2 1 3 4Zt 4 5. 6 8 Robert Hamparyan (State Bar No. 181934) ROBERT HAMPARYAN, APC 275 W. Market Street San Diego, CA 92101 t. 619.550.1355 e. robert@hamparyanlawfirm.com 11 12 Attorneys for Plaintiffs 10 E Clerk of the Superior court D NOV 0 8 2017 John J. O'Brien (State Bar No. 253392) THE O'BRIEN LAW FIRM, APLC 750 B Street, Suite 3300 San Diego, CA 92101 t. 619.535.5151 e. john@theobrienlawfirm.com Brian M. Holm (State Bar No. 255691) HOLM LAW GROUP, PC 12636 High Bluff Drive, Suite 400 San Diego, CA 92130 t. 858.707.5858 c. brian@holmlawgroup.com 9 F By: R. BABERS, Deputy 13 14 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 15 COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO 16 17 18 JANE DOE NO. 17, an individual; JANE DOE NO. 18, an individual; JANE DOE NO. 19, an individual; JANE DOE NO. 20, an individual; JANE DOE NO. 21, an individual; JANE DOE NO. 22, an individual; inclusive, 19 Plaintiffs, 20 V. 21 GIRLSDOPORN.COM, a business organization, form unknown; MICHAEL J. PRATT, an individual; ANDRE GARCIA, an individual; MATTHEW WOLFE, an individual; BLL MEDIA, INC., a California corporation; BLL MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company; DOMI PUBLICATIONS, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company; EG PUBLICATIONS, INC., a California corporation; M1M MEDIA, LLC, a California limited liability company; BUBBLEGUM FILMS, INC., a business organization, form unknown; OH WELL 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 CASE NO.:37-2017-00043712-CU-FR-CTL COMPLAINT (FILED UNDER SEAL) [JURY TRIAL DEMANDED] 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Intentional Misrepresentation Fraudulent Concealment False Promise Negligent Misrepresentation Misappropriation of Name & Likeness [Common Law] 6. Misappropriation of Name & Likeness [Civ. C. § 3344] Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress 7. 8. Negligence 9. Breach of Contract 10. Promissory Estoppel 11. Unlawful & Fraudulent Business Practices [Bus. & Prof. Code §17200] 12. Fraudulent Transfer 13. Declaratory Relief 1 COMPLAINT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 MEDIA LIMITED, a business organization, form unknown; MERRO MEDIA, INC., a California corporation; MERRO MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company; CLOCKWORK PRODUCTIONS, INC., a business organization, form unknown; UHD PRODUCTIONS, LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company; BUBBLEGUM FILMS, LTD., a business organization, form unknown; GREENHILL SERVICES, LTD., a business organization, form unknown; SIDLE MEDIA LIMITED, a business organization, form unknown; RIVA YOUSIF, an individual; THEODORE GYI, an individual; VALERIE MOSER, an individual; KAILYN WRIGHT, an individual; and ROES 1 - 550, inclusive, Defendants. 11 12 13 This action is intricately related to San Diego Superior Court Case Nos. 37-2016-19027-CU- 14 FR-CTL and 37-2017-00033321-CU-FR-CTL where sixteen similarly situated young women sue the 15 same fraudulent pornography business for nearly identical claims. 16 17 Plaintiffs JANE DOE NO. 17, JANE DOE NO. 18, JANE DOE NO. 19, JANE DOE NO. 20, 18 JANE DOE NO. 21, JANE DOE NO. 22 (all plaintiffs collectively, "Plaintiffs") bring this complaint 19 against defendants GIRLSDOPORN.COM , a business organization, form unknown; MICHAEL J. 20 PRATT, an individual; ANDRE GARCIA, an individual; MATTHEW WOLFE, an individual; BLL 21 MEDIA, INC., a California corporation; BLL MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC, a Nevada limited liability 22 company; DOMI PUBLICATIONS, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company; EG PUBLICATIONS, 23 INC., a California corporation; M1M MEDIA, LLC, a California limited liability company; 24 BUBBLEGUM FILMS, INC., a business organization, form unknown; OH WELL MEDIA LIMITED, 25 a business organization, form unknown; MERRO MEDIA, INC., a California corporation; MERRO 26 MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company; CLOCKWORK PRODUCTIONS, 27 INC., place of incorporation unknown; UHD MEDIA, INC., place of incorporation unknown; 28 BUBBLEGUM FILMS, LTD., place of incorporation unknown; GREENHILL SERVICES, LTD., 2 COMPLAINT place of incorporation unknown; SIDLE MEDIA LIMITED, place of incorporation unknown; RIVA YOUSLF, an individual; THEODORE "TEDDY" GYI, an individual; VALERIE MOSER, an individual; and ROES 1-550 (all defendants collectively, "Defendants"). THE PARTIES Plaintiffs 1. JANE DOE NO. 17 is an individual residing in the State of California. 2. JANE DOE NO. 18 is an individual residing in the State of Utah. 3. JANE DOE NO. 19 is an individual residing in the State of Nevada. 4. JANE DOE NO. 20 is an individual residing in the State of Florida. 5. JANE DOE NO. 21 is an individual residing in the State of New York. 6. JANE DOE NO. 22 is an individual residing in the State of Georgia. Defendants 7. GIRLSDOPORN.COM is a business organization, form unknown, with its principal place of business in San Diego County, California. 8. BLL MEDIA, INC. is a California corporation with its principal place of business in San Diego County, California. 9. BLL MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC is a Nevada limited liability company with its principal place of business in Clark County, Nevada. 10. DOMI PUBLICATIONS, LLC is a Nevada limited liability company with its principal place of business in Clark County, Nevada. 11. EG PUBLICATIONS, INC. is a California corporation with its principal place of business in San Diego County, California. 12. M1M MEDIA, LLC is a California limited liability company with its principal place of business in San Diego County, California. 13. BUBBLEGUM FILMS, INC. is a business organization, form unknown, with, on information and belief, its "principal place of business" in Port Vila, Vanuatu. 14. OH WELL MEDIA LIMITED is a business organization, form unknown, with, on information and belief, its "principal place of business" in Port Vila, Vanuatu. 3 COMPLAINT 1 15. 2 Diego County, California. 3 16. 4 place of business in Clark County, Nevada. 5 17. 6 foreign nation it is incorporated in. 7 18. 8 with its principal place of business in San Diego, California. 9 19. MERRO MEDIA, INC. is a California corporation with its principal place of business in San MERRO MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC is a Nevada limited liability company with its principal CLOCKWORK PRODUCTIONS, INC. is a corporation. Plaintiffs are unaware of what state or UHD PRODUCTIONS, LLC is a limited liability company organized in the State of Wyoming BUBBLEGUM FILMS, LTD is a business organization, form unknown, with, on information 10 and belief, its "principal place of business" in Port Vila, Vanuatu. 11 20. 12 foreign nation it is incorporated in. 13 21. 14 nation it is incorporated in. 15 22. 16 HOLDINGS, LLC, DOMI PUBLICATIONS, LLC, EG PUBLICATIONS, INC., M1M MEDIA, LLC, 17 BUBBLEGUM FILMS, INC., OH WELL MEDIA LIMITED, MERRO MEDIA, INC., MERRO 18 MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC; CLOCKWORK PRODUCTIONS, INC., UHD PRODUCTIONS, LLC, 19 BUBBLEGUM FILMS, LTD., GREENHILL SERVICES, LTD, SIDLE MEDIA LIMITED and ROES 20 1 - 250 ("THE ENTITY DEFENDANTS") are entities in the business of online pornography 21 production, distribution, and sales. On information and belief, THE ENTITY DEFENDANTS own 22 and/or operate numerous online pornography websites, including, without limitation, 23 www.girlsdoporn.com , www.girlsdotoys.com and www.mompov.com . 24 23. 25 On information and belief, he is a sales agent and representative, and the majority or sole shareholder, 26 managing member, and/or chief executive officer of each of THE ENTITY DEFENDANTS. 27 24. 28 information and belief, he is a sales agent and representative for each of THE ENTITY DEFENDANTS 4 GREENHILL SERVICES, LTD. is a corporation. Plaintiffs are unaware of what state or SIDLE MEDIA LIMITED is a corporation. Plaintiffs are unaware of what state or foreign On information and belief, GIRLSDOPORN.COM, BLL MEDIA, INC., BLL MEDIA MICHAEL J. PRATT ("PRATT") is an individual residing in San Diego County, California. ANDRE GARCIA ("GARCIA") is an individual residing in San Diego County, California. On COMPLAINT — as well as a participant and "actor" in their pornography. 25. MATTHEW WOLFE ("WOLFE") is an individual residing in San Diego County, California. On information and belief, he is a sales agent and representative for each of THE ENTITY DEFENDANTS — as well as a videographer of their pornography. 26. RIVA YOUSIF ("YOUSIF") is an individual residing in San Diego County, California. 27. THEODORE GYI ("GYI") is an individual residing in San Diego County, California. 28. VALERIE MOSER ("MOSER") is an individual residing in San Diego County, California. 29. KAILYN WRIGHT ("WRIGHT") is an individual that Plaintiffs are informed and believe and thereon allege lives in Maricopa County, Arizona. 30. On information and belief, ROES 251 —500 are other shareholders, members, officers, sales agents, representatives, videographers, and/or "actors" of THE ENTITY DEFENDANTS. 31. Plaintiffs are ignorant of the true names, capacities, and/or liabilities of defendants sued herein as ROES 1 - 550, inclusive, and therefore sue these defendants by such fictitious names and allege that ROES 1 - 550 are responsible in some manner for the occurrences herein alleged. Plaintiffs will amend this complaint to allege their true names, capacities, and/or liabilities when ascertained. 32. In doing all things alleged herein, including, without limitation, corresponding, negotiating, and contracting with Plaintiffs, Defendants were agents, servants, representatives, partners, joint venturers, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, and/or employees of each other in the acts and/or omissions herein alleged. Defendants were and are acting within the course and scope of their authority as such agents, servants, representatives, partners, joint venturers, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, and/or employees and with the permission, authorization, consent, and ratification of each other. 