The case is being brought in a Chicago court on the grounds that Gary Dorby, who uses the moniker “Pugs” on the internet, allegedly posted “hundreds” of internet messages to “falsely and maliciously accuse” Richard Marchese of “securities fraud, assault and affiliation with organised crime.” Marchese was a co-founder of Power Securities Corporation in the US who last year settled a civil fraud complaint brought against him as an individual by the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US.
Gary Dorby is reported by WSJ.com as saying that the lawsuit is part of a harassment campaign against him and asserted that Richard Marchese has been involved in stock manipulations, a claim denied by Marchese.
In the US, there are several ongoing lawsuits against individuals who post messages on internet bulletin boards.