Suit filed against Metroland for $65 million
NXIVM, the controversial executive training program in Colonie, has filed a lawsuit against Metroland, according to documents posted by Courthouse News. The suit seeks $65 million in damages.
The suit alleges that Metroland "conspired" with one of NXIVM's critics to publish false information about the organization in a story published last year (scroll to the bottom). The suit also alleges that NXIVM has "experienced a drop-off of business and loss of profit" because of the Metroland article. In addition to the $65 million, the suit is also seeking to have the article pulled from Metroland's website.
The Albany Student Press was the first place we saw mention of this lawsuit. It reports that Metroland's publisher, Stephen Leon, says that NXIVM's case is not strong and the weekly hasn't been served with the lawsuit, yet.
NXIVM is affiliated with the World Ethical Foundations Consortium, the organization that's bringing the Dalai Lama to Albany in April.
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... said Matthew on Mar 30, 2009 at 4:11 PM | link
Yes, I'm sure they've "experienced a drop-off of business and loss of profit" because of the article... not because of the state of the economy.
I imagine that when a company is doing badly, the first thing they'd nix is the executive motivational retreats...
... said Matt on Mar 30, 2009 at 4:32 PM | link
Newspapers have it hard enough already...and the thought that we could lose something as valuable as the Metroland over a rediculous lawsuit by this rediculous company makes me crazy!
... said N on Mar 30, 2009 at 5:02 PM | link
Those people are nuts. Uh-oh! I may have just inflicted $100,000 worth of damages...
... said Rob on Mar 30, 2009 at 5:59 PM | link
The whole concept of trying to *collect* $65M from Metroland is pretty incredible in and of itself.
I actually sat down and read the whole complaint. It's really reaching. But hey, if you are going to sue, sue big and try to intimidate.
Can't wait to see it tossed.
... said komradebob on Mar 30, 2009 at 6:58 PM | link
I met Raniere years ago when he was starting his Consumer Buyline scheme, one of his people saw me as a potential mark and arranged a meeting over coffee. I told him then that what he was doing was an illegal pyramid, and his main spiel was that he was one of the brightest men in America and of course it was all legal, and how could I doubt his brilliance? Numerous state's attorneys general agreed with me in the end. When it was clear that I wasn't biting, he made one of his followers pay for his coffee, because Mr. Third Highest IQ in America forgot to bring his wallet!
They call him Vanguard. The whole NXIVM and Consumer Buyline story is readily available from a Google search, and somewhere in between they had some kind of MLM vitamin club as well. Anyone going to see the Dalai Lama, be advised to keep your BS detectors cranked up to 11. This whole thing smells of recruitment, and His Holiness is just the unwitting bait.
... said tim on Mar 30, 2009 at 7:58 PM | link
...really? If you had posted this on Thursday, I'd be convinced it was an April fools joke.
... said Max on Mar 30, 2009 at 10:39 PM | link
Wait... aren't these the same people that tried to launch 10C in Troy? The Ally Mack/Nikki Clyne people? I have to say, if they're a cult, they did a bad job at brainwashing me. I still have dirty thoughts.
... said Ellie on Mar 30, 2009 at 11:06 PM | link
65 million is greater than the market value his holiness could command from being kidnapped!
Are any journalistic awards issued to articles/authors that attract the largest lawsuits? That would be an interesting measure. I would read them all.
... said Jeff Stannard on Mar 31, 2009 at 9:43 AM | link
You are nobody until someone sues you. Nice job, Metroland.
... said skfl on Mar 31, 2009 at 10:10 AM | link
How do you pronounce NXIVM anyway? I keep wanting to say "En-fourteen-em."
... said James Cronen on Mar 31, 2009 at 2:18 PM | link
From everything I've seen, it's pronounced like "nexium."
Yep, the purple pill.
... said Greg on Mar 31, 2009 at 2:37 PM | link
I must say that I was impressed with Chet Hardin's atricle on Terra Nova Church back when..thing is he interviewed all the pastors and people involved and came to services to first hand check it..I believe he did none of this with the Nxivm article..I was moved to write to him on that issue when the articla came out.
John
... said John on Mar 31, 2009 at 4:01 PM | link
And how they have escaped the wrath of some pharma lawyer totally escapes me.
... said komradebob on Mar 31, 2009 at 4:02 PM | link
NXIVIM and Metroland are both cults. :)
... said TN on Apr 1, 2009 at 12:40 PM | link
Hey John
Maybe you just dont like the spin of his NXIVM work?
After all, there are some allegations out there that there is a connection between NXIVM and your little Jee-zus Society over there on River Street.
Also: I know there was at least one NXIVM event that took place in Revolution Hall during your reign...
Care to comment on that?
... said Vanguard's Spawn on Apr 1, 2009 at 12:41 PM | link