33. In doing all things alleged herein, including, without limitation, corresponding, negotiating, and contracting with Plaintiffs, THE ENTITY DEFENDANTS, PRATT, GARCIA, WOLFE, GYI, MOSER, YOUSIF, WRIGHT, and ROES 251 — 550 acted as alter egos of each other. In particular, they: (a) commingled their funds and other assets, failed to segregate funds between them, and have without authorization diverted corporate funds and assets for noncorporate uses; (b) treated each other's assets as their own; (c) issued shares of one other to themselves and third parties haphazardly and without authority; (d) held themselves out as being personally liable for the debts of each other; (e) 5 COMPLAINT failed to maintain minutes and corporate records, and confused of the records of the separate entities; (t) used the same business locations and employed the same employees; (g) failed to adequately capitalize the entities; (h) used each other as a conduit for a single venture of themselves; (i) failed to maintain arm's length relationships among themselves; and (j) diverted assets without consideration from/to one another to the detriment of creditors, including Plaintiffs. Recognition of the privilege of separate existences between these defendants would promote injustice, unfairness, and fraud. Any separateness is to be disregarded. As such, Defendants are jointly and severally liable in this action as alter egos. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 34. This Court has jurisdiction over Defendants as they are physically present in San Diego County, California and/or because Defendants committed the subject acts and omissions in San Diego County, California. 35. Venue is proper as San Diego County is where Defendants reside and have their principal place of business, the subject contracts were entered into, and/or the obligations and liability arose. FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS Defendants' Business Scam: Lie to Young Women and Con them into Online Pornography 36. Defendants collectively run pornography websites, the main website being www.girlsdopom.com , a subscription-based amateur pornography website, which gets more traffic than the San Diego Padres website. Defendants also collectively operate subscription based websites www.mompov.com and www.girlsdotoys.com . In addition, Defendants have numerous free websites where they publish short clips of the videos as advertisements for their subscription-based websites. Defendants also run advertising websites that link to each of their subscription-based websites. For example, Defendants' website www.girls-do-pom.com , which features Plaintiffs' likenesses, contains advertisements and links to Defendants' "sister website" www.mompov.com . Likewise, Defendants' website www.mompov.net, contains advertisements and links to www.girlsdoporn.com . Defendants use offshore shell companies set up by a group notorious for money laundering and tax evasion to run their fraudulent operation 37. Although Defendants use several entities to run the three subscription websites, they are 6 COMPLAINT 1 inextricably linked as a single operation run by a handful of people out of the same office space in 2 downtown San Diego, California, operated by the same credit card processing companies, and utilizing 3 the same sham offshore entities set up by the infamous GT Group, Ltd, which has laundered billions of 4 dollars for nefarious business operations such as the Sinoalan Cartel and Ukrainian gun runners. GT 5 Group Ltd. operates out of the tiny Pacific island nation, Vanuatu. It website, since taken offline, 6 boasted: GT Group Offshore has three typical packages for Nominee Services, allowing you to achieve total privacy for yourself or your client. Through our vast experience and knowledge of offshore services, we have been able to package these services to suit almost any requirement. Should you seek something slightly different to our standard options, please talk to us. It is also important to note that the fees shown below are our retail fees. For your special discount price, please talk to us. 7 8 9 10 38. For a Level III package, the customer gets: 11 - Two Nominee Directors / Shareholders / Managers - Printing your prepared documents - Signing of up to 50 documents - Power of Attorney, signed by both Nominees with Apostille (you provide the name & details for our standard POA) - Standard Resignation letter from each director - Copy of each Directors Passport with Notarial Certification - Notarisation and Apostille of one more document 12 13 14 15 16 To provide this "nominee" service, GT Group Limited incorporates thousands of shell 17 39. 18 companies that, on paper, list a local (i.e. the "nominees") as the director, shareholder and officer of the 19 company. GT Group Limited then pays these locals to sign the documents necessary to keep its shell 20 companies in good standing. However, the locals play no part in the shell companies other than signing 21 the documents. GT Group Limited then contracts with people seeking to utilize the anonymity of these 22 shell companies owned by the locals to conduct business anonymously. Defendant Oh Well Media 23 Limited, for example, is owned on paper by Abigail Kalopung—a local on Vanuatu. She is the sole 24 shareholder, officer and director of Oh Well Media Ltd. By paying GT Group Limited's fee, 25 Defendants, however, control Oh Well Media Limited, giving them the ability to open bank accounts 26 and enter into contracts in the company's name. 27 40. Defendants have set up at least three sham entities using GT Group Limited. Defendants' 28 7 COMPLAINT I website www.girlsdopom.com indicates that it uses Oh Well Media Limited as its 2257 1 custodian and 2 lists its address as P.O. Box 6195, Port Vila, Vanuatu 65774, Poteau 540 208, Ave Due Capitain Cook 3 Seaside, Port Vila, Vanuatu 65774. Defendants' website www.girlsdopom.com lists its 2257 custodian 4 as Sidle Media Limited, P.O. Box 6193 Port Villa, Vanuatu, Poteau 540 208, Ave Due Capitain Cook 5 Seaside, Port Vila, Vanuatu 65774. Finally, Defendants' other subscription website 6 www.mompov.com lists its 2257 custodian of records as "BUBBLEGUMFILMS INC" (sic), do UT 7 Group Limited, 1st Floor Pacific Building, Port Vila, Vanuatu 65774. www.girlsdopom.com used to 8 list Bubblegum Films Inc. as its 2257 custodian at this same address but has since changed it to a 9 different sham entity started by UT Group Limited named Oh Well Media Limited. 10 Defendants lie to the victims, repeatedly 11 41. 12 have never appeared in pornography before, are often paying their way through school, and are just 13 beginning their careers and adulthood. So, there is only way Defendants can convince these women to 14 have sex on film or produce other adult video material: Defendants lie to them. 15 42. 16 modeling agency - on Craigslist and other websites. Defendants' Craigslist advertisements fail to even 17 mention that they are an online pornography company. Instead, they claim they are seeking models, 18 and often times contain a link in the Craigslist advertisement to www.beginemodelling.com or 19 www modelinggigs.com . Neither of these websites mention anything about pornography. Using the 20 impression that they are applying for a typical modeling gig for, at most, swimsuit or lingerie, these 21 sham websites lure women into providing Defendants with pictures of themselves and their name, age, 22 height, weight, state, city, email, and phone number. If Defendants feel they have attracted a proper 23 target, they reach out to the women by phone and/or email in order to feel the women out more. Once 24 on the phone, Defendants are able to brazenly lie to the women without the fear of putting their lies in 25 writing, and in hopes of being able to cajole the women into filming a pornography. 26 27 28 The young women appearing in Defendants' amateur pornography come from good families, Defendants advertise themselves across the country as a legitimate Southern California 18 U.S.C. 2257 requires pornography companies to collect certain information from all persons appearing in the pornographic films the produce to ensure they are over 18 years of age. Despite being operated out of San Diego, Defendants list Oh Well Media Limited, Sidle Media Ltd. and Bubblegum Films, Inc. as their 2257 custodians on their websites www.girlsdopom.com , www.girlsdotoys.com and www.mompov.com , respectively. The entities have the same address in Vanuatu--- Poteau 540 208, Ave Due Capitain Cook, Seaside, Port Vila,Vanuatu 65774. 8 COMPLAINT 43. When the young women ask Defendants where they will distribute the video, Defendants assure them that they will not post the video online (or cause it to be so posted), they will not distribute the video in the United States (or cause is to be so distributed), and they will keep each woman anonymous. Defendants represent the videos will be on DVDs overseas (usually in Australia or New Zealand since Defendants' themselves are from there and have an accent) and for private use. 44. If still not convinced by their lies, Defendants provide "references" who Defendants claim previously shot a video (but, whose video is not yet released), to vouch for Defendants and promise the same security, limited distribution, and anonymity. In addition, Defendants use several references that either have not shot a video, or who know the videos are being posted online but are comfortable lying to the prospective victims in order to earn a few dollars. Defendants coach the references on how to handle various questions from the prospective women. As further incentive to lie to the women, Defendants pay the reference more money if the prospective victim they speak with actually ends up filming a video. Defendant WRIGHT is such an individual. WRIGHT filmed a video for Defendants that was released in the Spring of 2015. WRIGHT was aware of Defendants' websites, that the women's names would be released, but nevertheless acted as a reference for Defendants and repeatedly lied to prospective victims by telling them the videos would not be posted online, and would instead be released on DVDs in foreign countries. 45. For example, on February 24, 2016 at 7:23pm, a victim of Defendants' fraudulent scheme received an email from "Jonathan N jobs@beginmodeling.com " stating: This is Kaitlin, she is 19. She is from Scottsdale, AZ and has done 2 shoots with us. We pretty much paid for her breast job and she is recovering. She also worked with the same talent that you will work with Here is her cell: (480) ***-****, [Formatting and sics in original.] The email had photographs of defendant WRIGHT attached. 