Letter Of Libel From The World RPS Society
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Chad Leatherstep
Vice President Disciplinary Committee
World RPS Society
Trinity Square Plaza
129 Collier St.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
chadleatherstep@worldrps.com
April 29, 2002
BY E-MAIL, FAX AND FIRST-CLASS MAIL
Daniel Riehs Editor-In-Chief:
As Good as News
Daniel Riehs
XXX
XXX
USA
Re: Libel
Dear Mr. Riehs:
This firm (a wholly owned subsidiary of the World RPS Society) represents Mr. Wojek Smallsoa, chairman of the World RPS Society Steering Committee. I am writing to demand that "As Good as News" immediately retract from its website, its print edition, and from all other publications, in print or on the internet, the article headlined "Rock's Unbeaten Streak Against Scissors Reaches 26 Billion" Your failure to do by tomorrow will risk substantial liability for defamation.
The article and headline are patently false. One can only imagine that this defamatory accusation stems from the World RPS Society's Press release (WRPSS PR 1002-23) "WORLD ROCK PAPER SCISSORS SOCIETY VOTES 2002 'INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE ROCK'- Rock beats both Paper and Scissors for first time". However, nothing in that article even remotely supports the erroneous factual assertion contained in your account. Far from rock beating paper 26 billion times which is a gross underestimation of the number of times Rock has beaten scissors, the article also notes that my client Wojek Smallsoa was quoted as saying "[rock is] definitely one of the strongest contenders in the game, winning approximately 50% of its matches". As I am sure you are well aware, Wojek Smallsoa has published the definitive book on strategy on RPS called "The Trio of Hands" and would never degrade the sport of Rock Paper and Scissors to the level of discussing it in terms of simplistic probability.
By attributing these ridicules statements "As Good As News" has recklessly disregarded the truth and engaged in unprotected libel. As I am confident your lawyer will advise you, there is no defense applicable to such publication. Your having published and posted this item renders you liable to As Good As News in damages. Mr. Smallsoa earns a substantial sum of dollars via product endorsements from Pulp and Paper Mills, Scissors Manufacturers and numerous Mining Companies. Also, he contributes to the world via paid speaking engagements by providing key note addresses to Fortune 500 companies on such topics as: Leadership secrets of Wojek Smallsoa, Seven habits of highly effective RPS players, Everything I ever learned about life I learned from RPS and How your business needs to cope with the coming Rock Paper Scissors Revolution.
On behalf of the World RPS Society, I demand that you print a retraction on all the statements you have maliciously attributed to Mr. Smallsoa on your website and from all other publications and that you do so by 5:00 p.m. tomorrow. I also demand that you print a letter of apology on your website including the following text "Wojek Smallsoa is simply the greatest mind to ever grace the sport of RPS and we apologize to all members of the World RPS Society for any defamation of character "As Good As News" may have created". Please contact me by the end of the day tomorrow, or have your lawyer do so, to assure me that such steps have been taken. Should you fail to do so, my client will have no choice but to consider alternative remedies and to demand monetary damages and other relief.
I look forward to hearing from you or your lawyer by 5:00 p.m. tomorrow.
Yours firmly, Mr. Chad Leatherstep
Www.worldrps.com
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