To: Francois Goelo who wrote (4460 ) 9/29/1999 1:30:00 PM From: StockDung Respond to of 10354
100 ''John Does'' Refute Allegations In Yahoo! Internet Cyber-law Case Business Editors/Legal Writers PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 20, 1999--Defendants in an internet lawsuit will be holding an online news conference on the internet on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, to refute allegations by Plaintiff ITEX Corporation (OTC:ITEX) in the case styled "ITEX Corporation v. John Does 1-100." The case was filed last summer in Multnomah County Circuit Court, alleging that 100 defendants posted defamatory remarks about plaintiff ITEX on the popular Yahoo Inc.(Nasdaq:YHOO) financial message boards. "I want to send a clear message to Phillips Services (NYSE:PHV), ITEX Corporation (OTC:ITEX), Raytheon (Nasdaq:RTN A), Wade Cook Financial Corporation (OTC:WADE), and other plaintiffs in similar legal actions that so-called SLAPP lawsuits will be repudiated with counter-litigation," stated Les French, who was identified as "John Doe No. 3" by ITEX in the Oregon case. According to French, SLAPP lawsuits are increasingly used in an abusive manner by corporations to invade the privacy of individuals who seek to anonymously relay valuable and material information to other investors in public companies. French is a shareholder in ITEX, and a former ITEX vice president. ITEX is a nation-wide barter club which was de-listed on the NASDAQ Small Cap market last December after a lengthy investigation by NASDAQ officials. The defendants will present a live news conference at The ITEX Group chat room at clubs.yahoo.com on Tuesday, April 20, at 9:00 PM Eastern (6:00 PM Pacific). ITEX lawyers recently moved to quash subpoenas issued by defendants to collect certain discovery documents, but a Portland judge denied ITEX' motions and has ordered that the discovery of records pertaining to ITEX securities and certain financial transactions be produced to the defendants. Additional information on the lawsuit:clubs.yahoo.com On the barter industry: lesfrench.com . Inquiries should be directed to: Les L. French, Public Issues Consultant C/o Automated Business Corp. 210 River Forum 4380 SW Macadam Ave. Portland, Ore. 97201 --30--AMP/se* CONTACT: Automated Business Corp. Les L. French, 503/620-4884 Fax: 503/224-5460 barter@lesfrench.com KEYWORD: OREGON INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED INTERACTIVE/MULTIMEDIA/INTERNET Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet with Hyperlinks to your home page. URL: businesswire.com Copyright 1999 Business Wire. All rights reserved.