Investment Grade Books, LLC (Matthew & Emily Meyers) Lawsuit

Ditch Fahrenheit
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Joined: April 2013
Posts: 15,667

Investment Grade Books, LLC (Matthew & Emily Meyers) Lawsuit Dec 23, 2016 12:38:08 GMT -8

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Post by Ditch Fahrenheit on Dec 23, 2016 12:38:08 GMT -8

CGC link

To the CGC Community:

For purposes of transparency we thought it important to inform everyone that on December 13, 2016, CGC was sued in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County by Matthew & Emily Meyers, as well as by their business Investment Grade Books, LLC ("IGB"). Also named as defendants were CCS, Matt Nelson and Heritage Auctions, Inc. We just received the Complaint three days ago.

In all five claims were asserted against the defendants. The Meyers claim (1) Defamation and (2) False Light, while IGB alleges (3) Intentional Interference with Existing Business Relations and (4) Intentional Interference with Prospective Contractual Relations. Both the Meyers and IGB are jointly pursuing a claim of (5) Civil Conspiracy. Rather than provide all the specific details, and because we believe it is important the community is aware of this action, I am providing a link of the full Complaint for everyone's review:

www.docdroid.net/Dx6w7uS/complaint.pdf.html

On behalf of CGC, CCS and Matt, rest assured we find the allegations to be false and completely baseless. We will not just defend ourselves against this lawsuit but actually fight aggressively. We welcome the opportunity to prove before a court of law that the accusations are frivolous.

Many of you may recognize some of the allegations as having been the subject of discussion in this Gold Comics thread entitled "There's a Restored 9.4 Tec 33 Blowing up on Ebay" from 2015-16 where the Meyers posted under the username "igb":

boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=9083257&fpart=1

We take our commitment to this community very seriously, and we stand by our services and product 100%. That is why I will keep the community abreast of what transpires in the lawsuit, but please understand that given the nature of litigation I might not be able to respond to your questions. But at the appropriate times I will post further explanations and evidence.

If anyone has any relevant information to share, please feel free to contact me at Mark@MarkZaid.com.

From the CGC family, we wish everyone a very happy holiday season.

Mark S. Zaid, Esq.

Ditch Fahrenheit TCBF Member Joined: April 2013 Posts: 15,667	Investment Grade Books, LLC (Matthew & Emily Meyers) Lawsuit Dec 23, 2016 12:45:03 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Ditch Fahrenheit on Dec 23, 2016 12:45:03 GMT -8

Ditch Fahrenheit TCBF Member Joined: April 2013 Posts: 15,667	Investment Grade Books, LLC (Matthew & Emily Meyers) Lawsuit Dec 23, 2016 14:14:30 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Ditch Fahrenheit on Dec 23, 2016 14:14:30 GMT -8 CGC link Well...there's always a first for everything. CGC link

Ditch Fahrenheit
TCBF Member

Joined: April 2013
Posts: 15,667

Investment Grade Books, LLC (Matthew & Emily Meyers) Lawsuit Dec 23, 2016 19:13:43 GMT -8

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Post by Ditch Fahrenheit on Dec 23, 2016 19:13:43 GMT -8

CGC link

HENRYSPENCER

To be honest with you all, I'm still disgruntled at how CGC handled the whole Jason Ewert situation a decade ago. Yes Ewert purposely trimmed books, sent them to CGC and sold them as advertised according to their assigned CGC condition grades. However on the other hand CGC should be responsible down to the very last penny for restitution to each individual buyer who was defrauded at the cost they paid for the book.

In clear conscience I could never knowingly sell a book as unrestored if I or someone else did something to manipulate it that would alter the grade, but there are a lot of people out there who will call a spade a spade and sell an item based off what CGC thinks and thinks alone; no matter if it is manipulated or not.

CGC link

comicwiz

There is no better example of this in recent memory when comic wreckers were deleting posts and entire threads with people illustrating examples of books being destroyed in their "new and improved slab."

I don't know how you can be a self appointed "protector" of the hobby when you delete consumer complaints about a slab that was wrecking people's comics, or when you shrink comic covers when there was no reason to be pressing them within an inch of their lives in the first place. It's ridiculous hearing claims of a slippery slope in colouring techniques when leafcasting had nowhere near the level of alarmism associated to it, and those trying to raise concerns over conflicting interests at the time were pushed aside for not having superior marketing skills. The mouth pieces and friendships prevailed over years of experience and benign intent to educate the community.

I don't think control is the word I'd use, but I can't say what it really should be called without them deleting the post. The best way to describe directional messaging is like a windsock, and would be actual fact from the way the claim is written, especially when people can't seem to sober up from full submersion dunking in the koolaid.

MetalPSI™ TCBF Member I don't make the internet, I just report it Joined: March 2016 Posts: 2,742	Investment Grade Books, LLC (Matthew & Emily Meyers) Lawsuit Dec 24, 2016 12:04:31 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by MetalPSI™ on Dec 24, 2016 12:04:31 GMT -8 Just and more and lots of
	"If it's loud, and you need just that little bit more, mine goes to 11""Yeah but, couldn't you just make 10 louder?""But these all go to 11"

Ditch Fahrenheit
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Joined: April 2013
Posts: 15,667

Investment Grade Books, LLC (Matthew & Emily Meyers) Lawsuit Dec 24, 2016 16:27:26 GMT -8

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Post by Ditch Fahrenheit on Dec 24, 2016 16:27:26 GMT -8

CGC link

Originally Posted By: Mecha_Fantastic
By pure coincidence I happened to have found the original thread in Gold just yesterday morning. Imagine my surprise to see it shunted to the front page by the time I'd finished reading it (yes, I read it all in 1 sitting).

