The “skeptic” operation is in deep trouble – again.
Deep trouble…
Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen
Why? They are being sued in a Florida federal Court over their “Million Dollar Challenge.”
And, it is time for a laugh.
A BIG laugh.
On May 10th, 2012 George R. Simpson, a resident of the Hamptons, a community on the East end of Long Island, New York, filed suit (Case 0:12-cv-60817-KMW) in the United States District Court – Southern District of Florida against James Randi, DJ Grothe president of Jamrandal, James Hamilton Zwinge AKA JES Randi Educational Foundation, and the James Randi Educational Foundation.
The lawsuit charges the Defendants with: Fraud; Misrepresentation and Breach of Contract; Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress; Misfeasance, Malfeasance; Conspiracy (Sect 1985 and 1986); Action for Damages; and Action for Specific Performance.
George R. Simpson is, according to court documents, an engineer, inventor, writer, and businessman. He makes his living, primarily, from programming and data publishing businesses in the Real Estate field. Simpson also owns and operates two websites, www.ufoetblog.com, and www.etcorngods.com, created to explain and promote the ET Corn Gods Language and Games.
“Defendant JREF maintains a “contest” called “The One Million Dollar Challenge”, which the website www.randi.org explains as follows:
‘The JREF will pay US $l,000,000 (One Million US Dollars) (”The Prize ‘) to any person who demonstrates any psychic, supernatural, or paranormal ability under satisfactory observation. Such demonstration must take place under the rules and limitations described in this document. An applicant can be from or in any part of the world. Gender, race, and educational background are not factors for acceptance. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and legally able to enter into binding agreements. ”
And the lawsuit claims:
“One objective of Plaintiff’s ET Corn Gods language/game discovery and documentation (for many years) has been to apply for, and to win the JREF The One Million Dollar Challenge.”
But, court papers say:
“There was an offer made by Defendant JREF on the website Randi.org. The same or slightly changed $1Million Challenge offer had been accepted, according to Defendant James Randi, “over one hundred times” with other
people who wished to have their “paranormal claims” tested.
The Exhibit 1 challenge acceptance and subsequent correspondence from Defendants to Plaintiff is evidence of the three elements of a contract: The 1) offer, 2) acceptance and 3) contract compensation.
But when Plaintiff George R. Simpson filed an application for the $ lMillion Challenge, he was treated in a fraudulent way. Defendants did not return calls or emails.
When Defendant JREF finally answered by email on April 03, 2012, the answer evidenced total lack of understanding of Plaintiffs proposed “protocol”.
Note: “protocol” is the word used in the JREF $lMillion Challenge to define the testing scheme for each Challenge.”
Why am I laughing?
Because, just below is what I think is the essence of the case, and the language, I think, explains not only the Million Dollar Challenge, but the entire “skeptic” (pseudo-skeptic) existence.
“Defendants claim to be the defender of scientific and critical thinking methods, yet they exhibited the scientific/math sophistication of a grade school student.
Because of the stonewalling and inactivity of Defendants, Plaintiff has been forced to sue to compel Defendants to perform as they have promised in their advertised “One Million Dollar Challenge”.
Defendants have treated Plaintiff in a fraudulent manner and have misrepresented their offer.
Because Defendants know that Plaintiff Simpson will win the $ l Million Challenge, Defendants are stonewalling, trying to avoid the contest.”
Randi’s attorneys already filed a “Motion to Dismiss,” and it fell flat…
Stay tuned.
Tim Bolen – Consumer Advocate