sorry, this is the best i could do..............
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
RANDY A. HAMDAN, an individual, Case No.______________________
Hon._________________________
Plaintiff,
v.
MATT FINSTON, an individual
Defendant.
HOWARD & HOWARD ATTORNEYS PLLC
Michael F. Wais (P45482)
Jeff A. Hoover (P71447)
Attorneys for Plaintiff
450 West Fourth Street
Royal Oak, MI 48067-2557
(248) 645-1483
mwais@howardandhoward.com
jhoover@howardandhoward.com
COMPLAINT AND JURY DEMAND
NOW COMES, Plaintiff, Randy A. Hamdan, and for his Complaint against Defendant Matt Finston, states as follows:
JURISDICTION
1 Plaintiff Randy A. Hamdan is a resident of the State of Michigan.
2. Defendant Matt Finston is a resident of the State of California.
3. The amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.00, exclusive of interest and costs.
4. Jurisdiction is otherwise appropriate in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C § 1332.
BACKGROUND
5. HH Group, LLC is the holder of approximately [______] shares of common stock in Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc., a publicly held corporation trading under the ticker symbol FITX.
6. Plaintiff is the sole member of HH Group, LLC.
7. In approximately June of 2014, Defendant began a campaign to publicly defame and cast Plaintiff and Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. in a false light through a series of internet posts containing false and defamatory statements regarding Plaintiff.
8. Just a few examples of Defendant’s false and defamatory statements regarding Plaintiff are as follows:
a. That Plaintiff has a “fraudulent past”. (See Exhibit A).
b. That Plaintiff and HH Group, LLC were issued 420 Million shares of stock in Creative Edge Nutrition Inc. (ticker symbol FITX) for $0.001 per share. (See Exhibit
.
c. That “Vgpr didn’t survive Hamden”, implying that Plaintiff caused Vega Biofuels Inc. to fail or go out of business. (See Exhibit C).
d. That “DNAX is another”, implying that Plaintiff caused DNA Brands, Inc. to fail or go out of business. (See Exhibit D).
e. That Plaintiff “dumped” FITX stock “into the promotion three years ago”. (See Exhibit E).
f. That Plaintiff is “a serial pump and dump and he’s been charged by the SEC for it.” (See Exhibit F).
g. That Plaintiff is “a known pump and dump”. (See Exhibit G).
h. That Plaintiff is “an investor relations ponzi”. (See Exhibit H).
i. Plaintiff has posted statements implying that Amineh A. Hamdan and Fihmiya Anwar Hamdan (Plaintiff’s parents) are associated with Hezballah and/or are engaged in or associated with terrorism -- for the purpose of further implying that Plaintiff and his family are tied to Hezballah and terrorism. (See Exhibit I).
j. That Plaintiff is “using more profiles to harass and intimidate and pump”. (See Exhibit J).
9. Upon information and belief, Defendant has made and published numerous other false and defamatory statement regarding both Plaintiff and Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc.
10. Based upon information and belief, Defendant is undertaking this campaign of defamation against Plaintiff and Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. as part of a stock price manipulation scheme whereby he is “short selling” Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc.’s stock and attempting to profit by driving the stock price downward.
11. On July 3, 2014, Plaintiff’s attorneys sent Defendant a letter pursuant to MCL 600.2911(2)(b) demanding that Defendant issue a retraction of all of the false and defamatory statements he has made against Plaintiff. (See Exhibit K).
12. To date, Defendant has failed to respond to this letter or publish any type of retraction.
13. Instead, Defendant has continued his defamatory internet campaign against Plaintiff and Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. with a July 23, 2014 article posted on www.seekingalpha.com. However, this time Defendant was careful not to mention Plaintiff by name. (See Exhibit L).
14. Plaintiff has suffered significant financial losses as well as damages to his reputation and business prospects. This is not to mention the grave danger Defendant has placed Plaintiff and his family in by insinuating that they are connected to Hezballah and terrorism.
COUNT I
DEFAMATION
15. Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs 1-14 above as if fully restated herein.
16. As set forth above, Defendant made numerous false statements and comments regarding Plaintiff as part of an internet based campaign by Defendant to defame Plaintiff.
17. Defendant published these remarks to an infinite number of third parties on the internet with knowledge of the falsity of the statements or in reckless disregard of their truth or falsity.
18. The repeated publication of these false and defamatory statements by Defendant has resulted in severe damage to Plaintiff’s reputation, has caused Plaintiff to suffer severe emotional distress, has placed Plaintiff’s family in grave danger, and has caused Plaintiff significant economic loss, including but not limited to driving down the stock price of Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. and interfering with Plaintiff’s ability to invest in publicly traded companies.