46. An hour or so after this email, on February 24, 2016, the victim received a text message from (480) ***-****, which is the same phone number Jonathan provided for WRIGHT. The following text exchange occurred between the victim and WRIGHT (Defendants' paid agent): 9 COMPLAINT WRIGHT: 2 3 4 Okay so I am a very easily sketched out person when it comes to stuff like this I was very Nervous but once I got there I felt like a complete idiot because I realized I had nothing to worry about haha - lowkey was a little embarrassed haha (emojis omitted) The model is super hot which is nice (emojis omitted) and the photographer is super cool 5 6 7 8 It's you, the model, and the photographer in the room and no one else so it's not uncomfortable or anything which is chill Girl if you have any questions please **DO NOT**hesitate to text me or call or FaceTime or whatever!!!! (emojis omitted) 9 10 11 VICTIM: 12 13 14 WRIGHT: No prob! And no they aren't! VICTIM: Is there anyway they can get back to the US? I just have this shaky thing with this guy I like love and I can't have anyone find out WRIGHT: No no no you're totally fine! 17 That's what I was worried about but there is absolutely no way anyone will find out 18 19 20 Hey thank you for being so nice! That's exactly where I am at! These aren't distributed in America right? 15 16 Hey [victim's name omitted] my name is Kailyn- Jonathon gave me your contact info! lm sure you're nervous or maybe even sketched out a little bit but you seriously have nothing to worry about! It's completely legit, once you land (if you're flying in from out of town that is*) you will be picked up in a nice car and taken to where you are shooting your scene and all that OH AND they pay you in cash up front! VICTIM: Where are the videos going exactly? Like DVDs I think he said in Australia UK, but like DVDs or .. ? WRIGHT: Yeah so it goes out to wealthier countries; yea DVDs and stuff like that but nothing online! 21 22 47. In their discussions with these young woman, Defendants use aliases and mention nothing about 23 their website(s) where they plan to post the videos, or the websites on which they plan to publically 24 promote and advertise the videos. Defendants also mention nothing about: (a) all of the other young 25 women whose lives they have irreparably damaged earlier by Defendants' video publication and 26 promotion (b) all of the other young women imploring them to stop and to take down their videos; and 27 (c) all of the complaints that they (and their legal counsel) have received from other young women and 28 their families. 10 COMPLAINT 48. After Defendants lie to the young women, they book rooms at upscale San Diego County hotels, most often at major high-end chains in downtown San Diego (e.g., Hilton, Hyatt, Marriot). If the young women are not in Southern California, Defendants book flights for the women. 49. Defendant YOUSIF, MOSER or GARCIA typically pick the women up from the airport. In the car, they reassure the women Defendants will not publish the videos on the Internet. 50. Once the young women are confined to the hotel room, Defendants tell the women they look nervous, need to relax and then try to persuade them to drink alcohol and/or smoke marijuana, which GARCIA consumes regardless of whether the women choose to do so. YOUSIF typically acts as the makeup artist for most women. While applying makeup, YOUSIF again reassures the women the video will not be released online, and generally appeases any concerns the women express. 51. Before filming begins, GARCIA asks the women to take off their clothes so that they may take pictures to send to the "boss." After sending the pictures to the boss. Defendants routinely tell the women, after they have flown to San Diego, are naked, and confined in a hotel room, that the boss cannot pay them the agreed upon price because the woman has cellulite, a bruise, breast reduction scars, too small breasts, tattoos, etc. Defendants routinely accuse the women of sending them misleading pictures in hopes to con the women into accepting less than they were promised before flying to San Diego. If the woman refuses to shoot the film for less money, Defendants threaten to sue the woman for the price of the flight and hotel room Defendants had paid for or threaten to cancel the woman's return flight, which Defendants booked and have control over. The vast majority of women flown to San Diego are paid less than the agreed upon amount when they decided to board a plane and fly across the country. 52. After the repeated misrepresentations, and sometimes after alcohol and marijuana Defendants provide, and while confined in a hotel room with unknown men, Defendants present the women with documents to sign: (a) often under duress, coercion, and/or while distracting or rushing them; (b) while continuing to orally misrepresent their intent for the video's eventual distribution; (c) while continuing to fraudulently omit the material facts referenced herein (e.g., that they work for a San Diego-based pornography website that has damaged other young women's lives); and (d) often lying about the purported nature and effect of the documents. The documents are full of legalese and fail to mention 11 COMPLAINT www.girlsdoporn.com or any of the free public websites that Defendants intend to publish the videos. Instead, the documents indicate Defendants work for "Bubblegum Casting" or "BLL Media." If the names of these companies are Googled, which several women have done when presented with the documents, the companies have sham websites that give the impression they are legit media companies. Nothing on either of these websites indicates the videos are destined for www.girlsdopom.com , any of Defendants' other websites, or free websites like www.pornhub.com , where Defendants' videos have been viewed almost 500 million times. 53. A few months after filming, despite their earlier representations, Defendants release the videos on, at least, www.girlsdoporn.com (their monthly subscription-based website) and www.girls-doporn.corn (a free website with clips of the videos that then directs the user to www.girlsdopom.com ). Defendants also release/license all or part of the videos all over the Internet on a multiple of free pornography websites — in part, to advertise www.girlsdoporn.com with the images and likenesses of the young women. Defendants post clips of the videos on popular websites like www.youpomcom or www.pornhub.com as advertisements. 54. Interestingly, and by no accident, GARCIA'S (and any other male participant's) face is intentionally cut from the frame and not shown in any video released by Defendants. Soon after the release, someone who knows one of the young women will notify them the video is online. This becomes the first time the young women have ever heard of Defendants' main website: www.girlsdopom.com . 55. When the young women reach out to Defendants, they discover Defendants have changed their phone numbers (they use disposable phones and/or changeable Internet phone numbers) and have also used fake names (e.g., PRATT often uses "Mark," GARCIA often uses "Jonathan," and WOLFE often uses "Ben" or "Isaac"). Defendants then refuse to talk to the women, hang up on them, and/or block their calls. If the women get in contact with Defendants' counsel, they refuse to even give Plaintiffs copies of any signed documents and threaten them with legal action. 56. After Defendants cause the videos to be distributed online, Defendants, their subscribers, and/or Internet stalkers release Plaintiffs' real names online, usually on blogs followed by "fans" and subscribers of www.girlsdoporn.com . Defendants also post pictures of Plaintiffs on 12 COMPLAINT . 1 www.pomwikilealcs.com , which they bought in November 2015. The posts on 2 www.pornwikilealcs.com also contain links to the women's social media accounts, their family's social 3 media accounts, high school information and other personal information that would gamer attention 4 from people that want to find out intimate details about the women. Defendants then embed 5 advertisements inside the posts on www.pornwilcilealcs.com that link to their subscription websites. As 6 a result (of which Defendants are cognizant), third parties often then stalk, harass, bully, and blackmail 7 the young women and their families — online, by telephone, and in-person. 8 57. 9 wildfire through their hometowns, colleges, high schools, and workplace. Within a day or two, almost Once Defendants release the five to ten minute clip of the woman's video, it spreads like 10 every person the woman knows has been sent a link to the video. This appears to be designed by 11 Defendants in order to make the videos go viral by sending links to people close to Plaintiffs on social 12 media—whether it be family, friends, classmates, sorority members, etc., all of which can be gleaned 13 from viewing the Plaintiffs social media accounts. Thus, when high school or college classmates or 14 coworkers get a link for the five to ten minute clip Defendants released, they are inclined to purchase a 15 subscription to Defendants' websites to see the entire 45 minute video. 16 58. 17 others, and family. Some lose or change jobs, and some are forced to leave their school. Months to 18 years after the videos, many are still harassed by strangers on the Internet. And almost all have 19 suffered severe psychological and emotional damage -- some have even considered and even attempted 20 suicide. 21 59. 22 JANE DOE NO. 17 23 60. 24 a fill-time student. While searching for modeling jobs on Craigslist.com , JANE DOE NO. 17 25 discovered a modeling advertisement for "Begin Modeling." The advertisement contained a link to 26 www.beginmodeling.com . As alleged above, www.beginmodeling.com website features modeling 27 pictures, not pornography. Believing it was a typical modeling job, JANE DOE NO. 17 responded the 28 advertisement indicating she was interested. Because of Defendants, some of these young women lose relationships with friends, significant Below, are more specific facts and claims relating to six young women. Around July 2015, JANE DOE NO. 17 was pursuing modeling as a career, in addition to being 13 COMPLAINT 1 61. JANE DOE NO. 17 spoke with "Stephen" on the telephone and via text message about what the 2 job would entail. JANE DOE NO. 17 is informed and believes that "Stephen" is really defendant 3 MATTHEW WOLFE. WOLFE told JANE DOE NO. 17 that she would be taking "artistic pictures" 4 and that some nudity would be involved. WOLFE told her she would be paid $650 for the shoot. 