MarketAmerica

January 2020: This case was stayed pending arbitration, administratively closed, and consolidated with Market America v. Yang (Case No. 17-cv-897, M.D.N.C.).

April 2019: The California case was transferred to a court in North Carolina where an order granting MarketAmerica’s petition to compel arbitration was filed in a related case (Market America, Inc. et al v. Yang et al, Case No. 17-cv-897, M.D.N.C.) earlier in the month. (Yang et al v. Market America, Inc. et al, Case No. 19-cv-502, M.D.N.C.)

July 2018: A North Carolina federal judge found that an Order compelling arbitration should be granted but stayed the entry of the Order for 14 days to give the parties a chance to address the matter further.

October 2017: MarketAmerica filed petitions to compel arbitration. Click here and here to read each one.

August 2017: MarketAmerica moved to transfer the case from California to North Carolina.

May 2017: A class-action lawsuit was filed against MarketAmerica, a multi-level marketing company that sells a variety of products, for allegedly operating an illegal pyramid scheme in which individuals are rewarded for recruiting others to join the pyramid. The complaint also alleges that the company deceptively touts that anyone can achieve financial success following MarketAmerica’s “two-year blueprint” when, according to the complaint, over 90% of distributors lose money. (Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint in July 2017.) (Yang et al v. Market America, Inc. et al, Case No. 17-cv-4012, C.D. Cal.)

For more information about other class-action lawsuits regarding pyramid schemes and TINA.org’s coverage of the topic, click here.