Controversy
On November 11, 2003 the business section of the New York Post (page 37) alleged that Brock Pierce and DEN co-founders Marc Collins-Rector, Chad Shackley had fled to Spain to avoid US sex trafficking charges. Brock Pierce and Marc Collins-Rector were later arrested on an international warrant after being indicted in New Jersey on five counts of child sex trafficking. Shackley and Pierce were released without charges in June 2002.
Wired magazine claims that Brock Pierce, Marc Collins-Rector and Chad Shackley resigned from DEN on October 25, 1999 as a result of sexual harassment claims. 4.5 million in default judgement were awarded in the sexual harassment lawsuits. "Pierce insists he didn't even know about them, and according to one of Pierce's former attorneys, the claims against him were later dismissed."
The DEN IPO was postponed over publicity caused from the sexual harassment lawsuits.
The IGE virtual-currency trading service was originally built in violation of the EULA agreements which made Brock a controversial figure amongst MMORPG publishers. IGE alleged cofounder, Alan Debonneville, filed a lawsuit against Pierce alleging fraud. The suit was eventually settled out of court.
Read more about this topic: Brock Pierce
Famous quotes containing the word controversy:
“And therefore, as when there is a controversy in an account, the parties must by their own accord, set up for right Reason, the Reason of some Arbitrator, or Judge, to whose sentence, they will both stand, or their controversy must either come to blows, or be undecided, for want of a right Reason constituted by Nature; so is it also in all debates of what kind soever.”
—Thomas Hobbes (1579–1688)
“Ours was a highly activist administration, with a lot of controversy involved ... but I’m not sure that it would be inconsistent with my own political nature to do it differently if I had it to do all over again.”
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