5 During these discussions, WOLFE never told JANE DOE NO. 17 the job would entail pornography or 6 that he and the other defendants operated www.girlsdopom.com , had filmed hundreds of pornographic 7 videos and published them on the Internet. 8 62. 9 reference that she could speak with. She spoke with "Kaylin," whom she is informed and believes is 10 defendant KAILYN WRIGHT. WRIGHT told JANE DOE NO. 17 a few things about the shoot, but 11 never mentioned pornography. WRIGHT told JANE DOE NO. 17 that she felt very comfortable with 12 Defendants and that they were very nice men. 13 63. 14 there, JANE DOE NO. 17 met WOLFE, who took her to the MAC store in Fashion Valley mall to get 15 her makeup done. WOLFE still had not advised JANE DOE NO. 17 the job was to film pornography. 16 After the mall, the two returned to the Omni Hotel. 17 64. 18 JANE DOE NO. 17 told him she would not film a pornography. WOLFE then offered three times the 19 amount they had previously offered for the photos. JANE DOE NO. 17 refused again. WOLFE and 20 GARCIA then told JANE DOE NO. 17 that she had nothing to worry about because the videos would 21 never be released online. They then gave JANE DOE NO. 17 a vodka cranberry cocktail to drink to, as 22 they put it, "loosen up." WOLFE became agitated when JANE DOE NO. 17 would still not agree to 23 shoot the video. He then told her how she had caused them the spend large amounts of money and time 24 setting up the shoot. He then offered her $4,000. 25 65. 26 anonymous, and needing money, JANE DOE NO. 17 reluctantly agreed to film the video under the 27 belief that it would never be posted on the Internet. 28 66. To ensure she was comfortable with the nudity, WOLFE provided JANE DOE NO. 17 with a WOLFE told JANE DOE NO. 17 to meet her at the Omni Hotel in downtown San Diego. Once Once they reached the hotel room, WOLFE causally mentioned it would be a pornography. Based on the representations made by WOLFE and GARCIA that she would remain Prior to filming, GARCIA offered JANE DOE NO. 17 a hit of the marijuana he was smoking. 14 COMPLAINT 1 GARCIA told her that he should not have let her smoke it but it would be "our secret." 2 67. 3 the video and how to answer questions. Multiple times during the filming of the interview portion, 4 WOLFE would make JANE DOE NO. 17 re-answer questions because she was either not acting happy 5 enough or did not like the answer. For example, at the time, JANE DOE NO. 17 was not dating 6 anyone. WOLFE did not like that answer and told her to say she had a boyfriend. In addition, she told 7 them she agreed to film the video because she needed the money to pay rent. They did not like this 8 response, and asked her to change it. 9 68. GARCIA and WOLFE coached JANE DOE NO. 17 how to act during the interview portion of The filming was very painful. During one portion, JANE DOE NO. 17 gagged, vomited into 10 her mouth, and choked. She told them she needed to stop and go to the bathroom. They told her to stay 11 there and finish the scene. At one point during the filming, she was in such pain that she started crying. 12 WOLFE stopped filming, demanded that she go to the restroom to fix her makeup, and then re-shoot 13 the entire scene over. At this time, JANE DOE NO. 17 told WOLFE that she was wanted to leave the 14 hotel room and go for a walk to get some fresh air. WOLFE and GARCIA would not let her leave and 15 forced her to stand on the balcony instead. WOLFE told JANE DOE NO. 17 she needed to "get over 16 it" and that they would keep re-recording the scenes until she looked "into it." 17 69. 18 friends and family quickly learned of the video. JANE DOE NO. 17 tried calling WOLFE, but he 19 blocked her number. 20 JANE DOE NO. 18 21 70. 22 found a posting that included a link to the website www.ModelingGigs.com . As alleged above, this 23 website did not mention pornography and instead featured pictures of clothed women in typical 24 modeling poses. JANE DOE NO. 18 responded to the advertisement thinking it was for modeling. 25 71. 26 During her conversations, Mark told JANE DOE NO. 18 she would be paid $4,500 to shoot with a 27 male. JANE DOE NO. 18 told Mark she had serious concerns that it would end up online, and that she 28 was concerned her friends and family would find the video. Mark assured her they would not publish 15 A few months later, a friend sent JANE DOE NO. 17 a link to the video. Thereafter, all of her Around January 2016, JANE DOE NO. 18 was searching for modeling jobs on Craigslist. She She received a call from "Mark" and began exchanging emails, phone calls and text messages. COMPLAINT the video on the Internet and it would instead be distributed in DVD. Mark informed JANE DOE NO. 18 that the video would be distributed in Australia and South America. 72. Mark provided a reference for JANE DOE NO. 18 to speak with, which she did. The reference told JANE DOE NO. 18 that the Defendants were great to work with and the job was easy. 73. JANE DOE NO. 18 flew to San Diego on or about January 26, 2016. At this time, she believed she had the opportunity to either shoot still frame photographs, as depicted on the website, or film a pornography. 74. When she arrived, defendant GYI picked up JANE DOE NO. 18 from the airport and took her to GARCIA's apartment. JANE DOE NO. 18 waited there for hours alone until the makeup artist to arrive. The makeup artist arrived, did JANE DOE NO. 18's makeup, and then her, GARCIA and GYI went to a hotel. On the way to the hotel, GARCIA stopped to buy marijuana. 75. JANE DOE NO. 18 again asked GARCIA and GYI about the distribution of the video. GARCIA and GYI assured her it would not be published on the Internet. 76. Once at the hotel, GARCIA and GYI presented JANE DOE NO. 18 with documents to sign. They told JANE DOE NO. 18 the documents were just permission to use the video overseas. They again told JANE DOE NO. 18 the video would never be posted online, would never distributed in the United States, that the video would never be connected to her, and that she would remain anonymous. GARCIA and GYI yelled at JANE DOE NO. 18 that they were in a hurry and that she just needed to sign them so they could start. 77. JANE DOE NO. 18 told GARCIA and GYI she was nervous. GARCIA and GYI therefore gave her marijuana and several shots of vodka. They also told JANE DOE NO. 18 she could stop filming at any time. 78. Prior to filming the interview portion, GARCIA and GYI coached JANE DOE NO. 18 on what to say and how to act. She advised them she was not comfortable lying, and they pushed her to do so. They also told her she needed to act flirtatious and excited to be there, even if she was not. They made JANE DOE NO. 18 re-film different portions of the interview scene if they were not happy with her answer, or if she was not flirtatious or excited enough. 79. During filming, JANE DOE NO. 18 told GARCIA and GYI that she was in serious pain. 16 COMPLAINT I Several times, GYI stopped filming because JANE DOE NO. 18 was in visible pain. When she told 2 them how much pain she was in, GARCIA and GYI assured JANE DOE NO. 18 the shoot was almost 3 over, which it was not. The shoot continued on for hours. Eventually, JANE DOE NO. 18 began 4 bleeding vaginally. She demanded that GARCIA stop, and told GARCIA and GYI she was leaving. 5 When she tried to leave, GARCIA and GYI blocked the hotel room door and pushed her back. They 6 then told her that if she did not finish filming, they would take back all of her money, publish what 7 footage they already had online with her name attached to it, and cancel her return flight home. With 8 nowhere to go, and because Defendants controlled her flight home, JANE DOE NO. 18 had no choice 9 but to abide by GARCIA and GYI's commands until they were done with her. 10 80. 11 room, and film a "solo shoot" the next day, which she had never agreed to do. JANE DOE NO. 18 told 12 them to leave, but they refused and ordered room service. GARCIA and GYI smoked more marijuana 13 and began watching television. Despite being promised four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500), 14 GARCIA only paid JANE DOE NO. 18 $3,000. JANE DOE NO. 18 told them she was owed more 15 money, and GARCIA said she could speak with Mark about that in the morning. Eventually, they left. 16 81. 17 she would get to the airport. Mark told her someone would pick her up in the same black Escalade 18 they had previously picked her up from the airport in. 19 82. 20 Escalade. JANE DOE NO. 18 got in believing the man was taking her to the airport. The man drove 21 JANE DOE NO. 18 to the airport. However, once there, he told her that Mark had cancelled her flight 22 (which was scheduled for 10:19am) because she was going to shoot the solo video—something she had 23 repeatedly refused to do. The driver advised JANE DOE NO. 18 he had driven to the airport because 24 he was there to pick up another young woman, which they did. The man drove the two women back to 25 GARCIA's apartment. 26 83. 27 she needed to leave immediately. In response, "Mark" told JANE DOE NO. 18 they had paid her less 28 because her body was not as good as they thought, that she was "immature" for bringing up money, and 17 Once filming ended, GARCIA and GYI told JANE DOE NO. 18 she had to stay in the hotel The next morning, JANE DOE NO. 18 called Mark to ask when her flight home was and how Another man she did not recognize picked JANE DOE NO. 18 up from the hotel in the black There, JANE DOE NO. 18 called "Mark" and told him she was owed the full $4,500 and that COMPLAINT that if she wanted the full $4,500 she would have to film the solo scene. Mark continued to yell at her on the phone trying to convince her to do the solo shoot. JANE DOE NO. 18 refused, and Mark eventually agreed fly her home that day. 84. Around February 15, 2016, JANE DOE NO. 18 received a text message from high school friend with a link to the video. Thereafter, the video spread quickly to every one of JANE DOE NO. 18's friends and family. 