Re: 7/23/03 - [Zwebner/johndoes.org] Anonymous Internet Foundation Responds To Allegations Issued by Universal Communication Systems Inc. And Its Chairman Michael Zwebner
July 03, 2003 09:45 AM US Eastern Timezone
Anonymous Internet Foundation Responds To Allegations Issued by Universal Communication Systems Inc. And Its Chairman Michael Zwebner
The following is a statement from the Board of Directors of Anonymous Internet Foundation
PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 3, 2003--A company known as "Universal Communication Systems Inc." (UCSY), which quotes its chairman, Michael Zwebner, recently issued a statement relating to the lawsuit between Mr. Zwebner, the Anonymous Internet Foundation (AIF) - fka, John Does Anonymous Foundation (JDAF), Mr. French, and others. UCSY has no connection or relationship to this lawsuit, and the apparent effort by UCSY to promote itself on the basis of misleading information is troubling to the AIF Board. The misleading nature of UCSY's statement compels the Board to respond.
UCSY fails to point out that Mr. Zwebner requested damages in excess of $18,000,000 ($18 million). The court denied all economic damages claimed by Mr. Zwebner as unproven. Mr. Zwebner was denied attorneys' fees and costs, which he reported to the court to be in excess of $160,000.
Carla Hohenhouse, an outside Director for AIF stated, "It is our belief that the Foundation was (improperly) subject to a default order and was not permitted to present evidence disputing Mr. Zwebner's claims. Nevertheless, a $50,000 default judgment against the Foundation was entered for alleged `emotional distress.' That judgment is being appealed by AIF attorneys. AIF, based on sound legal information expects the default judgment to be reversed by the Ninth Circuit."
Prior to the release of this statement, the Foundation has never posted any comment, publicly or privately, regarding Mr. Zwebner. Mr. Zwebner's lawsuit was directed at a message post originally published by a third party (the London based, Mail On Sunday newspaper) which appeared on a public bulletin board on the Foundation's website. The Foundation is not a "perpetrator." The Foundation made no "actions" relating to Mr. Zwebner.
UCSY and Mr. Zwebner should be cognizant that, as the Hon. Judge King pointed out, a portion of the lawsuit which entails the claims asserted against Mr. Zwebner for Mr. Zwebner's own false and defamatory internet postings, was settled out of court, resulting in a stipulated injunction which limits Mr. Zwebner's own speech activities.
Anonymous Internet Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to anonymous free speech on the Internet. AIF's web site may be accessed at johndoes.org. Questions relating to this lawsuit or the Foundation should be directed by email to chohenhous@johndoes.org or will@johndoes.org.
Contacts
For Anonymous Internet Foundation, Portland
Carla Hohenhouse, 912/727-3363
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