Decided on September 28, 2010 Supreme Court, Suffolk County The People of the State of New York, by ANDREW M. CUOMO, Attorney General of the State of New York, Petitioner, against City Model and Talent Development, INC. and JACQUELINE D'ALELIO, Respondents. 09-22233 ANDREW M. CUOMO, ESQ., Attorney General Attorney for Petitioner 300 Motor Parkway, Suite 205 Hauppauge, New York 11788 La REDDOLA, LESTER & ASSOC., LLP Attorney for Respondents 600 Old Country Road, Suite 224 Garden City, New York 11530 Jeffrey Arlen Spinner, J. This is a proceeding pursuant to Executive Law § 63 (12), Arts and Cultural Affairs Law § 37.07, and General Business Law §§ 349, 350 for an order and judgment (i) permanently enjoining the respondents from violating Arts and Cultural Affairs Law § 37.07 by representing to the public that it can secure employment subject to purchasing a photography contract from them, (ii) permanently enjoining the respondents from violating Arts and Cultural Affairs Law § 37.07 by acting as an agent or manager and accepting fees for photography services, (iii) permanently enjoining the respondents from violating General Business Law §§ 349, 350 by misrepresenting to the public its selectivity and its ability to secure employment, (iv) permanently enjoining the respondents from engaging in the illegal, unfair, deceptive, and unlawful practices alleged in the petition, (v) directing the respondents to make full monetary restitution and pay damages to all aggrieved customers, known and unknown, who paid for photography contracts, (vi) directing the respondents to pay any and all small claims judgments entered against them in favor of customers who paid for photography contracts, (vii) directing the [*2]respondents to pay a civil penalty in the sum of $5,000.00 to the State of New York, pursuant to General Business Law § 350-d, for each deceptive act committed by the respondents in violation of General Business Law article 22-A, and (viii) directing the respondents to pay costs pursuant to CPLR 8303 (a) (6). According to the petition, Jacqueline D'Alelio is the principal officer, shareholder, and owner of City Model and Talent Development, Inc. ("CMT"), a corporation engaged in the business of talent management with an office in Islandia, New York. The petitioner claims, in part, that the respondents engage in deceptive business practices which result in financial harm to members of the public. More specifically, the petitioner claims that representatives of CMT approach children and their parents at public venues, advising them that they have the "look" which would make them successful as models or actors, and that when they appear at CMT's office for their interviews, through a series of false statements and high pressure sales tactics, they are tricked into purchasing expensive photo shoots based on false promises of future work. The petitioner alleges three causes of action for injunctive relief: the first, that the respondents engage in deceptive acts and practices in violation of General Business Law § 349 and, as a consequence, in repeated and persistent illegality in violation of Executive Law § 63 (12), the second, that the respondents repeatedly and persistently engage in false advertising in violation of General Business Law § 350 and, as a consequence, in repeated and persistent illegality in violation of Executive Law § 63 (12), and the third, that the respondents, while holding themselves out as having a connection with show business, represent that they can secure employment for potential models only if advance fees for photography, makeup artists, hairstylists, and wardrobe consultants are paid, and accept such fees, all in violation of Arts and Cultural Affairs Law § 37.07. The petitioner also seeks to compel the respondents to make restitution to aggrieved customers, as well as the imposition of a civil penalty and costs. The respondents, by their answer, deny the material allegations set forth in the petition and assert three affirmative defenses: the first, that the petitioner's claims are barred by the applicable statute of limitations, the second, that the petitioner's claims are based for the most part on unsworn statements, and the third, that the respondents are entitled to a full evidentiary hearing given the sharply disputed facts contained in the parties' papers. Sections 349 and 350 of the General Business Law provide that deceptive acts and practices and false advertising in the conduct of any business are unlawful. When a proceeding is brought to obtain injunctive relief and restitution on behalf of a consumer, the Attorney General is required to establish that the respondents engaged in an act or practice which was deceptive or misleading ...... Please view the rest online due to length. read more

This is a scam. These people target you (or you and your kids) in the street and pretend they are model scouts. Then they lure you to their Long Island offices and attempt to sell you a photo package that costs close to a thousand dollars and is supposed to be "what you need to get into the modeling/acting business and what the agencies need to see". This place was full of immigrants and people of color with cute kids in the waiting room for their photo shoot with high hopes in their eyes for a better life for their children and perhaps the start of a nest egg for a college education. This crew is despicable for their exploitation of parent's best intentions and hopes - stay away. read more

This is one of the biggest modeling scams out there. 79 year old Jeffrey Mitchell meets with clients and essentially "forces" them to hand a credit card number over immediately. He is showing off clients that he has not worked for or with but has "stolen" off of other agencies pages. When I said I did not have the money for him and had to get it from my parents, he kicked me out of the office. This is SCARY. Please stay away and do not get sucked into this. Agents only make money when you book jobs. You should not have to pay 2,000 to work for his photographer in his office! read more

The woman who runs this agency is a psychopath, if you love your child do not allow them anywhere near her. She will destroy you child's self esteem and is incapable if anyway of helping them establish a career. She is a failed actress and model herself, so spends her time berating children to make up for her own inadequacies. read more

These people are SCAM ARTISTS!!!! Read all about it here: http://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/other-courts/2010/2010-51704.html DO NOT go NEAR these dirtbags!!!!!!! read more

Nothing left to say but THEY LANDED ME A MAJOR MAKEUP AD FIRST WEEK IN! :-D Im all smiles and Lipstick lol. City Model and Talent - you are Amazing!!!! read more