Riddex

022 3122 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION


In the Matter of GLOBAL INSTRUMENTS LTD., a corporation, and CHARLES PATTERSON, individually and as an officer of the corporation.

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DOCKET NO.

COMPLAINT The Federal Trade Commission, having reason to believe that Global Instruments Ltd., a corporation, and Charles Patterson, individually and asan officer of the corporation (“respondents”), have violated the provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act, and it appearing to the Commission that this proceeding is in the public interest, alleges: 1. Respondent Global Instruments Ltd. is an Iowa corporation with its principal office or place of business at 819 Industrial Drive, Trenton, Missouri 64683. 2. Respondent Charles Patterson isPresident of the corporate respondent. Individually or in concert with others, he formulates, directs, or controls the policies, acts, or practices of the corporation, including the acts or practices alleged in this complaint. His principal office or place of business is the same as that of Global Instruments Ltd. 3. The acts and practices of respondents alleged in this complaint have been in oraffecting commerce, as “commerce” is defined in Section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. Electromagnetic Pest-Control Products 4. Respondents have manufactured, advertised, labeled, offered for sale, sold, and distributed electromagnetic pest-control products to the public, including the Pest-A-Cator and the Pest-A-Cator Too! (collectively, “Pest-A-Cator Products”) and Riddex and Riddex Jr.(collectively, “Riddex Products”). Page 1 of 10

5. Respondents have disseminated or have caused to be disseminated advertisements for the Pest-A-Cator Products and Riddex Products, including but not necessarily limited to the attached Exhibits A through I. These advertisements contain the following statements: A. “PEST-A-CATOR C Works on mice, rats, and roaches. . . . Guaranteed, or your moneyback! C C Works in standard size homes up to 2000 square feet. ... C Fast working - infested areas will be noticibly [sic] clean in 2 - 4 weeks. ... Helps in reducing monthly exterminator costs.” C (www.global-instruments.com/pest-a-cator.html) (6/4/02) [Exhibit A] “Pest-A-Cator: The eliminator, not the imitator! C Guaranteed on mice, rats and roaches. ... Up to 2,000 sq. ft. Pest-A-Cator is greatfor homes, office buildings, schools, restaurants, hospitals, etc. ... Rodent & Insect Repeller The Ultimate Power in Electronic Pest Control GUARANTEED!” (Pest-A-Cator and Pest-A-Cator Plus Brochure–available on website) [Exhibit B] “Pest-A-Cator Too! Up to 1,000 sq. ft. Pest-A-Cator Too! is great for smaller homes, condominiums, apartments, mobile homes, etc.” (Pest-A-Cator and Pest-A-CatorPlus Brochure–available on website) [Exhibit B] “This is not one of those ‘sonic’ noise machines. They only work in one room at a time! Pest-A-Cator uses the household wiring to turn the whole place into one huge pest-irritating machine which forces pests (mice, rats, roaches) to leave the premises. Pest-A-Cator is the alternative to those harmful or hazardous chemicals, pesticides and insecticideswhich can harm children, family pets, friends, the environment and more. ... A single Pest-A-Cator will aid in ridding most standard 2,000 sq. ft. areas of mice, rats and roaches, all within 2-4 weeks and all without the aid of chemicals and the need for costly exterminators. The unit sends a pulsating signal throughout the wiring of the home annoying insects and rodents, driving them Page 2 of 10B.

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from behind the walls, out of cabinets and from under sinks where they hide and
nest.
Just plug the Pest-A-Cator into any 110V outlet and let it work – 24 hours a day,
365 days a year.
. . .
Your optimum goal for an electronic pest control device is to eliminate the
problem. Pest control problems are eliminated when the solution strikes at the
nesting...