85. JANE DOE NO. 18 is informed and believes and thereon alleges that "Mark" is actually defendant PRATT. JANE DOE NO. 19 86. Around November 2016, JANE DOE NO. 19 responded to the advertisement and corresponded with who she believes was defendant PRATT by email and text message. PRATT told her that the job was 30 minutes and only to the level to which she was comfortable. JANE DOE NO. 19 asked PRATT where the scenes would be distributed. PRATT told her they would not post the video online, they would not distribute the video in the United States, and that she would remain anonymous. JANE DOE NO. 19 also spoke with two reference women, who ratified PRATT'S representations. 87. On November 15, 2016 around 7:00 p.m., YOUSIF picked JANE DOE NO. 19 up at the San Diego airport and drove her to the Omni San Diego Hotel in downtown San Diego. YOUSIF concealed the fact JANE DOE NO. 19' modeling job was actually video pornography and destined for www.GirlsDoPom.com , for which she has worked for years. 88. After JANE DOE NO. 19 arrived at the Omni San Diego Hotel, YOUSIF called PRATT and GYI, but no cameraman showed up. So, Defendants cancelled her flight home and made her stay in the room alone all night. 89. Around 9:00 a.m. on November 16, 2016, PRATT, GARCIA (going by his alias "Jonathan"), GYI and a man named "Markus" arrived. JANE DOE NO. 19 told the four (4) men she was uncomfortable and asked to fly home to Seattle. The four men got angry and cancelled her flight yet again, then locked the hotel room. They told her she had to do the pornography video, offered her $4,000, and would only get her a flight home to Seattle when it was over. 90. Defendants then offered JANE DOE NO. 19 alcohol and marijuana (which GARCIA was 18 COMPLAINT 1 already drinking and smoking), but she declined. Defendants then handed her documents to sign, but 2 would not allow her to read them and again represented that she would remain anonymous. They 3 assured her there was nothing to worry about, promised her privacy, and said nobody she knew would 4 see the videos. The Defendants promised to email JANE DOE NO. 19 what she signed, but later 5 refused to. 6 91. 7 home, JANE DOE NO. 19 participated in the video. While making the video, JANE DOE NO. 19 told 8 them she was uncomfortable and wanted to leave. Defendants told her there was no option to stop. 9 While making the video, JANE DOE NO. 19 was forced to perform sexual acts she did not agree to; if Relying on Defendants' representations of foreign, discrete distribution, and wanting to fly 10 she declined, GARCIA would manipulate her aggressively. 11 92. 12 her $3,000, telling her, among other things, that her "body was a 10, but her face was a 7." 13 93. 14 www.girlsdoporn.com and other websites, which were then discovered by her family, friends, co- 15 workers, and employer. JANE DOE NO. 19 emailed PRATT asking him to take down the video, but 16 he ignored her. JANE DOE NO. 19 called PRATT, then he said he did not know her and hung up. 17 JANE DOE NO. 19 then texted PRATT, saying she would have a lawyer contact him. PRATT replied 18 with the following threat and denigration by text message: "lol yeah good luck we got all convos and 19 the entire fucking shoot on video your a joke [sic]." 20 94. 21 and her contact information (social media, phone, email, etc.) on other websites. People then harassed 22 JANE DOE NO. 19 through social media, text message, and by phone. She has had to go to counseling 23 for suicidal thoughts, is often unable to go out in public, has lost friends, and has had to delete her 24 social media and change her phone number. 25 JANE DOE NO. 20 26 95. 27 www.modelingwork.com. That website, like the others, mentions nothing about pornography and 28 appears to be a company that photographs fashion models. 19 After the video, Defendants refused to pay JANE DOE NO. 19 the full $4,000, and only paid Around January 2017, Defendants released JANE DOE NO. 19' video on The Defendants, their subscribers, and/or third parties leaked JANE DOE NO. 19's real name Around September 2015, JANE DOE NO. 20 responded to a Craigslist ad for modeling for COMPLAINT 1 96. 2 DOE NO. 20 the job was for an adult film and they would pay her $5,000 for the video. As requested, 3 JANE DOE NO. 20 provided them with pictures of herself. During a phone call, Mike told JANE DOE 4 NO. 20 that the video would never be published online or distributed in the United States. He also 5 provided a phone number for "Cat" whom he said was a woman who had filmed a similar video that 6 could confirm the video would not be published on the Internet. JANE DOE NO. 20 and Cat 7 exchanged text messages and spoke on the phone. During these conversations, Cat advised that she had 8 filmed a video for Defendants and that her video was not online and that nobody she knows has ever 9 seen it. "Mike@modelingwork.com " responded to JANE DOE NO. 20. Mike eventually advised JANE 10 97. 11 20 had second thoughts and cancelled. Mike began calling JANE DOE NO. 20 repeatedly. When she 12 answered, Mike began trying to convince JANE DOE NO. 20 to recommit to filming. Mike confirmed 13 over and over that the video would not be published online. She again agreed to film the video based 14 on these promises and representations. 15 98. 16 the videos would not be published on the Internet, which they confirmed they would not do. GARCIA 17 represented the paperwork was for tax purposes. 18 99. 19 what Mark expected," and because she had tattoos—something that was clearly visible from the photos 20 she sent to Defendants before flying to San Diego. 21 100. 22 Thereafter, numerous people sent clips of the video to JANE DOE NO. 20 with rude and suggestive 23 comments. 24 JANE DOE NO. 21 25 101. 26 began speaking with "Jonathan N," who told her they were seeking women for an adult gig in Southern 27 California. Jonathan offered to pay JANE DOE NO. 21 $3,500 to shoot a 30 minute film. Jonathan 28 told JANE DOE NO. 21 the video would be distributed on DVD overseas and not in the United States, 20 Mike booked a flight for JANE DOE NO. 20 to fly to San Diego. However, JANE DOE NO. When they presented her with paperwork to sign, JANE DOE NO. 20 again sought reassurance Defendants only paid JANE DOE NO. 20 $2,500 because, as GARCIA put it, she was "not Around January 2016, Defendants published JANE DOE NO. 20's video on the Internet. In May 2015, JANE DOE NO. 21 responded to a Craigslist advertisement for modeling. She COMPLAINT 1 and assured they would not publish it on the Internet. Jonathan also told JANE DOE NO. 21 she could 2 view the male performer's STI results before the filming began 3 102. 4 references acted bubbly and enthusiastic about their experience with Defendants. The references never 5 mentioned they were paid, and confirmed the videos would not be released on the Internet. 6 103. 7 with Jonathan and the references. 8 104. 9 speaking that purported to be "Jonathan." During the shoot, GARCIA demanded that she have sex in 10 ways she had not agreed to during her phone calls with Jonathan. When JANE DOE NO. 21 said no, 11 GARCIA told her they'd already paid her and that she was obligated. 12 105. 13 representations that it would not be. 14 JANE DOE NO. 22 15 106. 16 with the headline "Females Escape The Snow And Make $5k." A person using the email "Johnathan : Jonathan provided names of several references with whom JANE DOE NO. 21 spoke. The JANE DOE NO. 21 agreed to fly to San Diego on the terms reached during these discussions JANE DOE NO. 21 discovered that defendant GARCIA was the man with whom she had been Around June 2015, Defendants released JANE DOE NO. 21 video despite the many Around January 2015, JANE DOE NO. 22 responded to a Craigslist advertisement for modeling 17 jobs@beginmodeling.com (sic)" told her the job would be 30 minutes of video and that "[n]one of your 18 personal information will be given out in the video or afterwards , no names etc are used in the video. 19 (sic)." Johnathan represented to JANE DOE NO. 22 the videos would be distributed on DVD in 20 Australia and New Zealand and would not be published online. 21 107. 22 videos for Defendants. 23 108. 24 published online and that she would remain anonymous. Defendants reiterated this when they provided 25 JANE DOE NO. 22 with a contract to sign. Each time, JANE DOE NO. 22 tried to read the documents 26 Defendants had provided her, but was rushed through by Defendants and she did not understand the 27 content she was able to read. She did, however, understand Defendants representation that they would 28 not post the videos on the Internet. Between January 2015 and July 2015, JANE DOE NO. 22 flew to San Diego and filmed three Before filming each video, Defendants assured JANE DOE NO. 22 the videos would not be 21 COMPLAINT 1 109. 2 online. When she contacted Defendants, they ignored her and blocked her phone calls. Mound August 2015, JANE DOE NO. 22 learned that Defendants had published her videos 3 CAUSES OF ACTION 4 FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION 5 INTENTIONAL MISREPRESENTATION 6 (All Plaintiffs against All Named Defendants and ROES 1 - 500) 7 110. 8 though set forth herein, including, without limitation, the agency and alter ego allegations. 9 111. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all of the preceding paragraphs contained in this complaint as During Plaintiffs' discussions and negotiations with Defendants before each made an adult 10 video for Defendants (and simultaneous with Plaintiffs' attempted review of any purported 11 agreements), Defendants represented: they would not post the videos online (or cause such publication), 12 they would not distribute the videos in the United States (or cause such publication), and that Plaintiffs 13 would remain anonymous. Defendants further represented at all times to Plaintiffs that would not cause 14 the videos to be posted online or distributed in the United States. Defendants at all times assured 15 Plaintiffs there was nothing to worry about, promised privacy, and said nobody Plaintiffs knew would 16 see the videos. Defendants caused other women to reiterate these representations to Plaintiffs. Finally, 17 Defendants represented they would pay Plaintiffs certain sums of money; as set forth above, some of 18 Plaintiffs did not receive the sums represented. 19 112. Those representations were false. 20 113. Defendants intended that Plaintiffs rely on the above representations when each young woman 21 decided to make an adult video. 22 114. Plaintiffs reasonably relied on the representations. 