An extortion lawsuit filed by BlackOxygen Organics supplies perception into the corporate’s abrupt collapse earlier this week.
David Bykowski (proper), is a Texas resident who joined BlackOxygen Organics in 2019.
BlackOxygen Organics co-founders Marc Saint-Onge and Carlo Garibaldi, describe Bykowski’s time on the firm as ‘disruptive and a relentless supply of frustration’.
After repeated requests to Bykowski to chorus from his fixed disruptive and harassing conduct, BlackOxygen Organics terminated Bykowski’s Model Accomplice Settlement on March 13, 2021.
In response to being terminated, Bykowski pleaded to be let again into the corporate.
I understand I ought to have held again and stayed out of the best way and I apologize for my errors.
I promise to alter my strategy and be extra understanding sooner or later and help the wants and requests of my individuals and firm instructions …
I’ll do something to remain concerned in [BlackOxygen Organics] and I’ll respect your each want and directive and I’ll help the enterprise route and alternative with out fail …
I pledge my complete dedication and coronary heart to this firm and this enterprise.
I like this firm and product and I like you guys and I’m sorry I allow you to down …
Regardless of a number of emails despatched by Bykowski, BlackOxygen Organics refused to reinstate him.
As alleged in BlackOxygen Organics’ Texas lawsuit, this prompted Bykowski to launch a YouTube marketing campaign towards the corporate.
Starting in April 2021, Bykowski started posting movies on the social media web site YouTube which comprise false and disparaging statements about BlackOxygen Organics and Messrs. Saint-Onge and Garibaldi.
In a video dated April 7, 2021, Bykowski falsely states that Messrs. Saint-Onge and Garibaldi are grasping” and that Mr. Saint-Onge is a “flunky” with no direct gross sales/MLM expertise.
Bykowski additional falsely states that Mr. Garibaldi, who’s married, has engaged in extramarital infidelity by “chasing Colombian ladies.”
In a video posted on YouTube on June 28, 2021, Bykowski repeats lots of the statements made within the April 7, 2021, video.
He refers to Messrs. St. Onge and Garibaldi as “grasping” and “not sincere.”
Though he repeats his assertion that BlackOxygen Organics has nice merchandise, he means that BlackOxygen Organics merchandise should not adequately examined and/or inspected previous to sale to the general public.
Bykowski has printed extra movies on YouTube making related statements and suggesting that BlackOxygen Organics wants “to be put out of enterprise.”
Along with YouTube, Bykowski additionally ran a non-public FaceBook group known as “BOO – Seekers of the Fact”.
Bykowski has used this group discussion board to publish false, deceptive and disparaging statements about BlackOxygen Organics and Mr. Saint-Onge, together with however not restricted to the next:
(i) BlackOxygen Organics doesn’t commonly take a look at its merchandise and suggestion that the merchandise have unsafe ranges of lead and heavy metals;
(ii) BlackOxygen Organics merchandise have been bought “illegally” in Canada;
(iii) Mr. Saint-Onge is “nothing however a Snakeoil salesman;”
(iv) BlackOxygen Organics merchandise comprise human or animal feces. “Model Companions and prospects are actually consuming shit;”
(v) BlackOxygen Organics merchandise might comprise streptococcus, the micro organism that causes strep throat;
(vi) BlackOxygen Organics merchandise comprise solely 5% fulvic acid and are “equal” to garden fertilizer;
(vii) BlackOxygen merchandise are “nothing however SNAKEOIL and its CEO Marc Saint-Onge is nothing however a Snakeoil salesman” and suggestion that the corporate’s merchandise come from a landfill;
(viii) BlackOxygen Organics merchandise come from a poisonous supply;
(ix) Evaluating BlackOxygen Organics merchandise to meals produced from human stays; and
(x) Suggesting that BlackOxygen Organics merchandise “may very effectively be tainted.
Bykowski wove a advertising and marketing marketing campaign for “a competing fulvic acid firm” into his allegedly defamatory statements.
That, nonetheless, is just not what BlackOxygen Organics objected to. Fairly it was an alleged extortionary demand for $200,000.
BlackOxygen Organics’ grievance quotes an electronic mail, allegedly despatched by Bykowski on July thirty first, 2021.
So right here is my proposal $200,000.. $100,000 paid by the top of August and $20,000 paid over 5 months, September, October, November, December and January.
For those who determine to besides [sic] this settlement I’ll signal any paperwork that request I take down all my YouTube movies and chorus from any additional posts about BlackOxygen Organics in addition to different language you request to be added.
I’ve not even begun to reek [sic] the havoc I’ll proceed to reek [sic] when you refuse this supply.
Saint-Onge and Garibaldi refused to pay Bykowski.
Because of them not paying up, BlackOxygen Organics alleges
Bykowski has made good on his promise to “wreak havoc” towards BlackOxygen Organics and its homeowners.
