USANA Health Sciences, has been ordered to pay the attorney fees of Barry Minkow, of the Discovery Fraud Institute after a California District Court ruled that the Utah based company violated California’s anti SLAPP law. SLAPP which stands for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, aims to cut down and discourage lawsuits that usurp public tax dollars.
Minkow founded the Fraud Discover Institute, which is based in San Diego. Minkow, a former criminal himself, has been on the attack against MLM companies for many years and has been focused on USANA since 2007 which he claims is running a fraudulent organization. Minkow is notorious for buying MLM company shares and “manipulating” them, and then using profits from the stocks to investigate the company.
If you remember, it was Minkow who used proceeds from Herbalife stock to investigate the company and eventually oust its President, Greg Probert as having lied on his resume. USANA was trying to prove that Minkow was in bed with market players with the goal of causing the company’s stock to crash.
“Our case is about the link between Minkow and hedge funds and short sellers who made Lord knows how many millions of dollars off Minkow’s report,” said USANA attorney D.J. Poyfair.
The Judge found no evidence between Minkow, his investigation and any activity with USANA stock. USANA was ordered to pay Minkow and his Fraud Discovery Institute over $140,000 in Attorney Fees.
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Barry needs more than a slap, he deserves a serious *** whoopin’.
When I read things like this it makes me wonder how intelligent, highly educated people can be so stupid. They enact laws that favor civil rights so much that malefactors are rewarded for there evil deeds.
I hope USANA will dispute this court order to the fullest according to due process.
A master con man knows how to cover his trail. Does this make him less of a con man?
Was justice served?
Tom Doiron
Atlanta
Comment by Tom Doiron — May 12, 2008 @ 7:52 pm