NEWARK - The Office of the Attorney General and Division of Consumer Affairs have filed a request in State Superior Court for authority to impound and take possession of contracted- and/or paid-for wedding photographs, videotapes and other materials currently held by persons who did work for Celebration Studios.

The State also is seeking Court permission to return the materials that are in the possession of third parties, as well as the photos, negatives, DVDs, videotapes, photo albums and other materials seized from the Celebration Studios' Clifton warehouse in late January. Consumer Affairs' investigators have inventoried the thousands of items obtained from Celebration Studios.

To date, 1,430 consumer complaints have been filed with the Division against Celebration Studios and its owner, Marc S. Schwartz. Nearly all of the complaints were filed after the Chester-based company abruptly closed in early January 2008.

?The court previously granted our request requiring anyone who worked for Celebration Studios to maintain all materials in his or her possession. We're ready to take possession of these items, sort and catalogue them and get these keepsakes into the hands of anxious couples,? Attorney General Anne Milgram said.

Consumer Affairs' investigators have identified approximately 57 photographers or videographers and two album manufacturers who provided services for customers of Celebration Studios.

Judge Catherine M Langlois is tentatively scheduled to consider the State's request on March 28.

?We're ready to move forward to obtain additional items and to return these valuable photos, videos and albums to their rightful owners,? Acting Consumer Affairs Director Larry DeMarzo said. ?Sorting and organizing materials and reviewing information submitted by affected consumers has been a complex process.?

The State, in its complaint filed with the court in January, alleged that Celebration Studios and Schwartz violated the Consumer Fraud Act and Advertising Regulations by: Accepting payment for photography and/or videography services for weddings that occurred prior to January 2008 and then failing to provide consumers with all of the contracted-for services; Accepting payment for photography and/or videography services for weddings scheduled to occur in 2008 and then abruptly closing Celebration Studios; Leading consumers to believe that Celebration Studios was undergoing a restructuring to provide improved services when the business was actually in the process of closing; Failing to provide consumers with all of the merchandise for which they paid; Charging consumers' credit cards without notification or their authorization; Failing to provide consumers with complete refunds following the closing of Celebration Studios; Misrepresenting that consumers keep all of the digital files, negatives and proofs concerning their wedding photos and/videos; Misrepresenting that photo and/or video packages include a bridal album, online proofs, first edition prints, thank you postcards, folding thank you cards, and/or parent albums when such was not furnished to consumers who bought these packages; and Misrepresenting that consumers would receive their online proofs, final prints and/or albums within a specified time period.

Deputy Attorney General Lorraine K. Rak, Chief of the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section, and Deputy Attorney General Joan M. Scatton are representing the State in this action.

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