group Travel, Monster Rewards and sellmytimeshare.com.

  4. Monster Reservations Group Facing Class Action Over Alleged Robocalls

    Morton v. Monster Reservations Group, LLC. Filed: November 3, 2023 § 5:23-cv-00633. • Read Complaint. Monster Reservations Group faces a class action over its alleged practice of placing unsolicited vacation package telemarketing calls to consumers nationwide. Defendant (s) Monster Reservations Group, LLC. Law (s)

  5. Multiple charges of fraud ordered by the CPS in relation to Monster

    Multiple charges of fraud ordered by the CPS in relation to Monster Group Travel, Monster Credits, Monster Rewards and sellmytimeshare.com. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SW ROCU) to charge 18 people with 79 counts related to a large-scale fraud targeting timeshare owners.

  6. Scammers target Monster Travel customers

    Such scams have been common and have been increasing. Other examples include supposed recovery of monies from victims of EZE Group and ITRA, fake Spanish court rulings and misinformation regarding the status of timeshare companies. Timeshare owners are urged to be on the alert about unsolicited contacts, such as cold calls, emails and texts.

  7. Four Dorset people face trial relating to £25m timeshare scheme

    Four people from Dorset are among a total of 18 defendants facing trial on fraud and money laundering charges. They each face a trial after a five year investigation into the £25 million timeshare scheme which relates to an alleged "large-scale fraud targeting timeshare owners" that occurred between January 2013 and 2017.

  8. 18 people charged by UK police in connection with large-scale fraud

    This follows a lengthy investigation into businesses in the UK and Spain and the directors and employees of companies including Monster Group Travel, Monster Rewards and sellmytimeshare.com. The 18 named by the CPS are: Mark Rowe. Nicola Rowe. Simon Walker. Jodi Beard. Louise Oakenfold-Matthews. Samantha Jackson. Joanne Physick. Deborah Frost ...

  9. Rogue Exit Companies

    We endeavour to give you the most cost-efficient and simple solution to your timeshare contract and CMC based claims by avoiding the courts at all costs. Get in touch with us today on 0161 839 8847 or email [email protected] for further information. Previous O1C Legal: Are Ex-Timeshare Owners Being Scammed Further? These Monster Travel ...

  10. If it wasn't so funny it would be hilarious!

    21% IVA (VAT) €255.89. Total Cost €1,474.40 (fully refunded together with the compensation) We say the first part because if this con runs its normal course at some stage in the near future there will be a request for even more money for some spurious reason, and if not then €1,474 (approx. £1,334) is not a bad days work for a few ...

  11. Judge Awards Monster an Additional $43 million and Upholds Jury Verdict

    "The judge's additional award of $43 million, to include attorneys' fees and all expenses, represents a complete victory for Monster. Coming after securing the largest trademark infringement award in U.S. history, this brings the total recovered for Monster across two recent trials to over half a billion dollars," said Allison Libeu. In September 2022 after … Continue reading "Judge ...

  12. Court orders European Consumer Claims (ECC) to refund timeshare owner

    For a considerable time, nothing much happened and after chasing ECC, he was eventually told that his case was being referred to Spanish Lawyers using the name 'M1 Legal'. Eventually, M1 Legal advised him that they had terminated his timeshare contract - and the case was closed - no mention of the promised 'compensation' was made.

  13. Scammers target Monster Travel customers

    Such scams have been common and have been increasing. Other examples include supposed recovery of monies from victims of EZE Group and ITRA, fake Spanish court rulings and misinformation regarding the status of timeshare companies. Timeshare owners are urged to be on the alert about unsolicited contacts, such as cold calls, emails and texts.

  14. Persistence Pays Off

    In another case, the TTAB sided with Monster Energy Co. and refused to allow a small company to register the MONSTER TOWEL mark for its beach towels. 10 The Board considered evidence that Monster Energy has previously used its name and mark on promotional towels, specifically athletic towels, and concluded that consumers could reasonably find ...

  15. Judge Upholds Biden Program Giving Some Immigrants Short-Term Legal

    Texas is almost certain to appeal the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which covers Texas, and the case could end up in the U.S. Supreme Court, experts said.

  16. Moscow Court Begins Hearings on Closing Top Rights Center

    Lawyers and the press at the Moscow City Court. t.me/polnyipc. A court in Moscow on Tuesday began hearings into a request by prosecutors to shut down a key center of Russia's leading rights group ...

  17. Multiple arrests made in connection with a product known as "Monster

    A number of allegations of Fraud have been made in relation to a product sold by Mark Rowe known as "Monster Credits". The companies named within the allegations that are currently under investigation include Monster Group SL, Monster Rewards Ltd, Hollywood Marketing SL, Complete Internet Solutions and the trading name SellMyTimeshare.TV.

  18. The "Moscow Case": What You Need to Know

    Evgeny Kovalenko (1971) Sentenced to 3 years and five months in prison on Sept 4th. Convicted of police assault on allegations of pushing an officer and throwing a trash can at a police officer ...

  19. Notaria Navas Pino

    This is the old chestnut of the court case in Madrid where EZE victims have been. 01908 881058 [email protected] Donate. timeshare consumer association friendly timeshare advice since 1997. ... According to the Mirror, Monster Group Travel, Easy Group, Realistics, Monster Rewards and sellmytimeshare.com were collectively ...

  20. Moscow court declines to hear appeal by jailed US journalist

    MOSCOW (AP) -- Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich appeared Tuesday in Moscow City Court, seeking release from jail on espionage charges, but it declined to hear his appeal and returned ...

  21. Jailed WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich appears at Moscow court to ...

    Sentence: The Moscow City Court on Monday sentenced Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison in the case of treason, discrediting the army and participating in the activities of an undesirable ...

  22. - Timeshare Consumer Association

    To provide help and assistance including specialist advice to consumers to avoid pitfalls and to resolve timeshare problems. This service is provided, free of charge and the telephone is manned Mon - Fri 09:00 - 17:00 by our dedicated team. We will also provide a central resource of consumer oriented information on timeshare matters for the ...

  23. Welcome to Monster Reservations Group

    Monster Reservations Group focuses on securing the most popular hot spots in the Continental United States for your family's vacation enjoyment! We work diligently on ensuring our guests have a variety of vacation destination options to choose from all year round.

  24. Former Bang Energy owner ordered to pay Monster's fees from ...

    The extra costs were awarded due to the "strength" of Monster's case and, referring to Bang founder Jack Owoc, the "unreasonableness of [the] defendant's behavior", which the court ...

  25. Biden admonishes the Supreme Court for overturning Roe v. Wade

    In his third State of the Union address Thursday, Joe Biden did what was once unthinkable: directly challenge Supreme Court justices about one of their opinions, addressing them personally. Biden ...

  26. 'Too dangerous': Mike Lindell cancels Supreme Court voting ...

    MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell says he will not travel to the U.S. Supreme Court to reveal evidence about voting machines as he had promised. In recent days, Lindell teased his stunt, promising to ...

  27. Deutsche Bahn Loses Court Bid to Block Train-Drivers' Strike

    1:08. A Frankfurt labor court rejected a request to block another strike by a small, but influential train driver union this week, dismissing a case filed by German railway operator Deutsche Bahn ...