Complaint Review: Image and Talent - Las Vegas Nevada

Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration Program

In re:

Las Vegas Image & Talent, Inc.,

Complainant, v.

Julie (Last Name Unknown),

Author.

Rip-Off Report No.:

793914

ARBITRATOR DECISION

Bruce Meyerson,

Arbitrator

Complainant, Las Vegas Image & Talent, Inc. (Complainant) has challenged the truthfulness of certain statements (each, a Statement) posted by Author Julie (Last Name Unknown) (Author) on the Ripoff Report website at www.ripoffreport.com on October 31, 2011, as Ripoff Report No. 793914 (the Report) Further, Complainant is challenging the status of the Author. The Author contends that the Complainant is not a reputable company and that certain of its employees are involved in inappropriate conduct. The Complainant denies the allegations in the Report and further contends that the Author is not a former customer. Both the Complainant and the Author have agreed to submit the dispute to the Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration.

Each Statement challenged by the Complainant has been considered, together with any Witness Statements and Documents provided by the Complainant for determination of the truth or falsity of the Statement. The Author has not provided a response to the Complaint.

I have been asked to decide whether the preponderance of the evidence submitted establishes that each Statement is true or that it is false. If the statement identified by the Complainant is determined to be an opinion, no determination will be made as to that particular Statement because an opinion cannot be determined to be true nor false. I also have been asked to decide whether the preponderance of the evidence submitted establishes whether the Author is, in fact, a former customer of Complainant.

Discussion and Ruling on Statements

Each challenged Statement submitted by the Author is set forth below together with my comments and ruling:

1. Statement: What I have uncovered is more upsetting than my original complaint and quite sinister, being this unlicensed hit and run company moves around state-to-state preying on our children with respect to the entertainment industry.

Discussion: Complainant has submitted evidence that it has been organized in the State of Nevada since 2005 and has received a business license from the City of Henderson, Nevada, for the years 2006-2012.

The Author has provided no evidence to support the Statement.

Ruling: I find this Statement false.

2. Statement: As a mother of 4, I was skeptical but upon a brief meeting Mr. Greg Rice made quick eye contact and seemed just barely reputable at the time to register my daughter with promises to the moon!

Discussion: Complainant has provided evidence of its promotional materials and a copy of the Avocational Performing Arts Coaching Agreement. These documents make clear that Complainant does not promise that future employment will be secured. The Author has provided no evidence to support the Statement.

Ruling: I find this Statement false.

3. Statement: The pushy salesman would keep trying to get our photos with this shady character David Blake who wears a wedding ring (to appear safe around children) davidblake.com, you can see by his website he is obsessed with children is not an established photographer as marketed by the scam company Las Vegas Image and Talent.

Discussion: No evidence has been submitted that David Blake is obsessed with children or that he is not an established photographer. His resume appears to indicate that he has reputable credentials. The Author has provided no evidence to support the Statement.

Ruling: I find this Statement false.

4. Statement: My daughter was half way through the class, when she felt a strange vibe in particular from their principal photographer David Blake, they pushed on us. This shady photographer pretends to take free photos but is banking them up to use our children for GOD KNOWS WHAT! I fear incredible unethical use, perhaps even child porn sites.

Discussion: According to the Affidavit of David Blake he does not attend the classes. The Author has provided no evidence to support the Statement.

Ruling: I find the Statement False.

5. Statement: They employ Steve Bowers who is a wolf in sheep clothing to entice you and pretend your child has been selected at the mall for their dangerous workshops.

Discussion: According to the Affidavit of Gregory Rice, Complainant does not select children at a mall. The Author has provided no evidence to support the Statement.

Ruling: I find the Statement False.

6. Statement: If you want the real story, talk to Clark Williams whom was their former mall agent.

Discussion: According to the Affidavit of Gregory Rice, Complainant never employed any representative by the name of Clark Williams. The Author has provided no evidence to support the Statement.

Ruling: I find the Statement False.

7. Statement: Not being harmlessly gay, they use their position with children to have sex with minors, male and female alike.

Discussion: David Blake and Gregory Rice have submitted Affidavits denying the allegations in this Statement. They also have attached records from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department indicating that neither individual has a felony or misdemeanor conviction. The Author has provided no evidence to support the Statement.

Ruling: I find this statement false.

8. Statement: [David Blake] will dodge giving you a model release of your children whenever possible for his sinister purposes, he will photograph them free to get them alone and feed them alcohol/drugs.

Discussion: David Blake has submitted an Affidavit stating that he follows industry practices by giving students a sales form and copyright release when he gives them their photographs. The Author has provided no evidence to support the Statement.

Ruling: I find the Statement false.

9. Statement: Also I have caught David Blake specifically trolling craigs list for misguided teens to photograph doubling as a sex wanted ad.

Discussion: Although the Complainant does not directly refute this Statement, the Author has provided no evidence to support the Statement.

Ruling: I find the Statement false.

Discussion and Ruling on the Identity of the Author

The Complainant denies that the Author is a former customer. The Complainant questions the identity of the Author because the Report (1) makes no reference to any details regarding any workshop provided by Complainant, (2) contains many inaccuracies regarding the services provided by Complainant, and (3) contains a photograph claimed by the Author to be her child when in fact the photograph is a copyrighted photograph taken from an online edition of a local newspaper. The Author has no provided a response to the Complaint.

Accordingly, I find that the Author is not a former customer of Complainant.

DATED this _____ day of March, 2012.

_________________________________

Bruce E. Meyerson, Arbitrator

My child wanted acting lessons, we were solicited at the mall by ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)) representing Las Vegas Image and Talent "Greg Rice" with photography services by "David Blake". I was worried about perverts since my daughter is quite the looker and has a hard time walking down the street without harassment.

((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)).

((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)).

((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)).

((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)).

My daughter ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)) finally changed to an actual reputable acting workshop studio. ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration))

((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)). ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)).

I am impartial although appalled ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)).

Greg Rice works with (and strongly pushes) David Blake to your children as the mastermind to steal images. ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)). ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)). According to Clark whom lived with them ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)). He notes he was pressured into sexual acts in exchange for room/board and declined therefore left the environment.

Also (in their personal life) they gloat about ripping off innocent people and preying of our children's dreams. They use our ignorance of the industry law to take photos of our children, after taking large sums of money in exchange for empty promises and shoddy workshops led by an alcohol breathed Greg Rice.

David Blake wears a fake wedding ring to fool us, please ask him who he is married to for yourself. ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)). ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)).

I found an online dating profile (after their former worker let me know about it) of these 2 disgusting older men around 60 years old (Greg Rice/David Blake) looking for sexual encounters with the youngest possible age group (18) legally allowed online, posing to be min their mid 30's.

((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)). Again, this person wears a wedding ring to fool us while photographing only minors.

((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)).

The police cannot do anything until its too late, Im sure these disgusting characters have many horrible images of child victims. Please by God be careful and stay away from those practicing Atheist (comments made in class) - ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)) have no place around our dear children whom only wish to rip you off ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)).

I did not have to dig deep to confirm these horrors (neither would you) ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)). Be careful and keep your eyes open with anyone in this field. Make an informed choice and not make the mistake we did.