NEWARK
– A Superior Court Judge today granted
the Office of the Attorney General and the
Division of Consumer Affairs the authority
to seize and impound all photos, negatives,
videos and other materials in the possession
of a defunct Morris County-based wedding
photography company.
Additionally,
photographers, videographers and album manufacturers
who performed work for Celebration Studios
and its owner, Marc C. Schwartz, and have
photos, negatives, videos and other materials
in their possession are restrained from
transferring or disposing of these items,
according to the order issued by Presiding
Judge Catherine M. Langlois in Morris County
Superior Court.
“Our
focus remains on getting consumers the contracted
and paid-for items that have not been delivered
to them. These newlyweds want their wedding
keepsakes and today’s action ensures
that all existing items in the possession
of the defendants and their subcontractors
will be preserved,” Attorney General
Anne Milgram said.
The
Office of the Attorney General and Division
of Consumer Affairs filed suit against Celebration
Studios and Schwartz last week, alleging
that they had violated the state’s
Consumer Fraud Act and Advertising Regulations.
The
Division has received 846 consumer complaints
to date against Celebration Studios, alleging
that the company left them without contracted
and paid-for items and services or failed
to provide refunds.
Celebration
Studios was based in Chester, and also operated
out of locations in Clifton, Fairfield,
Hoboken, Mahwah, Montclair, Paramus, Red
Bank, Short Hills and Princeton, as well
as New York and Pennsylvania.
At
least as of October 2007, defendants continued
to enter into contracts and accept payments
for services for weddings to occur throughout
2008.
“Consumers
should not pay additional monies directly
to photographers who worked for the defendants
and now possess photos, negatives, videotape
or other materials” Acting Consumer
Affairs Director Larry DeMarzo said. “These
items must be maintained by the photographers
as ordered by the court.”
“Consumers
who have either not gotten their contracted-for
services or their monies refunded should
file a complaint with the Division,”
DeMarzo added. Complaints can be filed online
at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov
or by calling the Division at 1-800-242-5846
(within New Jersey only) or 973-504-6200.
Deputy
Attorney General Lorraine K. Rak, Chief
of the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section,
is representing the state in this action.
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