Is he trying to insinuate Vic bought his followers and that he didn't grow them organically? If that were in any way true, wouldn't that be, like... hella embarrassing, to say, "It's cool, guys, he's WAY less popular than he looks"?
Is he trying to insinuate Vic bought his followers and that he didn't grow them organically? If that were in any way true, wouldn't that be, like... hella embarrassing, to say, "It's cool, guys, he's WAY less popular than he looks"?
I think your post got lost in the shuffle as concern trolls started but to answer your questions:
1) The court case is ongoing. Here is a REALLY quick summarised version of events. Hopefully someone can fill this out a bit more and we can get that Threadmarked or something. For reference, I'm not a lawyer so i'll probably mess some of the law-ish bits up and I highly recommend trying to sift through the "Threadnought" on Twitter for better info from actual lawyers.
- Vic sued Funimation, Monica Riel, Ron Toye and Jaimie Marchi for defamation and tortious inteference with contracts. There are also other charges of conspiracy, which are connected to the previous two as you need to prove they did the thing before you can prove they worked together to do the thing.
- Vic was originally seeking at least $1 Million in damages, with no maximum. That was updated to between $1-5 million when Vic's lawyer realised it's harder to argue that specific damages were made that Vic needs to be compensated for if you don't give a hard number.
- Vic's lawyer, Ty Beard, has never actually litigated a Defamation case (and it sounds like has possibly never litigated a case?) as he is a real estate lawyer primarily.
- This lawyer was hired at recommendation of a youtuber who started a GoFundMe campaign to fund the campaign also.
- Depositions were done of the defendants and Vic. Nothing much of note came from the defendants ones other than that Vic's lawyer didn't know what he was doing and accidentally ended Toye's deposition hours early, thinking Toye had refused to authenticate evidence when in fact he had already authenticated it.
- Vic's deposition has been largely considered "case destroying." Not only did he admit to multiple of the claims that the lawsuit claims were defamatory statements, he also admitted to never asking the youtuber to create the GFM campaign, endorsing it or indeed even knowing how much he was suing for or what his lawyer was being paid.
- Worth also noting at this point, Defamation works differently in the US depending on the plaintiff's standing. The over-simplification is, if you're a private figure you can sue for a lot more broad things than a public figure can by simply proving those things hurt him. Vic is arguing that the defendant's actions and claims made him lose money from being able to go to conventions and sell chances to meet him, signed merch, etc etc which puts him squarely into the "Public Figure" standing instead, in which case he needs to prove not only that damage was caused by the claims but also that the defendants knew they were false when they made them. This distinction is really hard to prove and is why public figures rarely win defamation cases in the US (and why Vic's original lawyers told him he didn't have a case...) The defence's response to this has basically been "they weren't lies because we believed the things we said happened and we believe they happened because they happened" followed by statements under oath from many of Vic's victims.
- Another point worth noting (thank you L Thammy for reminding me on this one) is that the Defense are also arguing that Vic is what is known as "Libel-Proof" basically, that his reputation was already so bad before the statements he is suing over were made that the statements could not possibly have harmed him in any meaningful way. This is something Vic himself accidentally admitted in his Deposition and is also supported by things like Vic hosting a "Rumours" panel about these claims in 2011, more than 8 years before the defendants made their claims.
- The defendants each filed TCPA motions. This is the Texas version of the SLAPP act, which is basically designed to shut down frivolous lawsuits primarily being used to try cause monetary damages to defendants without actually intending to win a case. Eg: A rich person suing a poor person because they know hiring a lawyer to defend it will destroy their life financially.
- Worth noting, Riel and Toye's lawyer is incredibly highly regarded in defending TCPA cases, runs a blog educating people about TCPA and is all around basically overqualified for this case.
- The way the TCPA works means that after it is filed the judge must hear the case for it within a certain number of days. Vic's lawyer got an extension to this in exchange for the Defence getting guarantees that he couldn't drop mystery evidence on the court date as he had previously claimed he was going to do. The Judge agreed to it and set a 7 day deadline on filings before the court case (At the time of writing THIS deadline is today! [Update: he missed it])
- The TCPA motions will have their day in court a week today, with the judge giving their verdict some point before an October date (I forget what the date is, but it's roughly about a month later.)
