11.20.2008

Donald Barrett, Infomercial King, In $54 Million Lawsuit

If you're like many customers who were suckered into buying products based on specious claims made in infomercials, Coral Calcium probably isn't doing you a whole lot of good. "But," you say, "I saw it on TV. It must be true." That's the power of good looking smooth talkers who buy up 30 minutes of late night air time. They're not doing it for your benefit. They don't even know you. But they know your money.

Kevin Trudeau was recently fined $5 million and banned from making infomercials that sold any kind of product and banned from publishing books for three years. The courts found he was a consummate deceiver. And now, his slimy business partner is facing the courts. Donald Barrett may have to return $54 million to his unsuspecting victims for selling Coral Calcium because he deceived customers about its benefits. According to the Boston Herald:
In July, Judge George O’Toole ruled that Barrett’s infomercial on Coral Calcium was deceptive when it promised it would cure cancer, Parkinson’s and heart disease. The judge also found that the advertisement misrepresented research published in the American Medical Association and the New England Journal of Medicine that the calcium supplement “reversed cancer.”
I really don't know how people got suckered in by this clown. The first thing that comes to my mind whenever I see him is Chicago gangster...a character straight out of the early 20th century mafia. His smugness is palpable:
Barrett, who appeared on the witness stand yesterday in a crisp blue cotton shirt and a polka dot tie, was peppered with questions from Hippsley about why income on his tax returns differed from the amount of cash deposited into his bank accounts in Beverly. “I have no idea, you’ll have to ask my accountant,” he said with a grin.
It's about time he's taken down a notch. Here's a smattering of his husterisms. No need to watch the full thing...a minute will give you the idea.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Did you read the comments on Youtube for that video? People accusing one con artist of plagiarizing another. Priceless.

The skepTick said...

Hah! It's like the mafia moving in on each other's territory.

CatGunHome said...

As a first-rate Infomercial addict (watcher, not buyer),who puts special effrot to keep awake to watch those, it saddens me to learn that my hero Kevin is banned from TV, and my master Donny is sued for $54 Million. If Donny is gone, who will nurture Danny Vierra, Dean Graziosi and so many other selfless, benevolent saints that populate late night TV infomercials?

Anonymous said...

Donald Barrett owes me over $1400. U should hear the rumors about his drug addiction, romance with Kevin and the truck load of money he owes the vendors. I'll never see my money so if his blue rolls royce or red sports cars gets keyed I hope its me that does it.

Anonymous said...

THE MAN IS GOING TO THE CAN.

GOOD LUCK MR. BARRETT. I HEAR YOU PPLAYED WIDE RECEIVER AT SAUGUS HIGH SCHOOL THOSE SKILLS WILL COME IN HANDY WHERE YOUR GOING