Convention NewsN&T News

Yet Another Update on ‘Ryan Kopf v Trae Dorn’

So it’s been a few weeks since we updated you on the current state of the lawsuit filed against us by Ryan Kopf in the state of Iowa.

For those of you not following along, at the end of last year AnimeCon.org CEO Ryan Kopf filed a defamation suit against me for articles published about his conventions here on Nerd & Tie. He later amended the suit to include Pher Sturz who had vocally supported me on Facebook. In February my lawyer filed for dismissal on jurisdictional grounds. In March that dismissal was granted, and that’s where we left you.

Well, a couple more things have happened since then.

First of all, Kopf’s attorney has now filed a Motion for Reconsideration of the Dismissal ruling and also a request to do jurisdictional discovery. A judge will hear that on April 15th (though we don’t know when we’ll know the results). We are, of course, resisting this.

Secondly, on the “good news” front, Pher Sturz’s motion to dismiss was granted. The dismissal was, unsurprisingly, granted on the grounds of Jurisdiction. It was ridiculous that Pher was ever dragged into this, and we’re exceptionally happy that it’s over for him.

So this post is a bit of an inverse of our last update. Pher Sturz now seems to be in the clear, while I still have a bit more to deal with. We’re optimistic though, and hopefully this will soon be over.

Update (5/9): This may finally be over.

Trae Dorn

Trae Dorn has been staffing conventions for over twenty-five years. They also wrote and drew the now completed webcomic UnCONventional, and produce the podcasts BS-Free Witchcraft, On This Day With Trae, Stormwood & Associates, The Meatgrinder, and The Nerd & Tie Podcast. This leads many to ask how the heck they have the time to get it all done. Trae says they have the time because they “do it all quite poorly.”

5 thoughts on “Yet Another Update on ‘Ryan Kopf v Trae Dorn’

  • mrrflemeow

    Regarding the GoFundMe accounts… I recently donated to the case that was still “active” at the time. I’m totally fine with the money going to the stated “overflow” cause, if there is any, but I’d also really love to know that my contribution actually caused Ryan direct inconvenience (in small return for the inconveniences he’s caused me). Have you given any consideration to rolling one of your defense funds over to the other person’s, if necessary? (No response needed if it’s not legally prudent. Just a thought.)

    Reply
    • I’m not sure if after fees if Pher has his costs covered (though he should be close), so I don’t want to speak for him. I’m sure he’ll close it when he does though.

      While I’ve covered my costs (my real goal was just $2,900 to raise what I needed post fees but typing $3000 was just easier to put in the field — my lawyer had more work to do than Pher’s as mine had to defend the website too), it’s not over for me. I don’t need more money, but I don’t want to close the gofundme until the case is over and I’m completely sure that we won’t need more money

      Reply
      • mrrflemeow

        All good. just thought I’d ask. My best to both of you, and my worst to His Smarminess.

        Reply
        • Not a problem, just trying to be as transparent as possible. 🙂

          Reply
  • Terence Clark

    Congrats on the progress so far. I had seen Sturz’ FB post, but somehow yours hadn’t bubbled up in my feed. I know you’re not across the finish line, so to speak, yet, but progress is progress.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to mrrflemeow Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *