Stampede Worldwide, Inc., Files
Defamation Lawsuit Against Charles R. Will, Jr.
TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2000--Stampede Worldwide,
Inc. (OTCBB:STWW), (http://www.stampedeinc.com) announced Monday that
it had filed a complaint for defamation against Charles R. Will, Jr.
("Will") in the Circuit Court for Pinellas County, Florida. The
complaint was served against Will on May 15, 2000.
The complaint alleges Will has engaged in a months' long barrage
of defamatory internet postings about Stampede Worldwide, Inc. and its
Chief Operating Officer and Director of Investor Relations, David D.
Salmon. According to the complaint, Salmon was a former employee of
Pawnamerica.com who resigned from the company, citing problems with
Will as one of the reasons for his resignation. After Salmon left
Pawnamerica.com, Will was asked to resign from the board, which he
did. When Salmon began working for Stampede Worldwide, Will began to
post defamatory messages about Salmon and Stampede, at times posting
up to two dozen messages per day under several aliases. Will's
messages were posted on websites designed to allow investors to
exchange information about various publicly traded companies.
The
postings range from false accusations of mismanagement by the company
to disparagement of Mr. Salmon personally. The Complaint seeks money
damages against Will, and indicates that the Plaintiffs intend to seek
punitive damages against Will as well.
John Whitman, President of Stampede Worldwide, Inc., expressed the
company's reluctance to enter into litigation, stating: "The company
has made every effort to avoid litigation. It was our genuine hope
that Mr. Will would tire of his campaign and move on to new things. At
a certain point, it has become obvious that without action by the
company, he will continue this behavior unchecked. The company has a
duty to its stockholders to protect itself from Mr. Will's unfounded
smear campaign."
Stampede Worldwide is represented by the law firm of Trenam,
Kemker, Scharf, Barkin, Frye, O'Neill and Mullis, P.A.
--30--ta/mi*
CONTACT: Trenam, Kemker, Scharf, Barkin, Frye, O'Neill
& Mullis, P.A., Tampa
John E. Johnson, Esq.
813/223-7474, (fax) 813/229-6553
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