More Trouble for Sherdog
April 15, 2009
In the wake of the fallout from the Loretta Hunt Manager Article/Dana White Video Blog debacle, Sherdog.com has again hit the news for their journalistic practices. MMAPayout.com has learned that Mixed Martial Arts Fighter’s Association founder Robert Maysey has filed suit against CraveOnline LLC, (Parent company for Sherdog) ; Joe Hall, an editor at Sherdog; and other John Does not enumerated.
The suit alleges that defamatory statements by “Hall for himself and on behalf of CraveOnline were made with actual malice and knowledge of the falsity of such statements, or made with a reckless disregard for whether the statements were true or not. The libelous and defamatory statements were disseminated throughout the editorial board of ESPN.com and to ESPN’s ombudsman, a former editor of the New York Times. As a result of Defendant Hall’s and Defendant CraveOnline’s libelous and defamatory statements, Plaintiff has suffered harm to his reputation, and has suffered economic damages in an amount to be proven at trial.”
The genesis of the suit between Maysey and Hall/Crave originated over an article that appeared on Sherdog titled Putting a Price on Fame by Jason Probst. The situation began when Maysey authored an article on the UFC merchandising agreement that appeared on his MMAFA blog. Editor for Sherdog Loretta Hunt received a copy of the article and actively engaged Maysey to work with Sherdog on a similar merchandising article. Maysey would further go on to write portions of the article and edit the final piece, according to his suit. Hunt also made promises that Maysey would be called as a source for the article.
Just prior to publishing Maysey argued that his article was posted first and made public first, but was not cited as the original source in Sherdog’s article. Hunt argued that he was not a “media outlet” and thus, citation was not necessary. Maysey submitted correspondence and other documents to the ESPN.com ombudsman in regards to improper citation in the Probst Article. Joe Hall of Sherdog submitted a reply to ESPN’s inquiry regarding improper citation. Hall’s email to ESPN makes no mention of “media outlet.” Maysey’s suit allges Hall’s email accuses Maysey of criminal activity, and otherwise grossly misrepresents the facts surrounding his contributions to the Probst Article. Maysey also argues Hall’s reply to ESPN attacked the professional and personal integrity of Plaintiff, and blatantly misrepresented facts throughout.
