FBI Extortion Complaint Filed Against Mark Schnurman, Blick Law, the Perfect Franchise
Franchise industry whistleblower Sean Kelly, publisher of UnhappyFranchisee.com, has filed a complaint with the FBI requesting an investigation into potential extortion by franchise broker Mark Schnurman, the Perfect Franchise, and Blick Law attorneys Shaun Blick and Eric J. Warner. by Sean Kelly [Confidential communication welcome: UnhappyFranchisee[at]Gmail[dot]Com] ]
The term SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) for a meritless lawsuit filed to force an individual so much pain, anxiety, financial hardship and distress that they’ll relinquish their constitutionally protected right to free speech does not do this blatant thuggery justice.
Just because these thugs have nice offices, websites and professional photos of themselves in suits and ties doesn’t change what they are and what they do.
Just because their tools of coercion are lawsuits and motions rather than baseball bats…
Just because their back alleys are obscure court websites where they deliver their painful blows under the cover of the legal system, doesn’t make them any less thugs.
Let’s call it what it is: Extortion.
I’m using extortion in accordance with the layman’s definition of the term:
Extortion is the act of obtaining something of value, typically money or property, from someone through threats or coercion. [Kohn, Kohn, Colapinto]
Extortion is the act of obtaining something from someone… by using force or threats. [Collins]
Extortion is the practice of obtaining benefit through coercion… Extortion is sometimes called the “protection racket” because the racketeers often phrase their demands as payment for… abstinence of harm… [Wikipedia]
I Am Being Extorted by Mark Schnurman, The Perfect Franchise, Blick Law, Shaun Blick and Eric J. Warner.
I’ve already been robbed of nearly half of 2025. They’ve succeeded in causing the distress they intended.
But they will never, ever succeed in hiding my public opinion (and warning) that:
I’m being extorted by Mark Schnurman, The Perfect Franchise, & Blick Law attorneys Shaun Blick and Eric J. Warner.
I’m also being extorted by DonutNV Franchising Inc., and attorneys Joseph Ferris and William J. Clements of Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, Branzburg LLP.
I Am Filing Extortion Complaints With Every Relevant Law Enforcement Agency
This morning, I submitted the complaint below to the FBI IC3 Complaint site.
As soon as this is posted, my attorney will call, red-in-the-face, to say, once again, what a bad idea it is (from a legal standpoint) to publicly tell the truth.
Blick Law may make it their life’s work to destroy you, he’ll likely say.
Attorney Shaun Blick of Blick Law will have already called, irately shouting that he is already drawing up the next lawsuit against me for not having endured my beating silently.
He’ll be outraged that I defamed him by stating the facts… that I used copyrighted images intended to communicate his image of professionalism & respectability.
As is my policy, all of those discussed in this complaint are invited to provide corrections, explanations, clarifications rebuttals to me for publication in an open and candid discussion – as the Constitution intended.
Mark Schnurman, Blick Law Extortion Complaint Submitted to the FBI IC3 Internet Crime Center
Information About The Subject(s)Name: Mark Schnurman
I publish a responsible, lawful franchise whistleblower website called UnhappyFranchisee.Com.
I have worked with the FBI before and my past complaints, information & victim lists resulted in the indictment and conviction of Joseph Smith & Dennis Mason of the NY Bagel Cafe scam. My site and cooperation helped the IRS investigate Liberty Tax fraud. My reporting led to numerous state franchise investigations & enforcement actions. I was a major contributor to the 82 page report presented to Congress by Sen. Cortez Masto on deceptive practices in franchising.
I’m an individual, a senior citizen on Social Security, and a journalist who works unpaid in the public interest.
For the past 5 months, I have been attacked by legal threats, legal trickery, a meritless lawsuit and continuous threats of additional lawsuits for publicly sharing the details of the attacks. The person behind the attacks is Mark Schnurman, a former attorney who is now a commissioned franchise broker and head of The Perfect Franchise llc. The Perfect Franchise is a group of 30+ commissioned franchise brokers who derive $30k to $55K+ referral fees from their franchise seller clients.
The attacks are orchestrated by his cousin, NJ attorney Shaun Blick, owner of Blick Law llc, and attorney Eric J. Warner.
After not having had a lawsuit or significant legal challenge in ten years, I was hit with a 2nd lawsuit shortly after Schnurman’s suit. The Plaintiff in that suit is DonutNV Franchising Inc., Clermont, FL. These attacks may be coordinated as these two companies are related (Schnurman represents DonutNV & their agent, NE-based Franchise Fastlane). I believe they may be co-conspirators attempting to shut down a legitimate outlet that educates & warns consumers about deceptive practices.
I believe this is more than a civil dispute and may be a coordinated conspiracy. If I don’t meet Schnurman’s demands and sign away my right to protected free speech (which my career is dependent on), they will continue to drain me financially and emotionally. They aren’t demanding money. They are demanding that I sign an agreement that I will never investigate, scrutinize or publish a single word of any kind that mentions Mark Schnurman, The Perfect Franchise, the 30+ Perfect franchise consultants, employees, future employees or consultants, associates, Blick Law, Shaun Blick, Eric J. Warner and others.
This attack came from out of the blue.
I didn’t know and had never written about Schnurman or his company before his explosive reaction to a mention of pages on his website on Dec. 1, 2024.
Blick Law filed a baseless lawsuit citing a non-existent, public post on my site that caused his clients to panic and flee.
It didn’t happen.
Eric J. Warner simultaneously filed a request for a restraining order and injunctive relief that I would have to fight at a hearing in 20 days. I had to scramble to find representation which I couldn’t, try to prepare for the hearing pro se. Then learned I couldn’t represent myself. I had extreme anxiety & didn’t sleep. Then he withdrew it at the last minute. I later learned he had not served me with the petition or memorandum he had submitted to the court though he attested that he did. When he withdrew it, he attached a copy of the suit to disguise his omission.
They seem bent on destroying me by any means possible. They may have an associate waiting to file the next blow. Please investigate. Thank you!
Tags: Extortion, The Schnurman Effect, SLAPP, Strategic Lawuit Against Public Participation, PA, Mark Schnurman, Mark Adam Schnurman, The Perfect Franchise, franchise consultants, franchise brokers, Blick Law, attorney Shaun Blick, attorney Eric J. Warner, Phoenix Franchise Brands, Fetch! Pet Care franchise, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press