19. As Defendant’s defamatory and false statements against Plaintiff were made with a malicious intent and have held Plaintiff up to hatred, scorn, contempt, and/or ridicule, they constitute defamation per se.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff seeks a Judgment against Defendant in an amount the Court deems just and equitable, including exemplary and punitive damages, plus attorneys' fees, interest and costs, and such other relief the Court deems appropriate.
COUNT II
INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS
20. Plaintiffs incorporate paragraphs 1-19 above as if fully restated herein.
21. Defendant’s defamatory and wrongful conduct, as detailed above, was intentional.
22. Defendant’s defamatory and wrongful conduct, as detailed above, was extreme, outrageous, and of such character as not to be tolerated by a civilized society.
23. Indeed, Defendant’s defamatory and wrongful conduct, as detailed above, was for an ulterior motive or purpose, most notably to manipulate the stock price of Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. for Defendant’s own profit.
24. Defendant’s defamatory and wrongful conduct has caused Plaintiff to suffer severe and serious emotional distress.
25. The repeated publication of these false and defamatory statements by Defendant has resulted in severe damage to Plaintiff’s reputation, has caused Plaintiff to suffer severe emotional distress, has placed Plaintiff’s family in grave danger, and has caused Plaintiff significant economic loss, including but not limited to driving down the stock price of Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. and interfering with Plaintiff’s ability to invest in publicly traded companies.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff seeks a Judgment against Defendant in an amount the Court deems just and equitable, including exemplary and punitive damages, plus attorneys' fees, interest and costs, and such other relief the Court deems appropriate.
COUNT III
TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE WITH BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
26. Plaintiffs incorporate paragraphs 1-25 above as if fully restated herein.
27. As set forth above, Plaintiff is an indirect shareholder of Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc.
28. Defendant’s repeated defamatory and false statements regarding Plaintiff have caused Plaintiff and Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. to be held Plaintiff up to hatred, scorn, contempt, and/or ridicule
29. Defendant, by his unwarranted, negligent, intentional, reckless, and false accusation against Plaintiff have interfered with Plaintiff’s business relationship with Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc., and his business relationship with other publicly held companies.
30. Defendants wrongful conduct has resulted in severe damage to Plaintiff’s reputation, has caused Plaintiff to suffer severe emotional distress, has placed Plaintiff’s family in grave danger, and has caused Plaintiff significant economic loss, including but not limited to driving down the stock price of Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc., harming Plaintiff’s relationship with Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc., and interfering with Plaintiff’s ability to invest in publicly traded companies.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff seeks a Judgment against Defendant in an amount the Court deems just and equitable, including exemplary and punitive damages, plus attorneys' fees, interest and costs, and such other relief the Court deems appropriate.
COUNT IV
FALSE LIGHT DEFAMATION
31. Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs 1-30 above as if fully restated herein.
32. As set forth above, Defendant made numerous false statements and comments regarding Plaintiff as part of an internet based campaign by Defendant to defame Plaintiff.
33. Defendant published these remarks to an infinite number of third parties on the internet with knowledge of the falsity of the statements or in reckless disregard of their truth or falsity.
34. The repeated publication of these false and defamatory statements by Defendant has placed Plaintiff in a false and negative light in the public eye.
35. The repeated publication of these false and defamatory statements by Defendant has also resulted in severe damage to Plaintiff’s reputation, has caused Plaintiff to suffer severe emotional distress, has placed Plaintiff’s family in grave danger, and has caused Plaintiff significant economic loss, including but not limited to driving down the stock price of Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. and interfering with Plaintiff’s ability to invest in publicly traded companies.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff seeks a Judgment against Defendant in an amount the Court deems just and equitable, including exemplary and punitive damages, plus attorneys' fees, interest and costs, and such other relief the Court deems appropriate.
REQUEST FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff seeks a Judgment against Defendant in an amount the Court deems just and equitable, including exemplary and punitive damages, plus attorneys' fees, interest and costs, and such other relief the Court deems appropriate.
HOWARD & HOWARD ATTORNEYS PLLC
Dated: July 25, 2014 By: /s/ Michael F. Wais
Michael F. Wais (P45482)
Jeffrey A. Hoover (P71447)
Attorneys for Plaintiff
450 West Fourth Street
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 645-1483
Email: mwais@howardandhoward.com
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
RANDY A. HAMDAN, an individual, Case No.______________________
Hon._________________________
Plaintiff,
v.