Having read the complaint, a few things stand out to me. They're very specific, as they should be, but there's a few times where they're suddenly oddly vague, at times where they certainly have the data in question. Here's the example that stood out the most to me: they mention that they resubmitted a book originally restored by CCS. They list the prior grade of the book, 6.5. However, when it comes time to list the result of IGB's submission, no numerical grade is given, and in its place the objectively useless term 'absurd grade' is used.

They obviously know what the grade was. Including that information is much more useful than a meaningless hyperbolic term like 'absurd'. My assumption is that the grade on the resubmission was higher than CCS', although not to the extent they believe their work is worth. I assume that means it could have graded anywhere from a 7.0 to an 8.0, maybe even an 8.5 as an outside stretch, and still be considered 'absurd' by the Meyers.

Why would they not include that number, whatever it may be? Simple. If it's higher than CCS' submission, even a little, they're going to struggle to convince a jury that there's a conspiracy at play here. They were, after all, being rewarded for their work. They acknowledge CCS as one of the top dogs in the biz, and CGC's own company, yet this would show that CGC was not above giving IGB a higher rating than the work of their own company. That kind of hurts their case. A lot.

Whatever the truth, I find the lack of the mention of the grade of the CCS resubmission to be an odd omission.

Mark Zaid Reply
Very astute observation. My understanding is that the regraded book in question received a CGC 8.0 grade. They then submitted it to the "other company" and received a 9.0 grade.

Deleted Deleted Member Joined: January 1970 Posts: 0	Investment Grade Books, LLC (Matthew & Emily Meyers) Lawsuit Dec 28, 2016 21:04:49 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2016 21:04:49 GMT -8 I looked for this thread. I really did.

Ditch Fahrenheit
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Joined: April 2013
Posts: 15,667

Investment Grade Books, LLC (Matthew & Emily Meyers) Lawsuit Dec 28, 2016 21:22:53 GMT -8

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Post by Ditch Fahrenheit on Dec 28, 2016 21:22:53 GMT -8

Dec 28, 2016 21:04:49 GMT -8 @organicsquishee said:

I looked for this thread. I really did.

Don't worry about it. This area is more focused on archival records, timelines, data storage, design, etc.; rather than topical discussions anyway.

Ditch Fahrenheit
TCBF Member

Joined: April 2013
Posts: 15,667

Investment Grade Books, LLC (Matthew & Emily Meyers) Lawsuit Jul 9, 2018 13:00:56 GMT -8

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Post by Ditch Fahrenheit on Jul 9, 2018 13:00:56 GMT -8

link

Mark Zaid

To CGC Community:

I wanted to update everyone on the lawsuit that was filed on December 13, 2016, in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County by Matthew & Emily Meyers, as well as by their business Investment Grade Books, LLC. Named as defendants were CGC, CCS, Matt Nelson and Heritage Auctions, Inc. In all five claims were asserted against the defendants. The Meyers claim (1) Defamation and (2) False Light, while IGB alleges (3) Intentional Interference with Existing Business Relations and (4) Intentional Interference with Prospective Contractual Relations. Both the Meyers and IGB are jointly pursuing a claim of (5) Civil Conspiracy. For those not familiar with the litigation, you can download a copy of the Complaint from www.docdroid.net/Dx6w7uS/complaint.pdf.html.

For much of the last 18 months we have been engaging in the exchange of written discovery and depositions. We deposed both Meyers and they deposed Harshen Patel, Matt Nelson, Paul Litch and a number of Heritage employees. Most recently they named Steve Borock as one of their expert witnesses.

On June 21, 2018, all the plaintiffs filed Motions for Summary Judgment, i.e., that there are no set of material facts that remain unknown and judgment should be entered against the defendants as a matter of law. The Meyers' response is currently due at the end of this month. You can read our Memorandum of Law in support of Summary Judgment by clicking here: www.scribd.com/document/383525574/CGC-Summary-Judgment-Memo-of-Law6-21-18.

A ruling is not expected until at least the end of this year, and possibly next year.

Mark S. Zaid, Esq.

Lead Counsel

Investment Grade Books, LLC (Matthew & Emily Meyers) Lawsuit

Post by Ditch Fahrenheit on Dec 23, 2016 12:38:08 GMT -8

Post by Ditch Fahrenheit on Dec 23, 2016 12:45:03 GMT -8

Post by Ditch Fahrenheit on Dec 23, 2016 14:14:30 GMT -8

Post by Ditch Fahrenheit on Dec 23, 2016 19:13:43 GMT -8

Post by MetalPSI™ on Dec 24, 2016 12:04:31 GMT -8

Post by Ditch Fahrenheit on Dec 24, 2016 16:27:26 GMT -8

Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2016 21:04:49 GMT -8

Post by Ditch Fahrenheit on Dec 28, 2016 21:22:53 GMT -8

Post by Ditch Fahrenheit on Jul 9, 2018 13:00:56 GMT -8