Scott Fetzer Company

Class Claims Kirby Vacuums Hoovered Them

     NEW HAVEN (CN) - The Kirby "high end" vacuum cleaner company, through its Connecticut distributor, promised desperate workers sales jobs at $500 to $800 a week, then paid them as little as 40 cents an hour for 70-hour weeks, eight workers say in a federal class action.
     "Defendants led plaintiffs to believe that promised paychecks, bonuses, and prizes were around the corner. But as defendants knew all along, nothing was around the corner," says the opt-in class action, filed by New Haven Legal Assistance.
     There are four defendants: Scott Zabka, "a distributor of Kirby-brand vacuum cleaners," dba co-defendant S.Z. Enterprises, of Orange, Conn., and Scott Fetzer Companies dba The Kirby Company, a Delaware corporation based in Ohio.
     "Defendant Kirby only sells its vacuums and related products through a 'Company Marketing System,' a personnel system, and a business system implemented at their authorized regional distributors," the complaint states. "Defendant Kirby conditionally appointed Defendants Zabka and SZE as the sole distributor of its products in most or all of Connecticut in 1999. Defendants Kirby conditioned that appointment on Defendants Zabka's and SZE's acceptance of the former's control and domination of the business and personnel policies."
     In a nutshell, the complaint states: "Defendants recruited plaintiffs and other job applicants to work for them by fraudulently misrepresenting their business and the terms and conditions of employment. Among other things, defendants promised $500-$800 in pay per week, characterized the work as a management-training program and characterized their business as an appliance outlet or home maintenance company. Not only did defendants fail to pay $500 per week, they paid only a fraction of the amount owed by law. In reliance on defendants' continued false misrepresentations, Plaintiffs worked without proper compensation and offered up their own family and friends to defendants as sales prospects. ... Plaintiffs and other employees, hoping to earn a living during hard times, held on until they were either broke or figured the business for a scam. Defendants themselves enjoyed and profited from plaintiffs' free labor."
     One named plaintiff was paid $85 for three weeks of work at 70 hours a week.

The Scott Fetzer Powered Equipment Group Engages Andy Ahern of ...

The Scott Fetzer Powered Equipment Group Engages Andy Ahern of Ahern and Associates to Assist in Acquisition Search

Ahern and Associates to assist The Scott Fetzer Powered Equipment Group in acquiring a powered equipment company which meets acquisition criteria.

(PRWEB) May 24, 2011

The Scott Fetzer Powered Equipment Group has recently engaged the services of Ahern and Associates, Ltd., the nation’s leading transportation management and acquisition consulting firm. Ahern has been contracted to aide in locating a powered equipment company which would complement the Group’s existing Stahl truck body business and to identify acquisition opportunities within the truck equipment market to augment the company’s existing products and provide profitable growth for the group.

The Westlake, OH based entity is currently targeting North American businesses with power equipment capabilities which are utilized with truck bodies. Ideal candidates who meet the acquisition criteria are those who have national distribution capabilities of powered equipment in place. This would include businesses who manufacture lift gates, cranes, truck mounted aerial devises, mobile airless paint sprayers, truck or trailer mounted power pack (generators, welders, and air compressors).

Additionally, The Scott Fetzer Powered Equipment Group is interested in expanding its niche by targeting arborist specific equipment. Acquisition target possibilities include manufacturers of chipper units, log splitter units, stump grinders, turf products, air spades, air vacuums and portable winches used by arborists.

The Scott Fetzer Powered Equipment Group was created in July 2010 by combining the previously independent operations: Stahl and Campbell Hausfield Power products. The new group now collectively focuses its efforts on utilizing its core strengths within the powered equipment industry to develop new products within the category of powered equipment and tools.

Vince Nardy, COO of the Group’s affiliate The Scott Fetzer Company tapped Ahern to call upon his broad list of contacts and potential sellers within the transportation and equipment industries to find a suitable acquisition target which meets Scott Fetzer’s strategic goals. Andy Ahern, CEO of Ahern and Associates, commented, “We’re very excited to be working with The Scott Fetzer Company in aiding them in their acquisition search and have every confidence that our firm will deliver.

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