Main
Date: 04 Dec 2008 13:59:14
From: samsloan
Subject: New Lawsuit: CYBERCAFES, LLC vs. USCF
A new lawsuit has been filed against the USCF. This one was filed on
November 15, 2008 in Milford, Connecticut:

http://civilinquiry.jud.ct.gov/DispDetail.asp?DocNum=AAN-CV-08-4010781-S

As it was filed nearly three weeks ago, I am surprised that it has not
been reported.

I do not know what the case is about. However, Hanon Russell lives in
Milford Connecticut and his organizations, Chess Cafe and USCF Sales,
are located in Milford, Connecticut, so I suspect that they are behind
it.

Since last summer, Hanon Russell has been threatening to sue the USCF
if it goes through with the Goichberg so-called "New Plan" to make
Chess Life optional for USCF members. Since Hanon Russell and USCF
Sales advertise in Chess Life and have contracted to pay a minimum of
$150,000 per year to the USCF in return for the right to advertise, I
suspect that this lawsuit has something to do with that.

The new lawsuit demands an injunction. My best guess is that the
injunction that it is seeking is to stop the Goichberg "New Plan" from
going into effect, as the New Plan will reduce the circulation of
Chess Life and therefore will impact the revenues of Chess Cafe.

It is too bad that our USCF leadership will not keep us informed and
tell us what this is all about.

Sam Sloan




 
Date: 06 Dec 2008 04:41:04
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: New Lawsuit: CYBERCAFES, LLC vs. USCF
[quote="Tim Just"][quote="Mulfish"]Amazing that those lazy moderators
like to sleep at night.

Susan Polgar said on her site that she had only just become aware of
the suit. Draw your own conclusions, but it seems to me that all
board members ought to be made aware of a lawsuit against USCF
simultaneously and immediately. That should be the case even if some
members are considered "persona non grata".

Michael Mulford [/quote]

Please be aware that as a matter of legal procedure all court
documents are delivered to the Crossville office and/or the USCF
corporate registered agent (who passes the documents along to the USCF
office), not to any member(s) of the Board.

Tim Just [/quote]

Boy, I sure would like to know who that "USCF corporate registered
agent" is!

The bigger question now is: Did that mysterious "USCF corporate
registered agent" get served with the papers? If so, when? When did
the board find out about it? Did they find out about it through my
bulk e-mail that went out at 5:03 PM, the same time as my posting
here, which is how Susan Polgar found out about it, or had the
Executive Director and the USCF President known about it all along
from the time it was first filed three weeks earlier? Had the
Executive Director and the President decided not to let the other
board members and the general membership know about it?

Will the "USCF corporate registered agent" be so kind as to provide us
with answers to these pressing questions?

Sam Sloan


 
Date: 05 Dec 2008 01:42:05
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Dear Paul and Sue
On Dec 5, 12:23=A0am, Vance <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Dec 4, 7:00=A0pm, samsloan <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Dec 4, 9:31=A0pm, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > > ANOTHER SCOOP
>
> > > Thanks, ONCE AGAIN and again and again (or so it seems) to Sam Sloan
> > > for breaking another important story about the USCF.
>
> > > Hanon Russell, who is the apparently avuncular, pipe-smoking uncle of
> > > US Chess as in "Uncle Joe Stalin," is this time among the angels for
> > > trying to stop the plan to destroy Chess Life and the Federation alon=
g
> > > with it. =A0Gawd, one hates to write that. =A0Gawd, one hates to imag=
ine
> > > that Hanon Russell as a key savior of the Federation. =A0But the fact=
s
> > > seem to support it.
>
> > > Out of curiosity, where do Paul Truong and Susan Polgar stand on
> > > Goich's Chess Life plan?
>
> [Snipped]
>
> > In answer to your question, I am fairly certain that Paul Truong and
> > Susan Polgar voted in favor of the Goichberg Plan. They certainly did
> > not vote against it because Mike Goodall and I were two of the few who
> > voted against it.
>
> Sam, you are amazing. =A0The question was one of fact '...where do Paul
> Truong and Susan Polgar stand on Goich's Chess Life plan?'
>
> You do not know, therefore surmise that they are for Goich's plan.
> Your surmise is not a matter of knowing that fact and therefore
> doesn't address the question. =A0To add to the amazing, you assert that
> they did not vote against it because you and Goodall were two who did
> vote against it. =A0That is a classic non-sequitor unless you establish
> a warranted inferencial bridge between whatever the hell you did and
> what someone else has done. =A0Something like 'As one of the persons who
> voted against Goich's plan, I received a list of the others who voted
> against it, just like Goodall did. =A0Polgar and Truong weren't on the
> list and may support the plan.'
>
> It's a popular stereotype of Chess that it teaches you how to think,
> so it's a good thing that your thinking is relegated to the backwaters
> of Chess so its popular image isn't tarnished.
>
> Vance

There was no such list. This vote took place at a meeting in Dallas in
August.