MATT FINSTON, an individual
Defendant.
HOWARD & HOWARD ATTORNEYS PLLC
Michael F. Wais (P45482)
Jeff A. Hoover (P71447)
Attorneys for Plaintiff
450 West Fourth Street
Royal Oak, MI 48067-2557
(248) 645-1483
mwais@howardandhoward.com
jhoover@howardandhoward.com
COMPLAINT AND JURY DEMAND
NOW COMES, Plaintiff, Randy A. Hamdan, and for his Complaint against Defendant Matt Finston, states as follows:
JURISDICTION
1 Plaintiff Randy A. Hamdan is a resident of the State of Michigan.
2. Defendant Matt Finston is a resident of the State of California.
3. The amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.00, exclusive of interest and costs.
4. Jurisdiction is otherwise appropriate in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C § 1332.
BACKGROUND
5. HH Group, LLC is the holder of approximately [______] shares of common stock in Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc., a publicly held corporation trading under the ticker symbol FITX.
6. Plaintiff is the sole member of HH Group, LLC.
7. In approximately June of 2014, Defendant began a campaign to publicly defame and cast Plaintiff and Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. in a false light through a series of internet posts containing false and defamatory statements regarding Plaintiff.
8. Just a few examples of Defendant’s false and defamatory statements regarding Plaintiff are as follows:
a. That Plaintiff has a “fraudulent past”. (See Exhibit A).
b. That Plaintiff and HH Group, LLC were issued 420 Million shares of stock in Creative Edge Nutrition Inc. (ticker symbol FITX) for $0.001 per share. (See Exhibit
. c. That “Vgpr didn’t survive Hamden”, implying that Plaintiff caused Vega Biofuels Inc. to fail or go out of business. (See Exhibit C).
d. That “DNAX is another”, implying that Plaintiff caused DNA Brands, Inc. to fail or go out of business. (See Exhibit D).
e. That Plaintiff “dumped” FITX stock “into the promotion three years ago”. (See Exhibit E).
f. That Plaintiff is “a serial pump and dump and he’s been charged by the SEC for it.” (See Exhibit F).
g. That Plaintiff is “a known pump and dump”. (See Exhibit G).
h. That Plaintiff is “an investor relations ponzi”. (See Exhibit H).
i. Plaintiff has posted statements implying that Amineh A. Hamdan and Fihmiya Anwar Hamdan (Plaintiff’s parents) are associated with Hezballah and/or are engaged in or associated with terrorism -- for the purpose of further implying that Plaintiff and his family are tied to Hezballah and terrorism. (See Exhibit I).
j. That Plaintiff is “using more profiles to harass and intimidate and pump”. (See Exhibit J).
9. Upon information and belief, Defendant has made and published numerous other false and defamatory statement regarding both Plaintiff and Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc.
10. Based upon information and belief, Defendant is undertaking this campaign of defamation against Plaintiff and Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. as part of a stock price manipulation scheme whereby he is “short selling” Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc.’s stock and attempting to profit by driving the stock price downward.
11. On July 3, 2014, Plaintiff’s attorneys sent Defendant a letter pursuant to MCL 600.2911(2)(b) demanding that Defendant issue a retraction of all of the false and defamatory statements he has made against Plaintiff. (See Exhibit K).
12. To date, Defendant has failed to respond to this letter or publish any type of retraction.
13. Instead, Defendant has continued his defamatory internet campaign against Plaintiff and Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. with a July 23, 2014 article posted on www.seekingalpha.com. However, this time Defendant was careful not to mention Plaintiff by name. (See Exhibit L).
14. Plaintiff has suffered significant financial losses as well as damages to his reputation and business prospects. This is not to mention the grave danger Defendant has placed Plaintiff and his family in by insinuating that they are connected to Hezballah and terrorism.
COUNT I
DEFAMATION
15. Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs 1-14 above as if fully restated herein.
16. As set forth above, Defendant made numerous false statements and comments regarding Plaintiff as part of an internet based campaign by Defendant to defame Plaintiff.
17. Defendant published these remarks to an infinite number of third parties on the internet with knowledge of the falsity of the statements or in reckless disregard of their truth or falsity.
18. The repeated publication of these false and defamatory statements by Defendant has resulted in severe damage to Plaintiff’s reputation, has caused Plaintiff to suffer severe emotional distress, has placed Plaintiff’s family in grave danger, and has caused Plaintiff significant economic loss, including but not limited to driving down the stock price of Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. and interfering with Plaintiff’s ability to invest in publicly traded companies.
