Florida Clinic Agrees to $1.9 Million Settlement Over Deceptive Advertising Allegations
Florida’s Evoke Wellness Faces Reckoning
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a crucial development, the Florida-based substance use disorder treatment clinic operators, Evoke Wellness, LLC and Evoke Health Care Management, LLC, along with their executives, Jonathan Moseley and James Hull, have consented to a staggering **$1.9 million settlement** aimed at resolving serious allegations of deceptive advertising practices. This action was officially announced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The Backbone of the Allegations
The settlement arises from an FTC complaint lodged in January 2025, where the operators were accused of leveraging Google ads and telemarketing methods to impersonate other treatment providers. The charges suggest that Evoke Wellness engaged in unethical tactics by using the names of competing clinics as **keywords** in Google search ads, effectively linking potential clients to Evoke’s call center masquerading as a centralized admissions hotline. Furthermore, telemarketers purportedly misrepresented themselves as being affiliated with the very substance use disorder clinics that consumers were attempting to reach.
Violation of Key Regulations
The FTC’s allegations highlight violations not only of the **FTC Act** but also of the **Opioid Addiction Recovery Fraud Prevention Act of 2018**. FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson voiced the agency’s commitment to combating fraud in this vulnerable sector, stating, “Opioids have ravaged American communities, killing well over **one hundred Americans per day** and ruining the lives of countless others. Today’s settlement helps consumers affected by opioid addiction navigate their paths to recovery by preventing fraudsters from leading them astray.”
The Settlement Breakdown
The proposed federal court order, which awaits judicial approval, imposes several stringent measures on the defendants:
- A **ban** on using competitors’ names in search engine ads.
- Prohibitions against any **misrepresentation** of substance use disorder treatment services.
- A **ban on impersonating other businesses**.
- A requirement to implement a robust **compliance program** to supervise their call centers.
- Mandatory **corrective action** against agents who violate these terms.
Furthermore, while the defendants are subject to a **$7 million civil penalty**, it has been partially suspended to **$1.9 million** due to claims of their inability to pay the full amount. Importantly, should they misrepresent their financial condition, the remaining penalty will become immediately payable.
FTC’s Commitment to Consumer Protection
The FTC unanimously voted 3-0 to approve the stipulated order, which was filed in the **U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida**. The case was handled by notable attorneys, **Victor DeFrancis** and **Cassandra Rasmussen**, from the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, who are committed to ensuring consumer rights are upheld.
Final Thoughts
This case serves as a significant reminder of the necessity for transparency and integrity in the advertising practices of healthcare providers. As consumers navigate their recovery journeys, they must be shielded from deceptive practices that could lead them astray. The FTC’s proactive stance in addressing these allegations helps reinforce the critical need for ethical standards in the substance use treatment sector.
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