23 115. Plaintiffs have been harmed by their reasonable reliance in that Defendants published their 24 videos online, published their videos in the United States, and released Plaintiffs' real names. 25 116. 26 Plaintiffs have been harmed in an amount to be proven at trial, but that is, at least, $500,000 per 27 plaintiff, and consists of, at least: (a) serious emotional distress, including, but not limited to, bullying, 28 blackmail, loss of eating, loss of sleep, enduring fright, shock, nervousness, anxiety, depression, 22 Plaintiffs' reliance on these false representations was a substantial factor in causing their harm. COMPLAINT 1 embarrassment, mortification, shame, and fear; (b) compensatory damages, including, but not limited to 2 the difference in value in what the parties exchanged (i.e., the money Plaintiffs received for what they 3 were told was limited distribution and what Defendants profited through global distribution); and (c) 4 restitution / unjust enrichment damages (same calculation as the compensatory damages). The Plaintiff 5 also seek injunctive relief. 6 117. 7 representations and, when one of them made a representation, the others ratified the representation 8 and/or knew of the misrepresentation and failed to correct it. 9 118. Defendants were acting individually and on behalf of each other when they made each of these Defendants also acted in a conspiracy when they committed this fraud as: (1) each of 10 Defendants had knowledge of and agreed to both the objective and course of action to injure Plaintiffs; 11 (2) pursuant to their agreement, Defendants intentionally mislead Plaintiffs at the time and place and 12 via the manner set forth above; and (3) pursuant to their agreement, Defendants injured Plaintiffs, as set 13 forth above. 14 119. 15 of punitive damages pursuant to Section 3294 of the California Civil Code. Defendants' actions were fraudulent, oppressive, and malicious and therefore warrant an award 16 SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION 17 FRAUDULENT CONCEALMENT 18 (All Plaintiffs against All Named Defendants and ROES 1 — 500) 19 120. 20 though set forth herein, including, without limitation, the agency and alter ego allegations. 21 121. 22 video for Defendants (and simultaneous with Plaintiffs' attempted review of any purported 23 agreements), Defendants actively concealed their true identities (their individual names and, more 24 importantly, the identity of www.girlsdoporn.com , on which they intended to publish Plaintiffs nude 25 photos and sex acts). At all these times, they actively concealed the fact their true intention was to post 26 the videos online and distribute them in the United States — or cause such publication and distribution. 27 At all these times, Defendants also concealed the facts regarding: (a) all of the other young women 28 whose lives they have irreparably damaged earlier by Defendants' video publication and promotion; (b) 23 Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all of the preceding paragraphs contained in this complaint as During Plaintiffs' discussions and negotiations with Defendants before each made an adult COMPLAINT all of the other young women imploring them to stop and to take down their videos; and (c) all of the complaints that they (and their legal counsel) have received from other young women and their families. 122. Defendants owed Plaintiffs duties to disclose this information as, among other reasons, they provided some information to Plaintiffs during correspondence, and during contract and business negotiations. 123. Defendants knew of, but knowingly concealed, the true facts regarding their identifies, their website, their business, their video distribution, and the likelihood of injury to and harassment of Plaintiffs. 124. Defendants concealed these facts with the intent to induce Plaintiffs to make the adult videos. 125. The concealed information was objectively material to any reasonable person and caused Plaintiffs to make the adult videos. 126. Plaintiffs justifiably relied on Defendants' false representations. 127. Defendants' failure to disclose these material facts to Plaintiffs was substantial factor in causing their harm. Had Plaintiffs known of the undisclosed facts, they would not have made the adult videos. 128. Plaintiffs' reliance on these false representations was a substantial factor in causing their harm. Plaintiffs have been harmed in an amount to be proven at trial, but that is, at least, $500,000 per plaintiff; and consists of, at least: (a) serious emotional distress, including, but not limited to, bullying, blackmail, loss of eating, loss of sleep, enduring flight, shock, nervousness, anxiety, depression, embarrassment, mortification, shame, and fear; (b) compensatory damages, including, but not limited to the difference in value in what the parties exchanged (i.e., the money Plaintiffs received for what they were told was limited distribution and what Defendants profited through global distribution); and (c) restitution / unjust enrichment damages (same calculation as the compensatory damages). The Plaintiff also seek injunctive relief. 129. Defendants were acting individually and on behalf of each other when they made each of these omissions and, when one of them made an omission, the others ratified the omission and/or knew of the omission and failed to correct it. 130. Defendants also acted in a conspiracy when they committed this fraud as: (1) each of 24 COMPLAINT 1 Defendants had knowledge of and agreed 'to both the objective and course of action to injure Plaintiffs; 2 (2) pursuant to their agreement, Defendants intentionally mislead Plaintiffs at the time and place and 3 via the manner set forth above; and (3) pursuant to their agreement, Defendants injured Plaintiffs, as set 4 forth above. 5 131. 6 of punitive damages pursuant to Section 3294 of the California Civil Code. Defendants' actions were fraudulent, oppressive, and malicious and therefore warrant an award 7 THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION 8 FALSE PROMISE 9 (All Plaintiffs against All Named Defendants and ROES 1 - 500) 10 132. 11 though set forth herein, including, without limitation, the agency and alter ego allegations. 12 133. 13 video for Defendants (and simultaneous with Plaintiffs' attempted review of any purported 14 agreements), Defendants made promises to Plaintiffs that: they would not post the videos online (or 15 cause such publication), they would not distribute the videos in the United States (or cause such 16 publication), and Plaintiffs would remain anonymous. Defendants promised Plaintiffs that would not 17 cause the videos to be posted online or distributed in the United States. Defendants promised Plaintiffs 18 there was nothing to worry about, promised privacy, and promised nobody they knew would see the 19 videos. Finally, Defendants represented they would pay Plaintiffs certain sums of money; as set forth 20 above, some of Plaintiffs did not receive the sums represented. 21 134. 22 have otherwise made the adult videos. 23 135. 24 performed as promised. Defendants knew their promises were false and merely wanted Plaintiffs to 25 make the videos for Defendants' benefit. 26 136. 27 making the adult videos. 28 137. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all .of the preceding paragraphs contained in this complaint as During Plaintiffs' discussions and negotiations with Defendants before each made an adult Defendants' affirmative promises were of material fact and important as Plaintiffs would not Defendants did not intend to perform these promises at the times they made them, and have not Defendants intended to induce Plaintiffs to alter their positions in reliance on the promises by Plaintiffs justifiably and reasonably relied on Defendants' promises and Defendants' affirmative 25 COMPLAINT 1 promises were an immediate cause of Plaintiffs' conduct. 2 138. Defendants did not perform the promises. 3 139. As an actual and proximate cause of Defendants' false promises and Plaintiffs' justifiable 4 reliance, Plaintiffs were damaged in that Defendants posted the videos online, distributed the videos in 5 the United States, and released Plaintiffs' names. 6 140. 7 Plaintiffs have been harmed in an amount to be proven at trial, but that is, at least, $500,000 per 8 plaintiff, and consists of, at least: (a) serious emotional distress, including, but not limited to, bullying, 9 blackmail, loss of eating, loss of sleep, enduring fright, shock, nervousness, anxiety, depression, Plaintiffs' reliance on these false representations was a substantial factor in causing their harm. 10 embarrassment, mortification, shame, and fear; (b) compensatory damages, including, but not limited to 11 the difference in value in what the parties exchanged (i.e., the money Plaintiffs received for what they 12 were told was limited distribution and what Defendants profited through global distribution); and (c) 13 restitution / unjust enrichment damages (same calculation as the compensatory damages). The Plaintiff 14 also seek injunctive relief. 15 141. 16 omissions and, when one of them made a false promise, the others ratified it, and/or knew of the false 17 promise and failed to correct it. 18 142. 19 Defendants had knowledge of and agreed to both the objective and course of action to injure Plaintiffs; 20 (2) pursuant to their agreement, Defendants intentionally mislead Plaintiffs at the rime and place and 21 via the manner set forth above; and (3) pursuant to their agreement, Defendants injured Plaintiffs, as set 22 forth above. 23 143. 24 of punitive damages pursuant to Section 3294 of the California Civil Code. Defendants were acting individually and on behalf of each other when they made each of these Defendants also acted in a conspiracy when they committed this fraud as: (1) each of Defendants' actions were fraudulent, oppressive, and malicious and therefore warrant an award 25 FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION 26 NEGLIGENT MISREPRESENTATION 27 (All Plaintiffs against All Named Defendants and ROES 1 - 500) 28 144. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all of the preceding paragraphs contained in this complaint as 26 COMPLAINT 1 though set forth herein, including, without limitation, the agency and alter ego allegations. 2 145. 