New York, Aug. 4 (Bloomberg) -- The New York Stock Exchange has sued 10 unidentified people for impersonating Chairman Richard Grasso on a popular Internet message board.
In a suit filed yesterday in federal court in New York, the exchange claims the John Does, using aliases such as RichAGrasso and RichieGrass, have been holding themselves out as Grasso on the Ragingbull.com Web site.
The NYSE says the defendants are posting messages about securities and securities markets.
Among dozens of messages cited in the complaint is one about Cyber-Care Inc., a health technology company. Written by richardgrasso, the posting reads, ``I just shorted this pig today. Will buy back at $10. It's a silver bullet stock.''
Another posting reads, ``I'm not a fraud. Well, I might be. Exactly, what does it matter?''
The suit contends that the postings will cause confusion as to whether Grasso is the source of the messages. It alleges violation of federal unfair competition laws and state false advertising laws.
The suit seeks undetermined damages and an order barring the defendants, whom the exchange will seek to identify, from using Grasso's name.
The Ragingbull.com message board is controlled by Andover, Massachusetts-based CMGI Inc.
quote.bloomberg.com
Regards,
Barb |
