Within Days: Invasion of my Facebook page, a Harassing Email to my Colleagues and Now a Threat of a Defamation Lawsuit

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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

                                              15900 Michigan Avenue   Suite One

                                                                Dearborn, MI  48126

                                

 

Edward G. Youmans                                                                                                  Tel (313) 581-5400

Attorney At Law                                                                                                         Fax (313) 945-1199

 
November 20,  2013

 
Re: Notice of Prosecution for Libel; Notice of Demand for Retraction

 

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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