Forum - View topicSPJA response
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Dan42
Chief Encyclopedist
 Posts: 3817 Location: Montreal |
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Well, the SPJA finalled responded to Mike Tetsugawa's attacks. I was hoping they would offer some sort of explanations, counter-arguments... but instead they responded with politicians' denial and legal threats. Now I *really* think they have something to hide
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Cassandra
 Posts: 1356 Location: Birdsboro, PA |
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I just kinda wonder why it took so long to write up a "He's a liar so we're talking to our laywers" response.
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v1cious
 Posts: 6277 Location: Houston, TX |
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can anyone tell me what this is about? i've heard about it, but i still don't get what happened exactly.
just what is he claiming they did? |
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Cassandra
Posts: 1356 Location: Birdsboro, PA |
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Let me see if I can condense this. Here's what I got:
He's accusing Jennifer Pon (I'm not quite sure what her position is...Con Chair, maybe?) of using funds to pay herself a large salary. (Though actual amounts are not posted.) Then voting herself large raises and bonuses, but getting rid of things for the convention like guest gift baskets. He's also saying that Pioneer and Tokyopop have employees on the AX board of directors, which is a conflict of interest. (They would be more likely to vote industry stuff through and not fan-oriented stuff.) So that the industry people have a majority vote on the board. I think that pretty much covers it in a nutshell.....but there may be things I'm missing or that I interpreted wrong. |
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Zac
ANN Executive Editor
 Posts: 7912 Location: Anime News Network Technodrome |
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*gasp* Corruption? In a not-for-profit corporation that runs the most successful and profitable anime convention in existance? Never!
I always thought Expo was the most industry-heavy convention. It was always obvious that industry needs come first. Why do you think most major announcements happen there? Why do you think the dealer's room is basically a gigantic ad for ADV, Pioneer and Bandai? I always vastly preferred the more polished and professional look and feel of Expo to the dumpy and amateur proceedings of every other fan-produced convention. Yeah, the board is probably totally corrupt. Most non-profit organizations are. You just can't handle that amount of money without SOMEONE shaving off the top or greenlighting huge amounts of cash for themselves. Frankly, so long as they keep putting on the best convention in the US, nabbing awesome guests, and making a big giant show out of it, I'll be happy. C'est la vie, Mike, it looks like your time is through. -Zac |
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Amused Observer
Posts: 164 |
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If the Defendant has the money to retain a law firm to defend against the lawsuit (and that's a big if here), then a lot of information will be open for public inspection (i.e. people attending the court trial). I, for example, would like access to the financial information from AX's past conventions. How much money was generated? What expenditures were made?
By becoming the Plaintiff, AX would also have to allow access to ALL personnel associated with AX--Jennifer Pon, employees, members of the board of directors. Can you imagine Ms. Pon testify in court about the interest-free loan that was said to be made to her (that is HIGHLY unusual in itself)? All members of the board will be named, and once you have the names out, you can dig a little in the indivduals' background to find out about their affiliations, and other information into their personal lives. And minutes of the board meetings will have to be released as well. Chances are, the case will get settled. Both sides have too much to lose if the case is dragged through a public trial. |
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v1cious
Posts: 6277 Location: Houston, TX |
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thanks. yeah i just found the whole thing, if he's a liar then he's a really good one. Last edited by v1cious on Sat Apr 26, 2003 10:51 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Amused Observer
Posts: 164 |
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defamation suits are very nasty stuff. It depends heavily on people's testimony as to what they said, and what their intent was when they made the comments.
If the Defendant can support even a part of his accusations, then it will make the AX organization look BAD. |
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GATSU
Posts: 16411 |
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Zac: Professional, my a**! If making thousands of people wait in line, because they're too cheap to pay for more space to the dealer room is more professional, then I don't know what's amateur.
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Tempest
 I Run this place.ANN Publisher  Posts: 10539 Location: Do not message me for support. |
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Actually, that's because they paid for the biggest spots and paid first. The cost of a spot, even the large ADV / Bandai/ Pioneer spots, at AX is fairly public information. AX has always primarilly beeb a "fan-con." In fact, the only real "industry con" in North America is BAAF. Of course, the SPJA has always relied heavilly on the sponsorship of the industry to pull off this large "fan-con" and it's no surprise that they want something back. We've have occasionally received similar offers in regards to ANN. "Hey Chris, we'll give ANN $xxxx if you ......" Most of which we've turned down, but sometimes they become negotiated into something that is acceptable both to ANN's sense of industry neutrality and the company's desires. I'm not 100% sure how I feel about Industry people on the SPJA board though. On one side, it's a good idea to get them involved, it will help cement their support for the con. On the other side, it does bring up conflict of interest issues. I've been to real industry Con's (outside of the Anime industry) before, and trust me, despite being large, and more professional than the smaller cons, and despite the heavy industry involvement, AX still has the feel of a Fan-con in my opinion. |
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Animan
Posts: 65 |
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"defamation suits are very nasty stuff. It depends heavily on people's testimony as to what they said, and what their intent was when they made the comments."
Oh yes, It's awful! Lawyers lick their chops, then go in and play with your mind and peck at it thoroughly for anything to use for or against you. It's very uncomfortable stuff. Everyone better think twice before they decide they really want to go through with this. Awful stuff. |
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Amused Observer
Posts: 164 |
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Cookie absolutely hit the nail regarding dealer rooms. If I remember correctly, the dealer room tables at BAAF in NYC last Labor Day weekend went for $250 and up. That's not a lot of room for merchandise, imo.
The best spots (i.e. space near the entrance, and the corners) went mostly to the industry folks (Viz, CPM, etc.) because they could afford it. |
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Amused Observer
Posts: 164 |
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lol@Animan.
I personally think a lawsuit is a bad idea. AX has more to lose than the accuser. The legal fees will devour whatever surplus funds AX generated in previous conventions. And even if they do win monetary damages, the defendant will simply declare bankruptcy (I'm assuming he doesn't have a house or other substantial assets in his name) and have the debt discharged at pennies on the dollar. |
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Tempest
I Run this place. ANN Publisher Posts: 10539 Location: Do not message me for support. |
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Actually, Mike Tatsugawa is far from poor. Last I heard he was still unemployed (but I haven't heard anything since I spoke to him this summer) but easilly capable of dropping several thousand at the AX charity auction.
So a lawsuit wouldn't be a very happy experience for him as he has assets that can be seized, but no income to replace them. |
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Amused Observer
Posts: 164 |
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ooooouuuuu. . . that makes things VERY interesting now. Still, there's a difference between hiring a law firm, as AX has done, and filing legal papers in court. AX could still back out if it wants to.
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