Comments on: The Lance Dunston Debacle

By: Erik Schwartz

Erik Schwartz — Sun, 07 May 2006 21:17:42 +0000

FWIW, the lawsuit has been dropped.

http://www.mainewebreport.com/2006/05/05/warren-kremer-paino-withdraws-lawsuit/

By: Buzz Bruggeman

Buzz Bruggeman — Tue, 02 May 2006 20:26:22 +0000

Mike:

Pop!Tech has nothing to do with this litigation. And no ties to either of the litigants as far as I know. We both know that to file a lawsuit, all you need is some kind of complaint and a filing fee.

Whether the complaint will survive motions or ever get to trail is a matter for the trial court to determine. But the fact that Pop!Tech is in Camden, and Dunston is getting sued in Maine are Apples and Oranges.

Pop!Tech is a brilliant event, absolutely of the highest quality. I think if you choose not to go to Pop!Tech it will be your lose, as they will sell out, and everyone will have a great time.

By: Jennifer Allen

Jennifer Allen — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 02:40:09 +0000

This case is an such an interesting cautionary tale, whatever happens. Hopefully the defendant Lance Dunston is innocent and survives. I can’t comfortably form an opinion but one can’t go around libeling people/entities that damage reputations/businesses. If the defendant is wiped out by a plaintiff corporation because he is hit with a justifiable verdict, that is very unfortunate, probably for both parties, but corporations also have rights. Libel laws protect 800 pound gorillas too.

By: Erik Schwartz

Erik Schwartz — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 21:59:13 +0000

I meant “two” not “to”.

By: Erik Schwartz

Erik Schwartz — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 21:56:59 +0000

How exactly do you mean “state that allows”? How exactly would the state of Maine stop it?

The suit (between to private entities) was filed two weeks ago. I doubt if the state has even had the opportunity to throw it out yet. Having read the complaint I’d guess that as soon as it gets before “the state” (in the form of a Judge) it will go away.

Now if the state continues to do business with Warren Kramer Paino (which is, just for the record based in New York, not in Maine) beyond the contracts that they are already obligated to, then you might have a point.

For the sake of argument let’s sat WKP sued you for talking about this, the suit would have to be filed in California court. Now, by your logic we should ban third party California events (like say the MacWorld or Web 2.0 conference) because the county of Santa Clara court is required to adjudicate disputes where the defendant resides in the county?

Poptech has nothing to do with the Maine judicial system.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 18:41:40 +0000

Hi Erik,

Yeah, I’m bailing out of Poptech. I’m just voicing what tons of people are thinking and doing silently. Why would I lend any kind of support to a state that allows this to happen to one of its citizens? Absurd.

By: The Bell Curve Scar » Thickness of biz skin and freedom of blogspeech

The Bell Curve Scar » Thickness of biz skin and freedom of blogspeech — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 18:09:30 +0000

[...] Michael Arrington: I’m an attorney, and I say this: Our legal system is not an appropriate venue to handle disputes between deep pocketed plaintiffs and one-man defendants. The lawsuit itself is generally enough to destroy a person because they cannot affort proper legal representation. Warren Kremer Paino, the plaintiff, should be ashamed of itself for taking this to court, and their reputation, as well as that of their client, the state of Maine, will certainly take a hit for this. Based on the facts as I understand them right now, this lawsuit is ridiculous. [...]

By: Searching, Searching, Searching » Random Stuff again

Searching, Searching, Searching » Random Stuff again — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 14:46:17 +0000

[...] And for something more outrageous, read about the blogger being sued in Maine for criticizing the state’s tourism promo that had a toll free sex number listed. Scoble has a bunch of links here. [...]

By: Publishing 2.0 » Appearances and the Law in the Lance Dutson Lawsuit

Publishing 2.0 » Appearances and the Law in the Lance Dutson Lawsuit — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 13:08:32 +0000

[...] there is much to be learned on both sides. Scott Karp – April 29th, 2006 | Email | Print | Link Article Tags: Citizen Journalism, Blogs, Bloggers, Blogosphere,Blogging [...]

By: Erik Schwartz

Erik Schwartz — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 12:23:36 +0000

He’s being sued by the advertising agency, not the state of Maine. I agree it’s a stupid lawsuit.

What I don’t understand is why you’re bailing out of Poptech. Best I can tell the agency isn’t a sponsor of Poptech. Nor is the state of Maine a sponsor. Nor is the state of Maine is not a party to the suit.

There are however, a lot of Maine companies that are involved with Poptech that have nothing to do with this suit.

If everyone bailed out of California conferences every time a contractor to the state of California was involved in an idiotic lawsuit, the California conference industry would die in a week.

Erik Schwartz
Bath, Maine
(after spending 15 years in Silicon Valley)