Stampede Worldwide, Inc., Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Charles R. Will, Jr.
Business Wire - Monday, May 15, 2000
TAMPA, Fla., May 15, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- 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.
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