When Goichberg said, "All in favor, put your hands up", a lot of hands
went up.

When Goichberg said, "All opposed", just a few hands went up. Those
few included myself and Mike Goodall. I did not see Paul or Susan
raise their hands.

Goichberg then said, "The ayes have it". There was no count of hands.

Thus, Chess Life was abolished for all but "Premium" members.

I immediately asked how the six members of the board had voted. They
refused to answer. I think Goichberg called me out of order or
something and said that it was time to move on.

I think the proper motion for me to make would have been "call to
divide" or something like that but I did not think of it in time.

At several other times during the same meeting I raised the issue that
Hanon Russell had threatened to sue the USCF over this. Each time,
Goichberg poo-pooed it, saying that this was not a serious concern.
When I tried to speak to this issue, Goichberg said "Times up". He
imposed a three-minute time limit on speakers and every speaker was
allowed to speak only once on any issue, but, during the meeting, he
only called time on me and someone named Allen, a newcomer, often
spoke two or three times at length on any issue.

Sam Sloan


  
Date: 05 Dec 2008 11:52:36
From: B. Lafferty
Subject: Re: Dear Paul and Sue
samsloan wrote:
> On Dec 5, 12:23 am, Vance <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On Dec 4, 7:00 pm, samsloan <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Dec 4, 9:31 pm, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> ANOTHER SCOOP
>>>> Thanks, ONCE AGAIN and again and again (or so it seems) to Sam Sloan
>>>> for breaking another important story about the USCF.
>>>> Hanon Russell, who is the apparently avuncular, pipe-smoking uncle of
>>>> US Chess as in "Uncle Joe Stalin," is this time among the angels for
>>>> trying to stop the plan to destroy Chess Life and the Federation along
>>>> with it. Gawd, one hates to write that. Gawd, one hates to imagine
>>>> that Hanon Russell as a key savior of the Federation. But the facts
>>>> seem to support it.
>>>> Out of curiosity, where do Paul Truong and Susan Polgar stand on
>>>> Goich's Chess Life plan?
>> [Snipped]
>>
>>> In answer to your question, I am fairly certain that Paul Truong and
>>> Susan Polgar voted in favor of the Goichberg Plan. They certainly did
>>> not vote against it because Mike Goodall and I were two of the few who
>>> voted against it.
>> Sam, you are amazing. The question was one of fact '...where do Paul
>> Truong and Susan Polgar stand on Goich's Chess Life plan?'
>>
>> You do not know, therefore surmise that they are for Goich's plan.
>> Your surmise is not a matter of knowing that fact and therefore
>> doesn't address the question. To add to the amazing, you assert that
>> they did not vote against it because you and Goodall were two who did
>> vote against it. That is a classic non-sequitor unless you establish
>> a warranted inferencial bridge between whatever the hell you did and
>> what someone else has done. Something like 'As one of the persons who
>> voted against Goich's plan, I received a list of the others who voted
>> against it, just like Goodall did. Polgar and Truong weren't on the
>> list and may support the plan.'
>>
>> It's a popular stereotype of Chess that it teaches you how to think,
>> so it's a good thing that your thinking is relegated to the backwaters
>> of Chess so its popular image isn't tarnished.
>>
>> Vance
>
> There was no such list. This vote took place at a meeting in Dallas in
> August.
>
> When Goichberg said, "All in favor, put your hands up", a lot of hands
> went up.
>
> When Goichberg said, "All opposed", just a few hands went up. Those
> few included myself and Mike Goodall. I did not see Paul or Susan
> raise their hands.
>
> Goichberg then said, "The ayes have it". There was no count of hands.
>
> Thus, Chess Life was abolished for all but "Premium" members.
>
> I immediately asked how the six members of the board had voted. They
> refused to answer. I think Goichberg called me out of order or
> something and said that it was time to move on.
>
> I think the proper motion for me to make would have been "call to
> divide" or something like that but I did not think of it in time.
>
> At several other times during the same meeting I raised the issue that
> Hanon Russell had threatened to sue the USCF over this. Each time,
> Goichberg poo-pooed it, saying that this was not a serious concern.
> When I tried to speak to this issue, Goichberg said "Times up". He
> imposed a three-minute time limit on speakers and every speaker was
> allowed to speak only once on any issue, but, during the meeting, he
> only called time on me and someone named Allen, a newcomer, often
> spoke two or three times at length on any issue.
>
> Sam Sloan
Sam, the USCF Issues Forum is effectively dead due to
moderation/censorship. Don't waste your time and energy pissing and
moaning about it. RGCP is where the truth can be found. Much is
happening. Stay tuned here folks.