3 video for Defendants (and simultaneous with Plaintiffs' attempted review of any purported 4 agreements), Defendants represented: they would not post the videos online (or cause such publication), 5 they would not distribute the videos in the United States (or cause such publication), and that Plaintiffs 6 would remain anonymous. Defendants further represented at all times to Plaintiffs that would not cause 7 the videos to be posted online or distributed in the United States. Defendants at all times assured 8 Plaintiffs there was nothing to worry about, promised privacy, and said nobody Plaintiffs knew would 9 see the videos. Defendants caused other women to reiterate these representations to Plaintiffs. 10 1 146. During Plaintiffs' discussions and negotiations with Defendants before each made an adult The representations were false and although Defendants may have honestly believed that the representations were true, they had no reasonable grounds for believing the representations were true 12 when they made them. 13 147. 14 make the adult videos. 15 148. 16 adult videos. 17 149. 18 harm in that Defendants posted their videos online, published their videos in the United States, and 19 released Plaintiffs' names. 20 150. 21 Plaintiffs have been harmed in an amount to be proven at trial, but that is, at least, $500,000 per 22 plaintiff, and consists of, at least, compensatory damages, including, but not limited to the difference in 23 value in what the parties exchanged (i.e., the money Plaintiffs received for what they were told was 24 limited distribution and what Defendants profited through global distribution). 25 /// 26 /// 27 /// 28 /// Defendants intended that Plaintiffs would rely on the above representations in their decisions to Plaintiffs reasonably relied on Defendants' misrepresentations in their decisions to make the Plaintiffs' reliance on Defendants' false representations was a substantial factor in causing their Plaintiffs' reliance on these false representations was a substantial factor in causing their harm. 27 COMPLAINT I FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION 2 MISAPPROPRIATION OF NAME AND LIKENESS [COMMON LAW/ 3 (JANE DOE NO. 17, JANE DOE NO. 18, JANE DOE NO. 19, AND JANE DOE NO. 20 against 4 All Named Defendants and ROES 1 - 500) 5 151. 6 though set forth herein, including, without limitation, the agency and alter ego allegations. 7 152. 8 though fraud, and/or without promised consideration, including, without limitation, on Defendants' 9 websites (e.g., www.girlsdoporn.com), social media, and advertising Finally, any release purporting to Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all of the preceding paragraphs contained in this complaint as Defendants used Plaintiffs' names, likenesses, and/or identities without Plaintiffs' permission, 10 give Defendants unconditional use of The Plaintiffs videos is unenforceable due to unclear terms, a 11 lack of mental capacity/competence, mistake, undue influence, and/or Defendants' unclean hands. 12 153. 13 identities. 14 154. 15 and through the date of this amended complaint, Defendants have republished and redirected the 16 misappropriated content to different websites and to different audiences. Defendants have republished 17 Plaintiffs' misappropriated likenesses to different audiences in various advertising campaigns on the 18 Internet, including on third party websites (such as www.pomhub.com and www.youpom.com ), where 19 Defendants post varying and edited snippets of Plaintiffs' videos with embedded links and 20 advertisements to Defendants' websites; these varying and edited snippets of Plaintiffs' videos have 21 been viewed millions of times by hundreds of thousands of different individuals. Defendants conduct 22 the same form of repetitive mass advertising on their fan blogs and forums, and on their own social 23 media. 24 155. 25 Plaintiffs have been harmed in an amount to be proven at trial, but that is, at least, $500,000 per 26 plaintiff, and consists of at least: (a) serious emotional distress, including, but not limited to, bullying, 27 blackmail, loss of eating, loss of sleep, enduring fright, shock, nervousness, anxiety, depression, 28 embarrassment, mortification, shame, and fear; (b) compensatory damages, including, but not limited to 28 Defendants' gained a commercial benefit by using Plaintiffs' names, likenesses, and/or Following Defendants' initial publication of each of Plaintiffs' videos on their own websites, Plaintiffs' reliance on these false representations was a substantial factor in causing their harm. COMPLAINT 1 the difference in value in what the parties exchanged (i.e., the money Plaintiffs received for what they 2 were told was limited distribution and what Defendants profited through global distribution); and (c) 3 restitution / unjust enrichment damages (same calculation as the compensatory damages). The Plaintiff 4 also seek injunctive relief. 5 156. 6 had knowledge of and agreed to both the objective and course of action to injure Plaintiffs; (2) pursuant 7 to their agreement, Defendants intentionally misappropriated Plaintiffs' names, likenesses, and/or 8 identities at the time and place and via the manner set forth above; and (3) pursuant to their agreement, 9 Defendants injured Plaintiffs, as set forth above. Defendants also acted in a conspiracy when they committed this tort as: (1) each of Defendants 10 157. 11 award of punitive damages pursuant to Section 3294 of the California Civil Code. Defendants' actions were fraudulent, oppressive, and malicious and therefore also warrant an 12 SIXTH CAUSE OF ACTION 13 MISAPPROPRIATION OF LIKENESS [CIVIL CODE 33441 14 (JANE DOE NO. 17, JANE DOE NO. 18, JANE DOE NO. 19, AND JANE DOE NO. 20 against 15 All Named Defendants and ROES 1 - 500) 16 158. 17 though set forth herein, including, without limitation, the agency and alter ego allegations. 18 159. 19 knowingly used Plaintiffs' names, voices, photographs, video, and likenesses to advertise or sell 20 subscriptions to Defendants' businesses. 21 160. 22 account, or with a political campaign. 23 161. 24 consideration. Finally, any release purporting to give Defendants unconditional use of The Plaintiff's 25 videos is unenforceable due to unclear terms, a lack of mental capacity/competence, mistake, undue 26 influence, and/or Defendants' unclean hands. 27 162. 28 connected to Defendants' commercial purpose. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all of the preceding paragraphs contained in this complaint as On their websites (e.g., www.girlsdopom.com ), social media, and other advertising, Defendants Defendants' use did not occur in connection with a news, public affairs, or sports broadcast or Defendants did not have Plaintiffs' consent, obtained it though fraud, and/or without promised Defendants use of Plaintiffs' names, voices, photographs, video, and likenesses was directly 29 COMPLAINT 163. Following Defendants' initial publication of each of Plaintiffs' videos on their own websites, and through the date of this amended complaint, Defendants have republished and redirected the misappropriated content to different websites and to different audiences. Defendants have republished Plaintiffs' misappropriated likenesses to different audiences in various advertising campaigns on the Internet, including on third party websites (such as www.pomhub.com and www.youpom.com), where Defendants post varying and edited snippets of Plaintiffs' videos with embedded links and advertisements to Defendants' websites; these varying and edited snippets of Plaintiffs' videos have been viewed millions of times by hundreds of thousands of different individuals. Defendants conduct the same form of repetitive mass advertising on their fan blogs and forums, and on their own social media. 164. Plaintiffs' reliance on these false representations was a substantial factor in causing their harm. Plaintiffs have been harmed in an amount to be proven at trial, but that is, at least, $500,000 per plaintiff, and consists of, at least: (a) serious emotional distress, including, but not limited to, bullying, blackmail, loss of eating, loss of sleep, enduring fright, shock, nervousness, anxiety, depression, embarrassment, mortification, shame, and fear; (b) compensatory damages and/or statutory damages, including, disgorgement of profits; (c) attorney fees; and (d) restitution / unjust enrichment damages (i.e., the money Plaintiffs received for what they were told was limited distribution and what Defendants profited through global distribution). The Plaintiff also seek injunctive relief. 165. Defendants also acted in a conspiracy when they committed this tort as: (1) each of Defendants had knowledge of and agreed to both the objective and course of action to injure Plaintiffs; (2) pursuant to their agreement, Defendants intentionally misappropriated Plaintiffs' names, voices, photographs, video, and likenesses at the time and place and via the manner set forth above; and (3) pursuant to their agreement, Defendants injured Plaintiffs, as set forth above. 166. Defendants' actions were fraudulent, oppressive, and malicious and therefore also warrant an award of punitive damages pursuant to Section 3294 of the California Civil Code. /// /// /// 30 COMPLAINT SEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS (JANE DOE NO. 17, JANE DOE NO. 18, JANE DOE NO. 19, AND JANE DOE NO. 20 against All Named Defendants and ROES 1 - 500) 167. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all of the preceding paragraphs contained in this complaint as though set forth herein, including, without limitation, the agency and alter ego allegations. 168. Defendants concealed the fact they run an online pornography website. In order to get Plaintiffs to make adult videos, Defendants lied to Plaintiffs about the distribution. They assured Plaintiffs there was nothing to worry about and promised privacy. Defendants knew all of the other young women whose lives they have irreparably damaged earlier by Defendants' video publication and promotion; all of the other young women imploring them to stop and to take down their videos; and all of the complaints and they (and their legal counsel) have received from other young women and their families. Defendants used Plaintiffs' videos and names to commercially promote their wcbsites and enrich themselves. This conduct was outrageous as it exceeded all bounds of common decency usually tolerated by a civilized society. 