What is Larry Shepherd vs. ANA and why is CoinTalk involved?

I'm trying to make sense of this, as far as I know CoinTalk doesn't have a horse in this race. But, it seems that Larry Shepherd, or at least his lawyer, thinks we do.

 

I'm just googling it now, some useful tidbits I've found:

http://www.coinworld.com/events/larry-shepherd-sues-ana-counsel-ron-sirna.html

http://www.coinworld.com/events/larry-shepherd-files-new-amended-complaint-ag.html

 

I follow the ANA drama(s) through various publications and also Laura Sperber blog at Legend Numismatics. Several of her recent posts were read by me and later pulled, so there is less info on there now than normally. If you guys dont read her blog, you really should. Alot of the messy, dark-side of the hobby gets talked about...

Anyway, it sounds ludicrous to involve CT in ANA lawsuits. Seems like they are finally trying to move forward with their new site and new projects, like the massive digitization project. I hope this does not become too large a distraction for the normal ANA members and employees, so we don't all suffer.

That being said, the thefts and corruption do need to be investigated through litigation, I just don't understand CT alleged role in any of this. Sounds like the time AccuGrade involved CT in their mess.

 

Larry Shepherd, in case you're reading this. I don't know you, nor do I know anything about your trouble with the ANA. What I do know is that when ANYONE has a Constable banging on my door at 7:30 AM scaring my children, that is a day when you've made a VERY BAD impression on me. I will not forget.

 

I rather suspect this is at the heart of the matter -

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an...ormer-executive-director.193052/#post-1277259

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an...-on-administrative-leave.190848/#post-1251686

 

I don't see how discussing an official ANA news release / statement that every ANA member probably read (including me) would cause CT to be complicit in the alleged defamation. Again, the source statement was publicly released. I guess when you have suffered harm to your reputation, the first thought is to grab a shotgun and not a sniper-rifle.

 

I'm reading the documents now and it looks like a demand for information about several members.

 

Lovely.

I hope I'm not on the "hit" list.

 

Yea, my wife was kind of freaked out too.

 

I would guess that the people concerned have already known about this for months. Dunno, though, really cause I have not pay any attention at all to all the various ANA lawsuits.

 

They are trying to move forward, but they are paying the piper now.... Bad timing with the launch of the new sites and all the goodwill they are trying to create to revitalize the membership.

I'm not sure why ANA membership has hemorrhaged so badly in past few years, but the magazine is getting a lot better, not worse. I guess all the bad press of various failed efforts, and all the in-fighting and lawsuits are taking their toll. But I would think people would join for the simple fact of: (1) The magazine (2) The free NGC submitter account access (3) access to Hugh Wood. But that is a different conversation....

If some bully was scaring my kids, my wife would go from sweet and demur, to a raging she-beast. I hope Larry doesn't run into your wife grocery shopping...

 

Read what I said near the end of the thread in the second link I posted. That is why CT is involved.

 

@Peter T Davis Also, I know you must have your own lawyer(s), but I would hope some CT members who are lawyers by day, would PM you and offer their assistance.

Hint...Hint. Lawyers, help defend the castle!

 

I think it's just that they're fishing for information, not that we're in any danger. The ironic thing is that CoinTalk doesn't, nor has it ever, collect personal information about its members. We're not like the ANA, which has the name, address, etc, of all its members on file.