January 29, 2013 THE DEFENCE CASE-IN-CHIEF
Nurmi calls his first witness: GUS SEARCY
PART 1
--Gus works for Legal Shied/Pre Paid Legal and he is a $100,000 ring owner, and an executive director. Gus makes the money whether he "gets out of bed or not".
--Legal Shield is a MLM (multi level marketing) company, it has 400,000 associates. People in the company want to get to the level that Gus is at. There are approximately 1500 people at the executive level. Those that make $100,000 in a 12 month period get a ring to signify their success.
--There are different levels of executive directors and they are bronze, silver, gold etc. The level depends on how many executive directors are beneath you. Gus is at the silver level.
--Gus is now describing what Legal Shield sells to customers.
--People become associates/brokers and get other people to work under them. There is financial incentive to get more people to sell under you so that you are making a little bit off of each person.
--Nurmi is asking Gus how the MLM sales work and how they get to Gus' level.
--Nurmi is asking Gus what he does within the company. Once you get to an executive director level you have to qualify every month. Once you have done that eight months in a row there is a book that is published with all the ring earners and the executive directors.
--Gus flies around the country to speak at meetings, conventions, and "super Saturdays". Ring owners and executive directors go and speak at meetings to inspire other people.
--There are regional events and a national convention.
--Nurmi is asking about the national convention. In 2008 there were two. One in Oklahoma and one in Dallas or Las Vegas. There are training classes. On the Thursday night there is an executive director banquet. If you get to go you can bring one person with you. Gus says it is "like winning the lottery ticket".
--The conventions are open to people in the business.
--The conventions are geared for associates to "keep them in the game" and "keep people inspired". They bring people on stage that have achieved success.
--Nurmi asking about the banquet. What goes on at the banquet. How are the directors treated? It is a formal attire evening. Only the executive directors that have qualified in the past three months are able to go. They make $100,000 to $4,000,000 a year. There are speeches from the newest $100,000 ring owners.
--In the book it shows how much money associates have made. Minimum income is $5000/month for executive directors.
--To get invited to the banquet for non executive directors it is like "winning the lottery". It's a "very big deal".
--Gus is asked if he knows Jodi. He identifies her in court.
--Gus is asked how he knows Jodi. Gus says he is an anomoly (sp?) in the organization. Matnez objects. Counsel approach the bench.