CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST NATURAL HAIR GROWTH INSTITUTE, LTD. AND ITS FOUNDER STEVE BENNIS
March 3, 2010
CHICAGO, Illinois–March 3, 2010
On March 3, 2010, a class action lawsuit was filed on the behalf of twelve former clients of Natural Hair Growth Institute, Ltd. (“NHGI”) against the company and its President Steve Bennis (“Bennis”) due to rampant and systemic fraud related to its treatment program.
NHGI and Bennis have made numerous false representations of fact about their hair growth business that have caused Plaintiffs and members of the Class significant damages. These misrepresentations include statements that their products are all natural and are chemical-free, that they have a 100% money back guarantee, and that their laser light treatment program recently received FDA approval. All of these representations are false. Prospective clients are duped by these misrepresentations into paying between $8,000 to $12,000 of their hard-earned money for Defendants’ treatment program.
Chemical testing of Defendants’ products has revealed the presence of Minoxidil therein despite the representations that the products are all natural and are chemical free. This information was certainly a surprise to the clients of NHGI who were only interested in participating in an all natural and chemical freeprogram.
Woman Loses Hair After Shampooing With Pantene - Similar Complaints Found Online
February 16, 2010
A devastated 19 year old administrative assistant says that her hair literally broke off at the roots after using Pantene Pro-V shampoo. According to Sophie Peppercorn of Perbourough, England, her hair fell out in clumps after only one application of the celebrity endorsed product, and has received very little support from Procter and Gamble, the makers of Pantene. Miss Peppercorn wept as she described to reporters what happened. “As I showered the bubbles from my hair I could feel a lot of it in my hands,” she said.
She then went on to state, “But it was only when I patted my hair dry with a towel and looked in the mirror, that I realized the extent of the hair damage. My hairline had receded several inches where my hair had broken off at the roots. Meanwhile, the rest of my hair was so damaged and frizzy it was breaking off in handfuls. I was so devastated, I broke down in tears.”
When Miss Peppercorn called the Pantene helpline to inform them of what had happened to her she was offered a £5(about $8USD) Pantene coupon for her troubles.
“Incredibly, they seem to think I will want to buy another bottle,” she said.
FDA Issues Warning: CT Scans Reported To Cause Hair Loss and Other Serious Injuries
February 10, 2010
The Food & Drug Administration said Tuesday that it will be taking steps to regulate the three most potent forms of medical radiation. With that, it will require that manufacturers of certain CT scanning equipment redesign machines to incorporate safeguards aimed at reducing patients’ exposure to radiation.
The decision comes on the heels of several recent alarming reports of accidental overdoses of radiation from miscalibrated CT scanning machines.
Last October, Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles disclosed that more than 200 patients had accidently received extremely high levels of radiation during CT scans of their brains. The FDA later stated that patients were exposed to eight times the amount of radiation typically used during the a CT scan, and that accidental exposure to very high amounts of radiation can cause severe injuries, such as burns, radiation induced hair loss, cataracts, and cancer.
Hair Loss Has Its Perks - Tulsa Restaurant Discounts On “Bald Tuesdays”
February 3, 2010
Hair Loss can be devastating, but at least balding guys wont starve in Tulsa Oklahoma.
Customers of the Arizona Mexican Restaurant, at 6605 South Lewis Avenue in Tulsa, who meet their “balding criteria” receive between 10 to 30 percent off of their meals every Tuesday.
The brain child of Heyka Zambrano, the restaurant’s owner, Bald Tuesdays has been in effect for about a year and was implemented as a way to increase business, which is apparently working.
“Gentlemen come in and sometimes they wear their hats. They come to pay and take the cap off and I say, what do you think, is this worth 30 percent?”
Well, we guess it’s better than a kick in the ass!
Silvio Berlusconi’s Hair Transplant - Apparently Bill Gates Doesn’t Approve
January 29, 2010
This week, Bill Gates made it perfectly clear that he was unimpressed with Silvio Berlusconi’s foreign aid policy, declaring that the Italian Prime minster was on his “shame list.” Fair enough, since an annual report published by Gates’ foundation accused Italy of being “uniquely stingy among European donors.” Italy’s foreign aid budget was 0.11% of its GDP in 2009, half of what it was the year before. Even so, was it really necessary for the Microsoft founder turned philanthropist, to take a cheap shot at Berlusconi’s decision to have a hair transplant?
In a moment of unabashed chastisement, Gates took the opportunity to tie his criticism of the prime minster’s foreign policy to Berlusconi’s personal decision to shell out his own money for a hair transplant.
“Rich people spend a lot more money on their own problems, like baldness, than they do to fight malaria,” Gates told the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Sex, Lies and Hair Transplants - Former Bosley Employee Sues For Sexual Harassment
January 27, 2010
Otis Duffy a former hair transplant salesman working in Bosley Medical’s Manhattan and New Jersey offices, filed a $3 million lawsuit on Tuesday in Manhattan Supreme Court citing sexual harassment.
