Anyone Know The Outcome Of The Coin Universe Coin Forum Tria

Two thoughts:

They demand a jury trial. I wonder if knowledge of numismatics will be a disqualifying attribute in the jury pool.

Also, I found the bit about "same sex prostitution" to be interesting (there, that pretty much guarantees an increase in readership).

I do believe they are the same from what I read here in this lawsuit.


7. COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC. d/b/a Professional Coin Grading Service ("PCGS") is a Delaware corporation with its headquarters located in the State of California that, at all times material hereto, was a direct competitor of ACG as it is and was in the business of grading, certifying and authenticating rare domestic and international coins submitted from throughout the United States, including from the State of Florida. David HaIl is the founder and President of PCGS and President of COLLECTORS UNIVERSE. PCGS has hundreds of "featured dealers" and "authorized dealers" throughout the country, including HERITAGE and BARRY STUPPLER & CO. INC. which is both "featured" and "authorized". PCGS is a major financial contributor to the ANA. At all times material hereto R. Steven Ivy and James L. Halperin were substantial shareholders of PCGS. PCGS hosts an Internet message board known as U.S. Coin Forum and, at all times material hereto, was liable for defamatory statements made on its message board and published throughout the world via the Internet at http://forums.collectors.com

excerpt of forum remarks below

Many of the statements can be viewed to this date at the World Wide Web addresses set forth in paragraphs 7 (RCC) and 11 (PCGS), above. Specific examples of these defamatory statements are listed below:

a. the statement on RCC by Ira Stein that ACG "knowingly grades 'counterfeit' coins, and 'fakes";

b. the statement on RCC by Mark Greene that ALAN HAGER is a "blatant crook";

c. the statement on RCC by Byron L. Reed that DIANE HAGER is a "whre" and those who deal with ACG are her "johns";

d. the statement on RCC by Ira Stein that ACG overgraded a lot of coins that resulted in a California widow being defrauded in the amount of $270,000.00;

You should look deeper into this ongoing comedy - this isn't the first suit filed. Most of the "defamatory" statements made are provable fact, for instance, which makes them more difficult to prosecute.

There is much legal precedent regarding the limited liability of forum operators for statements made on their forums. It may be possible that future rulings might tend to increase this liability, but ACG isn't the group who will be the driving force behind it. They're p***ing off people who could buy and sell them with pocket change.

No new in Coin World this week. but its going to be hard case to prove for both sides it may get thrown out

I've seen a bunch of coins "graded" by PCI and SEGS and there's no way I could call either of them truly reputable.

PCGS and NGC will still hold the top two spots for pricing, as well as for consistency, IMHO, due to market acceptance. It will be extremely tough for any other TPGs, with the possible exceptions of ANACS and ICG to attain that level of market recognition.

quote:

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Originally posted by texasmick

AF, is your response to a deleted post?

Am I mistaken or did he say that PCGS and NGC were going to lose their market premium to the other "reputable" TPGs, which he identified a PCI, SEGS, ANACS, and ICG?

That's an unconventional view, to say the least.

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The post that disappeared said just that, referring to SEGS and PCI as "reputable grading services". The part about ANACS and ICG stated that their positions would stay about the same. And that's what I responded to. I wonder why that post went bye-bye ?

Is there any news link to this settlement?