- If they pass then the case is dropped, Vic has to pay each of the defendants legal fees and will also most likely be hit with a sizeable fine as punishment. Vic can then appeal them (and probably will) so it'll still drag on at least another couple of months. If they lose on appeal Vic will need to pay the defence fees for the appeal process also.
- If they don't pass then the judge will decide whether the case is worth putting in front of a jury or could dismiss it outright himself (I think, again, not a lawyer.)
- Lawyers on twitter became pretty enamored with the case because one of the initial filings by Vic's lawyer stated (not verbatim, I don't have it in front of me but it's easy to find) that calling Vic "A piece of shit" was defamatory because Vic was "not literally made of fecal matter" an argument so absurdly stupid it has been quoted and laughed at by lawyers literally across the globe at this point. They all seem pretty confident the TCPAs will succeed and many have posted break downs as to why and detailing both the issues with Vic's case and the strength of the defence's arguments.
- LATEST UPDATE: At the time of writing, Vic's lawyer has failed to file his responses to the TCPA motions, claiming technical issues. This probably won't result in anything meaningful as the Judge will give him some leeway on it due to him being new to this and the Judge wanting to make appealing his result harder for the plaintiff. Expect the defendant's lawyers to make fun of him a bunch though.
2) I have no idea why there are so few threadmarks in this thread. I originally said in this post that someone else should make a threadmark summary post but i'll PM the OP and ask if they can threadmark this one. However I'm not going to be able to update this regularly or anything and it's still no doubt full of errors and missing things so if people @ me i'll try to add corrections when I have time.
Here's the "Quick Navigation" thread of Greg Doucette's "Threadnought" about the case. It's bloated with him retweeting and mocking trolls so it's pretty hard to follow unfortunately but it's by far the most in depth break down of why the case is most likely a massive mistake on Vic's part, regardless of whether he actually did the things the defendants claimed he did or not.
And for funsies here's the current list of Vic's victims who has sworn statements under oath about what he has done.
Hope this helps! I haven't even mentioned any of Beard's misguided "Motion to Strike" stuff which the defence responded to recently so if someone could add that that'd be rad and i'll quote it on here.
Is he trying to insinuate Vic bought his followers and that he didn't grow them organically? If that were in any way true, wouldn't that be, like... hella embarrassing, to say, "It's cool, guys, he's WAY less popular than he looks"?
Thanks! Yeah I have idea how it works either 😂Thanks for this. Not really sure how threadmarking other posts work but it seems I can mark mine.
This is seriously on the same level as Vicstans arguing on twitter.
Looks like they got Greg's account locked. Seems to be because he called someone a guy.
Yeah it fuckin' sucks, actual people are intentionally misgendered as an attack to make them feel unwelcome by the minute if not second, and these chodes decide to prey on the need to police that for their ill gain. It's heartless. I've seen more trans activists temp banned for hate speech via alleged misgendering than any conservative or alt-righter (who continue to do it and get away with it).Yeah, this is a common attack from the alt-right now: set up a fake account that claims to be trans, bait someone into "misgendering" the fake account, then mass report the target and let Twitter's automated systems do the rest.
Greg will be back shortly, Twitter is fairly onto this tactic now.
EDIT: Just to elaborate on why I put misgendering into quotations, it's because the account setup to bait is fake, so there's no actual trans person to misgender.
Monica also telephoned Slatosch and called Vic a "sexual predator" and repeatedly asserted that criminal charges would soon be filed against him.
Jamie and Monica both told Chuck Huber that criminal charges were being filed against Vic.