169. Defendants intended to inflict the injuries stated herein upon Plaintiffs, or the injuries were substantially certain to result from Defendants' conduct. 170. Defendants' outrageous conduct actually and proximately caused Plaintiffs to suffer serious emotional distress, including, but not limited to, loss of eating, loss of sleep, enduring fright, shock, nervousness, anxiety, depression, embarrassment, mortification, shame, fear, and — for some consideration of suicide. Plaintiffs have been harmed in an amount to be proven at trial, but that is, at least, $500,000 per plaintiff. 171. Defend/ants also acted in a conspiracy when they committed this tort as: (1) each of Defendants had knowledge of and agreed to both the objective and course of action to injure Plaintiffs; (2) pursuant to their agreement, with their outrageous conduct, Defendants intentionally inflicted severe emotional distress upon Plaintiffs at the time and place and via the manner set forth above; and (3) pursuant to their agreement, Defendants injured Plaintiffs, as set forth above. 172. Defendants' actions were fraudulent, oppressive, and malicious and therefore warrant an award 31 COMPLAINT 1 of punitive damages pursuant to Section 3294 of the California Civil Code. 2 EIGHTH CAUSE OF ACTION 3 NEGLIGENCE 4 (JANE DOE NO. 17, JANE DOE NO. 18, JANE DOE NO. 19, AND JANE DOE NO. 20 against 5 All Named Defendants and ROES 1 -500) 6 173. 7 though set forth herein, including, without limitation, the agency and alter ego allegations. 8 174. 9 and to prevent injury to Plaintiffs based on the foreseeability of harm to Plaintiffs, the degree of Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all of the preceding paragraphs contained in this complaint as In their transactions and dealings with The Plaintiff, Defendants had a duty to use ordinary care 10 certainty The Plaintiff would suffer injuries, the closeness of connection between Defendants' actions 11 and Plaintiffs' injuries, the moral blame attached to Defendants' conduct, the policy of preventing 12 future harm, and the extent of Defendants' burden and the consequences to the community of imposing 13 duty and liability. 14 175. 15 they run an online pornography website upon which they planned to post the videos; and assuring 16 Plaintiffs there was nothing to worry about — all while knowing that release of the videos would cause 17 harassment and severe emotional damage), breached the duty of care. 18 176. 19 amount to be proven at trial, but that is, at least, $500,000 per plaintiff, and consists of, at least: (a) 20 serious emotional distress, including, but not limited to, bullying, blackmail, loss of eating, loss of 21 sleep, enduring fright, shock, nervousness, anxiety, depression, embarrassment, mortification, shame, 22 and fear; (b) compensatory damages, including, but not limited to the difference in value in what the 23 parties exchanged (i.e., the money Plaintiffs received for what they were told was limited distribution 24 and what Defendants profited through global distribution); and (c) restitution / unjust enrichment 25 damages (same calculation as the compensatory damages). Plaintiffs also seek injunctive relief. 26 /// 27 /// 28 /// Defendants' above-described actions and omissions (e.g., lying about and concealing the fact Defendants' breach of the duty of care actually and proximately caused Plaintiffs harm in an 32 COMPLAINT NINTH CAUSE OF ACTION BREACH OF CONTRACT (All Plaintiffs against All Named Defendants and ROES 1 - 500) 177. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all of the preceding paragraphs contained in this complaint as though set forth herein, including, without limitation, the agency and alter ego allegations. 178. Plaintiffs entered into oral agreements with Defendants whereby Plaintiffs agreed to make their respective videos with the conditions: they would not post the videos online (or cause such publication), they would not distribute the videos in the United States (or cause such publication), and they would ensure their privacy and anonymity. 179. Plaintiffs performed all of their obligations under the agreements; in particular, they participated in the video shoots. 180. All conditions required for Defendants' performances occurred, but they breached the contract by distributing and/or causing the videos to be posted online and in the United States, and by failing to ensure Plaintiffs' privacy and anonymity. Also, as set forth above, some of Plaintiffs did not receive he sums agreed upon for their video(s). 181. As an actual and proximate cause of Defendants' breach, Plaintiffs were damaged in an amount to be proven at trial, but believed to be, at least, $500,000 per plaintiff. TENTH CAUSE OF ACTION PROMISSORY ESTOPPEL (All Plaintiffs against All Named Defendants and ROES 1 - 500) 182. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all of the preceding paragraphs contained in this complaint as though set forth herein, including, without limitation, the agency and alter ego allegations. 183. Defendants made clear and unambiguous promises to Plaintiffs that: they would not post the videos online (or cause such publication), they would not distribute the videos in the United States (or cause such publication), and they would ensure their privacy and anonymity. 184. Plaintiffs relied on these promises in that they made the videos. 185. Plaintiffs' reliance was both reasonable and foreseeable. 186. Plaintiffs were injured as a result in that Defendants distributed or cause the distribution of the 33 COMPLAINT 1 videos online and in the United States, and failed to ensure Plaintiffs' privacy and anonymity. 2 187. 3 amount of, at least, $500,000 per plaintiff. Injustice can be avoided only by an award of compensatory and consequential damages in the 4 ELEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION 5 VIOLATION OF BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS CODE §§ 17200, et seq. 6 (All Plaintiffs against All Named Defendants and ROES 1 - 500) 7 188. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all of the preceding paragraphs contained in this complaint as though set forth herein, including, without limitation, the agency and alter ego allegations. 9 189. Defendants' conduct constitutes a "business practice" under Business & Professions Code, 10 Section 17200, et seq. ("Section 17200"). 11 190. 12 violates common and California statutory law. Defendants' "business practice" constitutes 13 "fraudulent" conduct under Section 17200, as it deceives — and is likely to deceive — members of the 14 public. 15 191. 16 injury in fact and caused Defendants to receive ill-gotten gains. Plaintiffs were damaged — and 17 Defendants unjustly enriched - in an amount to be proven at trial, but believed to be, at least, $500,000 18 per plaintiff. As such, Plaintiffs have individual standing under Section 17200. 19 192. 20 Plaintiffs' property (e.g., videos and images); the Court should enjoin Defendants' violative conduct; 21 and the Court should issue the maximum civil penalties permitted. Defendants' "business practice" constitutes "unlawful" conduct under Section 17200, as it Defendants intended their conduct to cause — and it did so cause — Plaintiffs to suffer economic Pursuant to the remedies provisions of Section 17200: Defendants owe Plaintiffs restitution of 22 TWELFTH CAUSE OF ACTION 23 FRAUDULENT TRANSFER 24 (All Plaintiffs against All The Named Defendants and ROES 475 - 550) 25 193. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all of the preceding paragraphs contained in this complaint as 26 though set forth herein, including, without limitation, the agency and alter ego allegations. 27 194. 28 creditors. Plaintiffs have a right to payment from Defendants for the claims in this action and are, thus, 34 COMPLAINT 1 195. 2 therefrom to defendant Oh Well Media Limited, Sidle Media Limited, Greenhill Services, Ltd., and or 3 Bubblegum Films, Ltd (sham entities located in Vanuatu used to hide assets) and ROES 200 —250 with 4 the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud Plaintiffs in their collection efforts on the subject claims. 5 196. 6 claims in this action. 7 197. Defendants' conduct was a substantial factor in causing Plaintiffs' harm. 8 198. Defendants' actions were fraudulent and malicious and therefore warrant an award of punitive 9 damages pursuant to Section 3294 of the California Civil Code. On information and belief, Defendants transferred Plaintiffs' videos and the revenue generated Plaintiffs were harmed as, among other things, they still have not received compensation for the 10 THIRTEENTH CAUSE OF ACTION 11 DECLARATORY RELIEF 12 (All Plaintiffs against All Named Defendants and ROES 1 - 500) 13 199. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all of the preceding paragraphs contained in this complaint as 14 though set forth herein, including, without limitation, the agency and alter ego allegations. 15 200. 16 this lawsuit, including any release executed by Plaintiffs purporting to give Defendants the right to use 17 their likeness. 18 201. 19 they may be held liable for each other's actions or inactions. An actual controversy exists over the enforceability of all agreements executed by the parties to In addition, an actual controversy exists over whether defendants are alter egos and whether 20 PRAYER FOR RELIEF 21 WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs pray for judgment against Defendants as follows: 22 A. For compensatory damages of, at least, $1,000,000.00 per plaintiff; 23 B. For restitution and disgorgement of ill-gotten gains/unjust enrichment; 24 C For civil penalties; 25 D. For an injunction; 26 E. For punitive damages; 27 F. For attorney fees; 28 G. For prejudgment interest; 35 COMPLAINT H. 2 3 To set aside all fraudulent transfers of assets; J. 4 5 A judicial declaration that all contracts or releases executed by Plaintiffs are unenforceable as a matter of law; K. 6 7 For costs of suit; A judicial declaration that defendants are alter egos of one another and may be held liable for each other's debts and obligations; and L. For such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper. 8 9 Date: November 7, 2017 By: /s/ Brian Al Holm Robert Hamparyan John J. O'Brien Brian M. Holm Attorneys for Plaintiffs 10 1f 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 36 COMPLAINT