BlackOxygen Organics goes on to attribute the corporate’s regulatory issues to Bykowski.
In August 2021, Bykowski inspired members of his Fb group and others to file complaints about BlackOxygen Organics merchandise with Well being Canada, the Canadian company that regulates consumable merchandise, and the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration.
Plaintiffs consider that nearly the entire complaints had been submitted by individuals who’ve neither bought nor consumed BlackOxygen Organics merchandise and who as a substitute had been performing primarily based upon the false and deceptive data Bykowski has printed in his on-line movies and Fb posts.
Bykowski’s marketing campaign, the corporate’s alleges, thus result in BlackOxygen Organics downfall.
In August 2021, Well being Canada started an investigation of BlackOxygen Organics merchandise which resulted in a recall of
BlackOxygen Organics merchandise in Canada.Because of this motion, 11578243 Canada, Inc. d/b/a BlackOxygen Organics has skilled a lack of income from Canada gross sales of roughly $20,000 (CA) per day since August 17, leading to important misplaced income.
Bykowski’s marketing campaign to “wreak havoc” has additionally considerably impacted BlackOxygen Organics’ gross sales within the U.S. After Bykowski started publishing false and disparaging statements about BlackOxygen Organics, the FDA put a maintain on the sale of the businesses’ merchandise within the U.S.
This has prevented BlackOxygen Organics from promoting merchandise within the U.S. market since August 18, 2021, leading to a catastrophic lack of income and income.
Earlier than Bykowski started his extortion marketing campaign, BlackOxygen Organics’ revenues within the U.S. had been rising at a charge of greater than 100% monthly.
This development slowed to 25% in July 2021, 9% in August 2021 and in September 2021 the corporate initiatives a major decline in gross sales.
Personally I believe BlackOxygen is giving Bykowski far an excessive amount of credit score.
Actually client complaints would possibly result in an investigation, however authorities aren’t going to close down an organization’s nationwide distribution with out an investigation of their very own.
Given Well being Canada and the FDA opted to grab BlackOxygen Organics’ merchandise, one can surmise what the end result of these investigations had been.
That is additionally pure hypothesis on my half, however I’m additionally having a tough time believing neither Well being Canada or the FDA wasn’t in touch following the seizures.
Maybe not right away however after months on finish? Yeah, not satisfied.
BlackOxygen Organics’ lawsuit goes on to accuse Bykowski of
- enterprise disparagement;
- tortious interference with current contractual relationships;
- tortious interference with potential enterprise relations; and
- defamation and defamation per se.
BlackOxygen Organics sought a everlasting injunction, financial damages, exemplary damages and authorized prices.
BlackOxygen Organics filed its lawsuit on September sixteenth. Bykowski was served in early November.
On November twenty fourth a Joint Movement for a Everlasting Injunction was filed, detailing settlement between the events.
On or about November 10, 2021, Plaintiffs and Defendant reached a settlement of this dispute.
Plaintiffs and Defendant have executed formal settlement paperwork, together with an Agreed Everlasting Injunction and Remaining Judgment.
As per the phrases of the settlement Bykowski agreed to take away all on-line BlackOxygen Organics content material he’d created.
This included unfavorable content material pertaining to Marc Saint-Onge, Carlo Garibaldi and BlackOxygen distributors who requested removing.
Bykoswki was additionally barred from having any additional communication with BlackOxygen Organics and its executives.
The submitting was signed on November twelfth.
On or round November twenty third, sooner or later earlier than it was filed, BlackOxygen Organics introduced it was shutting down.
To this point the corporate has failed to supply a particular cause for the abrupt announcement.
The lawsuit towards Bykowski suggests BlackOxygen Organics’ regulatory troubles are/had been far better than the corporate let on.
This in flip crippled distribution of product throughout its two major markets, ultimately leading to monetary collapse.
If Well being Canada and/or the FDA intend to pursue motion towards BlackOxygen Organics, they’ve but to situation a public assertion.
Perusal of David Bykowski’s social media reveals a decade plus historical past of selling varied MLM dietary supplements.
Bykowski is presently selling Vidafy World’s “Nanofy Curcuma” complement.
The above Fb put up suggests Bykowski is selling Vidafy World as a remedy for autoimmune illness and/or irritation.
In a single YouTube video Bykowski describes Vidafy as “the chance of a lifetime”. His Vidafy advertising and marketing particularly targets nurses.
BehindMLM’s evaluate of Vidafy World is pending.
Replace December eighth 2021 – The FDA has issued a public well being warning, advising BlackOxygen Organics’ merchandise comprise elevated ranges of lead and arsenic.
Replace 2nd January 2022 – BehindMLM has now printed its Vidafy evaluate.
Replace 14th January 2022 – A reader let me know David Bykowski had handed away.
I used to be capable of verify the information by way of a member of the family on social media:
On the time of this replace Bykowski’s reason for dying hasn’t been made public.