Duffy states that after he complained about unwanted advances from female colleagues, he was ordered to take a sex harassment course and then fired.
“If I wanted a girl rubbing her breasts in my face, I would go to a strip club,” Duffy said.
A part time actor who played one season of pro basketball in Ireland, Duffy said he’s been out of work since being unfairly fired.
Duffy also stated that he complained to his bosses at Bosley about his female co-worker’s inappropriate and downright raunchy behavior, which allegedly included fondling his backside, grinding against him and propositioning him for sex.
I’m 16 and I’m Going Bald!
January 26, 2010
Hair loss at any age can be devastating, but to begin the hair loss process as a teenager is beyond the scope of what most teens will ever be forced to cope with. A larger percentage of boys deal with the early onset of male pattern hair loss than most people realize. An estimated 20% of hair loss sufferers begin the process of balding before than age of twenty one, and many begin before they even graduate from high school. What these young hair loss sufferers need to know is that they are not alone and that there is life after hair loss.
It’s important that teens confide in their parents, and seek the advise of a physician who specializes in hair loss as soon as they notice any change in their hair. Early intervention is always the key to the effective treatment of hair loss, but immediate emotional support can be even more important during this extremely vulnerable time in a young hair loss sufferers life.
Last week a young man posted his story and plea for help on the BaldtruthTalk.com message forums:
“I am a 16 year old boy, and this is my story. For about a year now, I have been losing my hair.”
“Every single day, I dedicated it to finding a cure. But found nothing.. I discovered Hair Restoration on the internet, and went to a hair restoration company.. The lady at the consultation felt bad for me, so she sent me to see a surgeon.. Once I saw him, all he did was prescribe me Propecia, and tell me that my donor area was outstanding (really good). But I couldn’t fill it because they said I had to be 18.. I bought a very expensive wig to cover it up, but it makes me feel faker than ever when I wear it.. I can’t do the activities I wish to do with it on either, or it will just fall off.. I cry a lot because of it.. I don’t go outside anymore because of it.. And it hurts so much emotionally because of my age.. Some nights, I even cry myself to sleep because of it.” “I wish someone could fix this, and make it go away.”
Listen to Spencer Kobren’s audio response to this young man’s post:
Hair Loss Education Done Right - Greg Benson’s Hair Transplant
January 17, 2010
On November 4, 2009 the world had the opportunity to witness the most viewed LIVE hair transplant procedure in history. More than 13,000 viewers took the time in the middle of their work days to tune into this interesting special webcast of “The Bald Truth.”
Check out Greg Benson and IAHRS accepted member Alan Bauman, M.D during the live event and watch Greg Benson’s video’s discussing his hair transplant experience.
MatriStem® Micro Matrix - Hair Loss Breakthrough or Hair Loss Hype? Updated Commentary
January 14, 2010
On January 6, 2010 The Bald Truth reported on what appears to be an exciting scientific breakthrough in the fight against hair loss, and the response to our interview with IAHRS hair transplant surgeon and researcher, Dr. Jerry Cooley, has been overwhelming. We’ve received correspondence from around the world from desperate hair loss sufferers in search of real hope.
Unfortunately, the original press release that was distributed on January 6th, 2010 by New York hair transplant surgeon, Dr. Gary Hitzig, has left many individuals confused.
Based on this press release many men, women and the parents of children in need believed that their prayers had finally been answered. This clearly isn’t the case, and Dr. Jerry Cooley provided clarification in his interview with The Bald Truth.
Based on direct correspondence from several experts in the field, and on our own assessment of this technology, it is clear that the original press release could be construed as misleading.
Dr. Jerry Cooley has been kind enough to send a statement to The Bald Truth in order to clear up any confusion. It is important to note that Dr. Gary Hitzig’s surgical hair restoration techniques have not been assessed by our organization in many years, and he is currently not recommended by the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons or The American Hair Loss Association. If you believe you meet the criteria to be a candidate for this experimental corrective procedure, we suggest that you contact Dr. Cooley directly for an assessment.
Spencer Kobren comments and reads Dr. Cooley’s statement:
* The Actual Date of the original Post and Interview was January 6, 2010, not January 10, 2010 as mistakenly stated.
Steve Bennis and American Hair Growth Centers - A Story of Deception
January 11, 2010
Last night we were fortunate enough to have Will Gaunitz of Evolution Hair Centers on the program to discuss his personal experience with Steve Bennis, formerly of Natural Hair Growth Institute and now American Hair Growth Centers.
Will’s been documenting some of Steve Bennis’ most recent alleged fraudulent activity on his blog which we’re sure is of great interest to The Illinois State Attorney General’s Office.
See some of his recent blog posts:
Warning Issued to American Hair Growth Centers (aka Natural Hair Growth Institute)
American Hair Growth Centers took down stolen photographs
David Hoffman of American Hair Growth Centers EXPOSED!
Listen to the Show:
