Stream Energy/Ignite
TINA.org investigated Stream Energy, a Texas-based multilevel marketing company that resold electricity and gas to customers, as well as wireless phone and personal protective services, and found that the company and its distributors used atypical income claims to market the Stream business opportunity.
Highlights
- Filed amicus curiae brief in Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Notified company of findings of deceptive income claims
- Filed complaint with the FTC
- Filed complaint with TX Attorney General
Timeline
2019
August
Houston-based utility NRG Energy acquires Stream Energy’s retail electricity and natural gas businesses. As part of the deal, Stream’s MLM operation is separated from the NRG purchase and remains an independent company. Rebranded as Kynect, this residual company will market energy and wireless services as an independent sales organization.
2018
September 12
Stream sends a letter to TINA.org in response to the September 10th complaints.
September 10
After seeing limited changes in Stream’s use of deceptive income claims and finding more than 100 additional examples, TINA.org files complaint letters with the FTC and Texas Attorney General urging them both to investigate Stream and take appropriate enforcement action.
March 26
The parties in the Torres v. S.G.E. Management case notify the District Court that they reached a settlement agreement.
2017
December 21
Stream responds to TINA.org stating, in part, that “Stream’s compliance team…is dedicated to teaching our Independent Associates (IAs) how to accurately and transparently represent the Stream brand….When someone misrepresents Stream in any way, we take it seriously.”
December 18
As part of its 2017 investigation into all DSA-member companies, TINA.org notifies Stream of findings that it uses atypical income claims to market the business opportunity.
October 2
The United States Supreme Court denies certiorari, meaning that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision affirming the District Court’s decision to certify the plaintiff class stands and that the case is returning to the trial court for proceedings.
April 28
Defendants/Appellants file a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari with the United States Supreme Court.
2016
September 30
The Fifth Circuit affirms the District Court’s decision to certify the plaintiff class.
May 16
TINA.org files amicus brief in the Torres v. S.G.E. Management case in favor of Plaintiffs/Appellees and in support of affirmance of the District Court’s decision to certify the class.
March 12
The Fifth Circuit vacates the previous judgment and grants the petition for rehearing the case en banc. The hearing is scheduled for May 25, 2016.
2015
November 25
In the Torres v. S.G.E. Management case, TINA.org files amicus brief in support of Plaintiffs/Appellees’ Petition for Rehearing En Banc of the Fifth Circuit’s October decision.
Evidence
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Class-Action Tracker
Stream Energy and Ignite
October 2018: A federal judge granted final approval of the settlement agreement. June 2018: A federal judge preliminarily approved a settlement agreement that would resolve this lawsuit. According to the…
Stream Energy
September 2018: A federal judge granted final approval of the settlement agreement. May 2018: A federal judge granted preliminary approval of the settlement agreement. A final fairness hearing is scheduled…