Within Days: Invasion of my Facebook page, a Harassing Email to my Colleagues and Now a Threat of a Defamation Lawsuit
Attorney Edward's son and Rana Abbas BFF, The Iron Sheik Will Edward Youmans |
Rana Abbas's head, Imad Hamad's Hat |
Now Comes Warren David's Brother in Law and the Father of Rana Abbas's Friend: Edward Youmans' Threatening "Cease and Desist" Letter and Email
Not Tres Chic from the father of the Iron Sheik
A Divisive Issue of Public Concern
The sexual harassment allegations against Imad Hamad and ADC have engendered division and ill feelings.
It has divided the community and torn apart ties of friendship. By its very nature, the issue is divisive. There is no neutrality when you see that a person and an organization are being accused without direct or circumstantial evidence. You examine the matter closely and you find that there are serious credibility issues as to the accusers of Imad Hamad and ADC.
The Panic of the Accusers
Within the past few days, I see evidence that my analysis and commentary have hit a raw nerve with the accusers and their supporters. A few days ago I had my Facebook page invaded by the anti ADC crowd who uninvited attacked me personally with no regard for basic decency and self respect. Yesterday a harassing email was sent to my work designed to intimidate me and create work related problems. I consider that email extortion and a violaton of 18 U.S.C. 875 d. Today I received a cease and Desist email from Edward G Youmans, ADC President Warren David's brother in law and the father of Rana Abbas's BFF Will Youmans, demanding that I retract statements that I made regarding the ADC matter as to Rana Abbas, one of the chief accusers of Imad Hamad and ADC. The letter threatened that the attorney will seek all kinds of "remedies" if I do not "cease and desist" and "retract."
I know many people are interested in the subject. I am reproducing the letter here verbatim in the interest of the public airing of all matters related to this important Arab American matter that is of public concern. I will also be publishing my response on this blog as well in the near future.
Law
Offices of Edward G. Youmans
Edward G. Youmans
Tel (313) 581-5400
Attorney At Law
Fax (313) 945-1199
Dear Mr. Alkhatib:
Our law office has been retained by Rana
Abbas to prosecute you for multiple violations of Michigan’s Libel
Statute, MCL 600.2911.
Our investigation of this matter has
revealed the following:
1. On June 9, 2013, you caused to be published on your
blog site and caused to be published on a Dearborn community blog site a
publication in which you falsely stated as fact that Rana Abbas “lied” with
respect to several details of her allegations of sexual harassment while
employed at the American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee.
2. On October 12, 2013, you caused to be published on
your blog site and caused to be published on a Dearborn community blog site a
publication in which you falsely accused Rana Abbas of “untruths” in connection
with her allegations of sexual harassment while employed at the American Arab
Anti Discrimination Committee , and in the same blog piece you falsely stated
that Rana Abbas wrote an editorial in
the Arab American News which was published on October 12, 2013.
3. On November 1, 2013, you caused to be published on
your blog site and caused to be published on a Dearborn community blog site a
publication in which you falsely stated that Rana Abbas “ghost wrote” the same
editorial, dated October 12, 2013.
Each of the above statements made by you
were false, and you knew them to be false at the time you made them. These
statements were made by you with the intent to harm the reputation of Rana
Abbas, and your statements have harmed her reputation in the community, potentially impaired her future earning
capacity, and have caused her to suffer fear, pain, anxiety, and emotional
distress.
On her behalf, I demand the following:
A. That you immediately cease and desist from further
publication of any statements in which you accuse Rana Abbas of lying or
stating untruths;
B. That you
immediately cease and desist from further publication of any further false
statements of fact of any nature
regarding Rana Abbas;
C. That you immediately publish on your blog site and on
the Dearborn Community blog site a separate, full and complete retraction of
each of the false statements identified in this communication.
On
behalf of Ms. Abbas, I demand that you publish retractions in the manner
described above within fourteen days of your receipt of this letter/email. I
further demand that you immediately comply with demands A. and B.
If
you fail to comply with either demand, Ms.
Abbas will pursue all available remedies against you in every relevant public
and private forum including professional, academic and disciplinary boards. I
will prosecute an action for libel against you, in which I will seek
compensatory, actual, exemplary and punitive damages, together with costs and
attorneys fees.
Very Truly Yours,
________/s/____________
Edward G. Youmans
Cc:
Ms. Rana Abbas
EGY/sc
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