19. As Defendant’s defamatory and false statements against Plaintiff were made with a malicious intent and have held Plaintiff up to hatred, scorn, contempt, and/or ridicule, they constitute defamation per se.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff seeks a Judgment against Defendant in an amount the Court deems just and equitable, including exemplary and punitive damages, plus attorneys' fees, interest and costs, and such other relief the Court deems appropriate.
COUNT II
INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS
20. Plaintiffs incorporate paragraphs 1-19 above as if fully restated herein.
21. Defendant’s defamatory and wrongful conduct, as detailed above, was intentional.
22. Defendant’s defamatory and wrongful conduct, as detailed above, was extreme, outrageous, and of such character as not to be tolerated by a civilized society.
23. Indeed, Defendant’s defamatory and wrongful conduct, as detailed above, was for an ulterior motive or purpose, most notably to manipulate the stock price of Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. for Defendant’s own profit.
24. Defendant’s defamatory and wrongful conduct has caused Plaintiff to suffer severe and serious emotional distress.
25. The repeated publication of these false and defamatory statements by Defendant has resulted in severe damage to Plaintiff’s reputation, has caused Plaintiff to suffer severe emotional distress, has placed Plaintiff’s family in grave danger, and has caused Plaintiff significant economic loss, including but not limited to driving down the stock price of Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. and interfering with Plaintiff’s ability to invest in publicly traded companies.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff seeks a Judgment against Defendant in an amount the Court deems just and equitable, including exemplary and punitive damages, plus attorneys' fees, interest and costs, and such other relief the Court deems appropriate.
COUNT III
TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE WITH BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
26. Plaintiffs incorporate paragraphs 1-25 above as if fully restated herein.
27. As set forth above, Plaintiff is an indirect shareholder of Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc.
28. Defendant’s repeated defamatory and false statements regarding Plaintiff have caused Plaintiff and Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. to be held Plaintiff up to hatred, scorn, contempt, and/or ridicule
29. Defendant, by his unwarranted, negligent, intentional, reckless, and false accusation against Plaintiff have interfered with Plaintiff’s business relationship with Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc., and his business relationship with other publicly held companies.
30. Defendants wrongful conduct has resulted in severe damage to Plaintiff’s reputation, has caused Plaintiff to suffer severe emotional distress, has placed Plaintiff’s family in grave danger, and has caused Plaintiff significant economic loss, including but not limited to driving down the stock price of Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc., harming Plaintiff’s relationship with Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc., and interfering with Plaintiff’s ability to invest in publicly traded companies.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff seeks a Judgment against Defendant in an amount the Court deems just and equitable, including exemplary and punitive damages, plus attorneys' fees, interest and costs, and such other relief the Court deems appropriate.
COUNT IV
FALSE LIGHT DEFAMATION
31. Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs 1-30 above as if fully restated herein.
32. As set forth above, Defendant made numerous false statements and comments regarding Plaintiff as part of an internet based campaign by Defendant to defame Plaintiff.
33. Defendant published these remarks to an infinite number of third parties on the internet with knowledge of the falsity of the statements or in reckless disregard of their truth or falsity.
34. The repeated publication of these false and defamatory statements by Defendant has placed Plaintiff in a false and negative light in the public eye.
35. The repeated publication of these false and defamatory statements by Defendant has also resulted in severe damage to Plaintiff’s reputation, has caused Plaintiff to suffer severe emotional distress, has placed Plaintiff’s family in grave danger, and has caused Plaintiff significant economic loss, including but not limited to driving down the stock price of Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. and interfering with Plaintiff’s ability to invest in publicly traded companies.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff seeks a Judgment against Defendant in an amount the Court deems just and equitable, including exemplary and punitive damages, plus attorneys' fees, interest and costs, and such other relief the Court deems appropriate.
REQUEST FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff seeks a Judgment against Defendant in an amount the Court deems just and equitable, including exemplary and punitive damages, plus attorneys' fees, interest and costs, and such other relief the Court deems appropriate.
HOWARD & HOWARD ATTORNEYS PLLC
Dated: July 25, 2014 By: /s/ Michael F. Wais
Michael F. Wais (P45482)
Jeffrey A. Hoover (P71447)
Attorneys for Plaintiff
450 West Fourth Street
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 645-1483
Email: mwais@howardandhoward.com
Creative Edge Nutrition Inc. (FITX) Stock Research Links
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