Texas AG sues Genesis Pure CEO Lindsey Duncan for fraud
Genesis Pure launched in late 2009 and combined a health and nutrition product line with a questionable revenue-sharing compensation plan.
Heading up Genesis Pure is Robert Lindsey Duncan, whom the company credits as a Doctor [ND, SD] (Naturopathic Doctor and Doctor of Science):
Our Chairman & CEO Dr. Lindsey Duncan ND, CN recently shared with us some amazing news! Genesis PURE has partnered with Lifemax, a respected network marketing company who is the creator of a top-notch Chia product, Mila.
Turns out however that the degrees Duncan claims to have earned are from a “non-accredited American distance-learning health college”.
The college, the Clayton College of Natural Health, is based in Alabama and is ‘specifically named on a list posted by the Higher Education Coordination Board of “Institutions Whose Degrees Are Illegal To Use in Texas”‘.
Clayton College of Natural Health was not accredited in any state during its existence and is now closed.
Despite this, Duncan continued to use his alleged qualification to make a name for himself through Genesis Pure and on national TV.
He now finds himself the subject of a lawsuit filed by Greg Abbott, the Texas Attorney-General.
Filed on the 15th of October in the District Court of Travis County, the complaint against Duncan (right) alleges
Mr. Duncan promotes himself as a Naturopathic Doctor, referring to himself in speaking engagements, marketing videos, advertisements, articles, interviews and in personal settings by the honorific “Doctor” or “Dr.” and “ND.”
Mr. Duncan claims to have degrees in nutrition and naturopathy.
The State of Texas does not recognize the degree of Naturopathic Doctor or “ND”.
Mr. Duncan uses his alleged degrees and honorific to promote nutritional products with which he has a financial connection.
More than one dozen promotional videos and recordings of television appearances have appeared and remain available on the internet in which Mr. Duncan either referred to himself, or others have referred to him with his acquiescence as, “Dr. Lindsey Duncan,” and/or in which he claims to have degrees in nutrition or naturopathy.
Mr. Duncan (also) presents the appearance of a health practitioner, which he has done in television show appearances, media interviews, speaking engagements, and video promotions, by donning lab coats and making references to clinical experience and practice.
Mr. Duncan’s acts and practices mislead the public into believing that he is disseminating health advice or knowledge, but such advice or knowledge is based on educational background and training which he does not have and when his underlying motivation is to sell products in which he has a financial interest.
For his efforts to deceive the general public about his educational background, the complaint charges Duncan with violations of the Texas Education Code and conducting false, misleading or deceptive acts.
The Texas AG has asked for an injunction and civil penalties and restitution.
The State’s claims for monetary relief including penalties, consumer redress and attorney’s fees and costs are in excess of $100,000 and could exceed $1,000,000.
On the Genesis Pure website, Lindsey Duncan is credited as the “head formulator” of the company’s product line.
If his creditations are found to be baloney, an air of uncertainty hangs over the future of the company.
The use of illegal accreditation seems to me to only be part of the story. First and foremost, how did he get on the Dr. Oz show so many times representing himself as a doctor?
Second, he has had strong business ties to all of the products he sells on the Dr. Oz show. How was this conflict of interest not known.
You say conflict of interest, I say revolution. He is changing the face of health and big business’ are afraid. They should be.
We the people need a change for the better. Stop trying to bring good people down for trying to help others.
@nonyabusiness
Preferably without fraudsters like Lindsey Duncan though.
I dont really care if duncan is a dr or not. He is an entrepreneur an was doin well till texas was badgered into this act by big biz.
I practice my own herbal remedies not proclaiming myself as a doctor but a practitioner giving herbal advice. There are many of us “out there” doing so.
I can guarantee the pharmaceucitical companies are behind this act of aggression toward herbal medicine. See we treat the cause of the problem whereas the other “drs.” Treat the symptoms only as instructed by the pharmeceutical companies.
Just my conclusion i have experienced personally an based on my research.
@Alpha
Badgered into what exactly? Stopping fraud?
Right.
Tinfoil hat engage!
Duncan went down for misrepresenting himself as a doctor. It had nothing to do with big business or herbal medicine.