 
Date: 05 Dec 2008 01:27:38
From:
Subject: Re: Dear Paul and Sue


[email protected] wrote:
> ANOTHER SCOOP
>
>
> Hanon Russell, who is the apparently avuncular, pipe-smoking uncle of
> US Chess as in "Uncle Joe Stalin," is this time among the angels for
> trying to stop the plan to destroy Chess Life and the Federation along
> with it. Gawd, one hates to write that. Gawd, one hates to imagine
> that Hanon Russell as a key savior of the Federation. But the facts
> seem to support it.

>
> Yours, Larry Parr
>


You're not being realistic, Larry, No matter what happens with this
suit, it's not going to "stop the plan to destroy Chess Life." (I'm
quoting, not endorsing your phrase.) What Russell seems to be asking
for is money to compensate him for revenue he thinks he might lose as
a result of the change. So, if adding a non-printed-magazine option is
Bad, why is shaking down the USCF for a settlement Good? Unless,
perhaps, you are really not interested in the good of the USCF, but
only in winning debating points.


 
Date: 04 Dec 2008 21:23:17
From: Vance
Subject: Re: Dear Paul and Sue
On Dec 4, 7:00=A0pm, samsloan <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Dec 4, 9:31=A0pm, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > ANOTHER SCOOP
>
> > Thanks, ONCE AGAIN and again and again (or so it seems) to Sam Sloan
> > for breaking another important story about the USCF.
>
> > Hanon Russell, who is the apparently avuncular, pipe-smoking uncle of
> > US Chess as in "Uncle Joe Stalin," is this time among the angels for
> > trying to stop the plan to destroy Chess Life and the Federation along
> > with it. =A0Gawd, one hates to write that. =A0Gawd, one hates to imagin=
e
> > that Hanon Russell as a key savior of the Federation. =A0But the facts
> > seem to support it.
>
> > Out of curiosity, where do Paul Truong and Susan Polgar stand on
> > Goich's Chess Life plan?
>

[Snipped]

> In answer to your question, I am fairly certain that Paul Truong and
> Susan Polgar voted in favor of the Goichberg Plan. They certainly did
> not vote against it because Mike Goodall and I were two of the few who
> voted against it.
>

Sam, you are amazing. The question was one of fact '...where do Paul
Truong and Susan Polgar stand on Goich's Chess Life plan?'

You do not know, therefore surmise that they are for Goich's plan.
Your surmise is not a matter of knowing that fact and therefore
doesn't address the question. To add to the amazing, you assert that
they did not vote against it because you and Goodall were two who did
vote against it. That is a classic non-sequitor unless you establish
a warranted inferencial bridge between whatever the hell you did and
what someone else has done. Something like 'As one of the persons who
voted against Goich's plan, I received a list of the others who voted
against it, just like Goodall did. Polgar and Truong weren't on the
list and may support the plan.'

It's a popular stereotype of Chess that it teaches you how to think,
so it's a good thing that your thinking is relegated to the backwaters
of Chess so its popular image isn't tarnished.

Vance


 
Date: 04 Dec 2008 19:00:23
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Dear Paul and Sue
On Dec 4, 9:31=A0pm, "[email protected]" <[email protected] > wrote:
> ANOTHER SCOOP
>
> Thanks, ONCE AGAIN and again and again (or so it seems) to Sam Sloan
> for breaking another important story about the USCF.
>
> Hanon Russell, who is the apparently avuncular, pipe-smoking uncle of
> US Chess as in "Uncle Joe Stalin," is this time among the angels for
> trying to stop the plan to destroy Chess Life and the Federation along
> with it. =A0Gawd, one hates to write that. =A0Gawd, one hates to imagine
> that Hanon Russell as a key savior of the Federation. =A0But the facts
> seem to support it.
>
> Out of curiosity, where do Paul Truong and Susan Polgar stand on
> Goich's Chess Life plan?
>
> Yours, Larry Parr

Thank you.

Although I am the one who broke the story, I still have not been
allowed to post this on the USCF Issues Forum, where I am on moderated
status. Sevan Muradian posted a question about it over there about a
half hour after I attempted to post mine there.

In answer to your question, I am fairly certain that Paul Truong and
Susan Polgar voted in favor of the Goichberg Plan. They certainly did
not vote against it because Mike Goodall and I were two of the few who
voted against it.

Sam Sloan


  
Date: 05 Dec 2008 12:56:42
From: foad
Subject: Re: Dear Paul and Sue

"samsloan" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:244813fd-487f-450d-9aef-46ca9e20f14b@w35g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...

> I am the one who broke the story,

It's like you're Jimmy Olsen, but with a severe head injury.



