Judge orders local modeling agency to repay clients for training

By KELLY BRADISH
Collegian Staff Writer

EBENSBURG -- Modeling hopefuls who claimed an agency charged them for training seminars but did not get them jobs will receive restitution, according to a Cambria County judge's order made last week.

According to court documents, President Judge Gerard Long ordered Kelli S. Harman and Excel Model Management Group Inc. to pay restitution in amounts ranging from $285 to $1,145 to the 21 consumers named in the documents.

The agency operated an office in State College and had another in Johnstown, Senior Deputy Attorney General Barry Creany said.

The Bureau of Consumer Protection for the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office began investigating Excel, formerly at 300 S. Pugh St., in 1997.

Several people who responded to the agency's "help wanted" advertisements said they were told they needed more training in order to get a job, Creany said. However, after paying an average of $835 for training seminars, they still were not given modeling jobs, he said.

"I would say a substantial portion of them were not doing any (runway modeling) work," Creany said, adding some worked as product representatives who distributed product samples in shopping areas.

The consumers involved were mostly female and between 18 and 30 years old, but some were juveniles or middle-aged, Creany said.

Harman agreed in a March 1998 settlement to give the consumers refunds and pay more than $2,000 in fines and investigation costs, according to a press release from the attorney general's office.

However, Creany said Harman stopped payment on the check for civil costs and did not refund any money.

Harman then closed her agency and transferred some assets to Millenia Model and Talent Management.

That company, which since has closed, was operated by Harman's husband, Larry Harman, at the same Pugh Street location as Excel, according to the press release from the attorney general.

Larry Harman is not named in the order but is involved with a related bankruptcy case, Creany said.

Excel has filed for bankruptcy, but the claim is still being contested, Creany said. As of yet, the corporation has not been relieved of any debts, he said.

If the $15,095 in restitution and $2,045.50 in fines and costs are not voluntarily paid and the case is not appealed by Excel, Creany said further legal action will be taken to begin collection procedures.

Both Judge Long and Joseph Devecka, Harman's attorney, were unavailable for comment.