PDA

View Full Version : Smith Enterprises Lawsuit



djegators
09-05-13, 15:49
Perhaps this thread is inappropriate, if I so please delete, and accept my apologies.


Smith Enterprises posted this just recently on facebook:



Smith Enterprise
As you may have heard, SEI has chosen to defend its reputation and is taking legal action against Dr. Hammonds, a gentleman who made multiple disparaging and false statements about our company over the past several months on multiple forums. In many cases we give people the benefit of the doubt, but when an individual states that our products are not well-made, it strikes at the heart of the SEI business model – to make quality products to very high standards. SEI takes great pride in its craftsmanship, as many customers have noticed. Nevertheless, we gave Dr. Hammonds multiple chances to retract his false statements about our products and he refused. Reluctantly, after much consideration, we are turning this matter over to the courts.

It is important to note that Dr. Hammonds is not our customer. He has never bought anything from SEI directly. SEI loves its customers and anyone who deals with us knows we put customers first. If you see anyone saying anything about SEI that sheds a negative light, we ask our loyal customers to come to our defense and set the record straight. We now leave this matter up to the court. Thank you for the understanding.

Now, I am not familiar with the beef between Hammond and SEI, but seems to me that a lawsuit over internet forum ramblings will not end well for Smith.

Voodoochild
09-05-13, 18:27
It depends on what he said to be honest. If he is knowingly slandering the company then game on. Especially if he has no valid proof of his claims. What kind of evidence does he have and how did he arrive at that conclusion.

If your are going to talk bad about a company online be prepared to provide proof.

Kokopelli
09-05-13, 18:38
It's a lose-lose deal.. But.. everybody has their limits..

HackerF15E
09-05-13, 19:30
Here's a link to the complaint filed by SEI, as well as the thread from the M14 forum where it is discussed.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0XyOXhO5LcXS2lwWERPNi1fd3c/view?sle=true

http://m14forum.com/m14/145566-i-need-lawyer-served-sei-lawsuit-today.html

Pretty good photos of one of SEI's receivers, with -- how do they say it -- "quality cannot be beat".

http://www.smithenterprisesucks.com/images/receiver/comp1.jpg

http://www.smithenterprisesucks.com/

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6025/004tp.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2391/006dub.jpg

djegators
09-05-13, 19:37
Will be interesting to follow. Like I said, I don't much about the case, but from what I have read on the m14 forum, practically everyone is rallying against SEI. If that forum is any indication, even if SEI is justified, they may be in for a PR nightmare.

KTR03
09-05-13, 20:11
No dog in this fight. Had a SEI crazy horse rifle in a sage stock. Accurate but heavy and lots of sharp edges.

I read the whole complaint. Basically it comes down to "he said shit he knew or should have known was untrue. We called him on it and he didn't retract it and continued... And he is a competitor so he is harming our business".

Frankly it will be interesting to see if a federal court holds people responsible for stuff they say on the internet that they have no factual basis for that harms another business. Also when is "opinion" actionable?

VLODPG
09-05-13, 20:59
Thats Smith looks like ass compared to the LRB!

C-grunt
09-05-13, 23:04
Thats Smith looks like ass compared to the LRB!

You're gonna get sued.

Bowser
09-06-13, 00:02
You're gonna get sued.

They don't have his number, so they can't warn him.

VLODPG
09-06-13, 00:54
You're gonna get sued.

Good luck with dat! :laugh:

interfan
09-06-13, 01:12
As a company, there is a point where you have to look at potential damage to your business from this guy's statements and doings versus the potential PR damage from suing. The company only has one possible remedy legally, so that is what they are pursuing.

This guy has taken things to a point where the company has no choice. When you make a fake website that looks like the company's website that you are bashing, with a url of "x company sucks" you've gone way too far. I didn't read the complaint, but I saw that the defendant's forum post with the complaint was asking for legal aid or pro-bono lawyers and thought - what a douche.

There's a point where you have to ask yourself, "is it worth it?" but good sense never entered into this. His mouth (or keyboard) got him in trouble, why should anyone help him? He made choices, now those choices have consequences.

HackerF15E
09-06-13, 12:21
This guy has taken things to a point where the company has no choice. When you make a fake website that looks like the company's website that you are bashing, with a url of "x company sucks" you've gone way too far.

The guy being sued is not the same guy who made the "Smith Enterprises Sucks" website.

interfan
09-07-13, 00:48
The guy being sued is not the same guy who made the "Smith Enterprises Sucks" website.

I thought he was from the dialog on it. I'll stand corrected on that point.

High Tower
09-07-13, 18:25
It appears that the M14 forum has restricted the thread to members only.

I have no dog in this fight either, but when you combine a lawsuit crazy society with "experts" on the internet this was only a matter of time before something like this happened.

I'm still mildly cornfused by the complaints. It sounded like they were waiting 9 or 10 months for a hard to get item through the height of the Obacalypse. I've waited longer for a Nighthawk during the Bush administration. A drive through society mentality does not bode well when ordering products like this. I may have missed something though.