 
Date: 04 Dec 2008 18:31:42
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Dear Paul and Sue
ANOTHER SCOOP

Thanks, ONCE AGAIN and again and again (or so it seems) to Sam Sloan
for breaking another important story about the USCF.

Hanon Russell, who is the apparently avuncular, pipe-smoking uncle of
US Chess as in "Uncle Joe Stalin," is this time among the angels for
trying to stop the plan to destroy Chess Life and the Federation along
with it. Gawd, one hates to write that. Gawd, one hates to imagine
that Hanon Russell as a key savior of the Federation. But the facts
seem to support it.

Out of curiosity, where do Paul Truong and Susan Polgar stand on
Goich's Chess Life plan?

Yours, Larry Parr


B. Lafferty wrote:
> Sue writes on chessdiscussion:
> by SusanPolgar on Thu Dec 04, 2008 10:50 pm
>
> Although this case was filed on November 13, the board majority (Bill
> Goichberg, Jim Berry, Randy Bauer, and Randy Hough) and the Executive
> Director (Bill Hall) did not inform the USCF members or the board
> minority. Even though I am a board member, I did not find out about it
> until today.
>
> ---------------------------------------
> Sue, the question you really want to ask is whether or not the USCF has
> been served with the court pleadings. If yes, when were they served.
> And if you're not in the loop, one simply can't imagine why. ;-)


 
Date: 05 Dec 2008 00:58:58
From: B. Lafferty
Subject: Re: New Lawsuit: CYBERCAFES, LLC vs. USCF
samsloan wrote:
> A new lawsuit has been filed against the USCF. This one was filed on
> November 15, 2008 in Milford, Connecticut:
>
> http://civilinquiry.jud.ct.gov/DispDetail.asp?DocNum=AAN-CV-08-4010781-S
>
> As it was filed nearly three weeks ago, I am surprised that it has not
> been reported.
>
> I do not know what the case is about. However, Hanon Russell lives in
> Milford Connecticut and his organizations, Chess Cafe and USCF Sales,
> are located in Milford, Connecticut, so I suspect that they are behind
> it.
>
> Since last summer, Hanon Russell has been threatening to sue the USCF
> if it goes through with the Goichberg so-called "New Plan" to make
> Chess Life optional for USCF members. Since Hanon Russell and USCF
> Sales advertise in Chess Life and have contracted to pay a minimum of
> $150,000 per year to the USCF in return for the right to advertise, I
> suspect that this lawsuit has something to do with that.
>
> The new lawsuit demands an injunction. My best guess is that the
> injunction that it is seeking is to stop the Goichberg "New Plan" from
> going into effect, as the New Plan will reduce the circulation of
> Chess Life and therefore will impact the revenues of Chess Cafe.
>
> It is too bad that our USCF leadership will not keep us informed and
> tell us what this is all about.
>
> Sam Sloan

From the Polgar Blog:

Just out of curiosity, what is this about? Why would a Cybercafes
company (presumably a business about internet caf�s) start a law suit
against a chess federation? I don't have enough phantasy to have an idea
what the reason could be.

Thursday, December 4, 2008 5:39:00 PM CST

Anonymous said...
I was in the chess bookstore at US Amateur East a couple years ago to
buy the new Kasparov book. All of a sudden, I heard Randy Bauer insulted
Mr. Russell's son who was working at the bookstore. Mr. Russell didn't
take this kindly. This can't be good when dealing with a company which
pays the USCF $150,000 a year.

Thursday, December 4, 2008 5:44:00 PM CST

Anonymous said...
Under the Bill Goichberg, Randy Bauer, Jim Berry, Randy Hough and Bill
Hall regime, they managed to cause one lawsuit after another while the
USCF lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Well done gentlemen! My
biggest mistake was voting for Bauer and Berry. Bauer was the one who
lost his reelection bid badly until Polgar endorsed him.

Thursday, December 4, 2008 5:47:00 PM CST

Anonymous said...
Dear Anon,
The issue of how much, if any, money is due and owing to USCF Sales and
the impact of the membership changes have been on the table for some
time now. Other than bitching and moaning, I haven't seen any leadership
on this issue from Susan or Paul.

Thursday, December 4, 2008 6:57:00 PM CST


  
Date: 05 Dec 2008 01:48:22
From: B. Lafferty
Subject: Dear Paul and Sue
Sue writes on chessdiscussion:
by SusanPolgar on Thu Dec 04, 2008 10:50 pm

Although this case was filed on November 13, the board majority (Bill
Goichberg, Jim Berry, Randy Bauer, and Randy Hough) and the Executive
Director (Bill Hall) did not inform the USCF members or the board
minority. Even though I am a board member, I did not find out about it
until today.

---------------------------------------
Sue, the question you really want to ask is whether or not the USCF has
been served with the court pleadings. If yes, when were they served.
And if you're not in the loop, one simply can't imagine why. ;-)