NEWARK - A Superior Court Judge has approved a request submitted by the Office of the Attorney General and the Division of Consumer Affairs to take possession of wedding photographs, videotapes and other materials currently held by persons who did work for Celebration Studios as well as to distribute merchandise to affected couples.

Judge Catherine Langlois, sitting in Morristown, issued an Order (a copy of which is attached), directing any photographer, videographer or third party to turn over to the state any merchandise still in their possession before November 14, 2008. Judge Langlois' Order also provided that on November 21, 2008, the state shall begin distribution of merchandise to affected couples.

"We are very pleased to be in a position to return these wedding keepsakes to their rightful owners," Attorney General Anne Milgram said. "Consumer Affairs' investigators have spent hundreds of hours cataloguing thousands of items previously seized from Celebration Studios."

Within the next week, the Division of Consumer Affairs will notify individually, by email or letter, those consumers who have previously filed complaints with the Division. The notice will provide the date, time and location where consumers can retrieve their merchandise.

To date, the Division has received approximately 1,400 complaints from consumers who contracted with Celebration Studios for their weddings which occurred prior to the closing of the business, but who had not received merchandise.

Deputy Attorney General Lorraine K. Rak, Chief of the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section, and Deputy Attorney General Alina Wells are representing the state in this action.

Click here to read the Court Order.

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