Mark and Tammy Smith’s $100 million lawsuit against Neora has been dismissed. The couple filed a voluntary notice of dismissal with prejudice on June 1st, 2020. This filing means the case cannot be refiled. Both parties will bear their own legal expenses.
The Smiths, former Neora Master Distributors, initiated the legal action in February 2018. They alleged Neora, then operating as Nerium, failed to honor a private business agreement. This dispute marked a significant moment in the direct selling industry, especially given the Smiths' former high-ranking positions. Their departure from Neora was contentious. Neora had previously accused the Smiths of poaching distributors after they joined rival Jeunesse.
The initial legal battle saw the Smiths seeking $100 million. A key development occurred nearly a year prior to the dismissal, when the court ordered the case into arbitration. This arbitration was slated to occur in Texas. The Smiths appealed this decision, but Neora ultimately succeeded in having the arbitration held in that state.
Details of any settlement reached between the Smiths and Neora remain undisclosed. The court filing simply states the parties' desire to "dismiss this matter with prejudice." The case's closure follows a prolonged legal process initiated in 2018.