Funimation was conducting a "confidential" "investigation" into:
The next day (February 7), in an email to Funimation's Trina Simon, Monica accused Vic of sexually assaulting her in 2007;41 as if synchronized, Jamie tweeted the same day that Vic is "a monster...there are dozens upon dozens of reports,"42 and Ronald again publicly called on Funimation to make a statement.43 Jamie then reveals their plan: use "name and shame" to destroy Vic's reputation.44
I've barely started on this; it's going to take a while if I want to read the whole thing. This actually looks like one of the best (for their side) things to come out of Vic's side so far in terms of actually being focused on what they're supposed to do, but it's weaselly as fuck already. I'm just going to post two early things that jump out at me.
I should again mention that I'm not a lawyer so a lot of the nuance is going to jump over my head, but here goes anyway.
So I thought this was weird. My assumption just based on them being on Vic's side was that they were stating the above to position it as being false. But then there's point clarifying to state that there was an intention to file criminal charges at that point, which lends to it being substantially true - not that Monica's ambiguous wording could be proven false anyway, but they're certainly more true for having been referring to charges that were intended to be filed.
Basically, what I'm thinking is that if Beard wants to go "how can you say Vic is a predator if he hasn't been proven one in a court of law", can't you then go based on this "we were referring to how we believed that he would be found a criminal if we went through with our plans to charge him criminally"?
Nothing much to say here, I'm just amused as the cheap scare quotes. There's also the point that confidentiality and this was spread to the public because of a lawsuit that Vic filed.
This seems to be the support for the conspiracy part, which essentially amounts to... uh... tweeting at the same time and using a set phrase.
While I'm posting this, does anyone have the link to the Slatosch affadivit? Or is it in this same document? I'm curious as to what lines are being used to suppose what claims.
While I'm posting this, does anyone have the link to the Slatosch affadivit? Or is it in this same document? I'm curious as to what lines are being used to suppose what claims.
The affidavits they mention are in this document, including the one that hadn't actually been filed till now despite them making a big deal of it. You'll basically want to read everything up until you hit the deposition transcripts and then stop, because after that it's basically just the despositions and tweets.
Thanks, might as well look into those references then.
As the OP, you will find a little note saying Add Threadmark next to the Report button. Then if you click that, it asks you what title you want to give the post, which I think is optional.Thanks for this. Not really sure how threadmarking other posts work but it seems I can mark mine.
Looks like they got Greg's account locked. Seems to be because he called someone a guy.
Funimation's Twitter followers knew exactly what Funimation was saying: the result
of its investigation was that Vic had engaged in "harassment or threatening behavior"—
particularly since Monica had reinforced it with her description of "multiple investigations
with testimony, proof, evidence...I am one of dozens of men and women who participated."50
Oddly, Funimation has never contradicted or corrected Monica's "signal boosting."51
51 Signal boosting means "[p]osting to a community forum (mailing list, social networking site, discussion board)
in hopes of getting more attention for an event or cause. This is not the primary or first announcement, but rather
one of many auxiliary posts or cross-posts to communities with individuals who are likely to take interest." See
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=signal boost (definition of "signal boosting").
Looks like they got Greg's account locked. Seems to be because he called someone a guy.
Funimation argues that its tweets were made in connection with a public concern
about the "health or safety" or "community well-being" of the "anime community."
However, Funimation fails to provide any evidence or argument defining this amorphous
"anime community." For example, does this community include every human on the planet
who watches anime or only those who attend anime conventions? Funimation provides no
evidence, or even argument, either (i) identifying the community whose "well-being" is a
matter of "public concern" or (ii) explaining whose "health or safety" is a matter of "public
concern."
Seems easy to sidestep in any caseYeah, this is a common attack from the alt-right now: set up a fake account that claims to be trans, bait someone into "misgendering" the fake account, then mass report the target and let Twitter's automated systems do the rest.
Greg will be back shortly, Twitter is fairly onto this tactic now.
EDIT: Just to elaborate on why I put misgendering into quotations, it's because the account setup to bait is fake, so there's no actual trans person to misgender.
And, while Vic (like virtually every
other human being in the developed world) had access to social media, he did not seek out
the news media; rather, he merely asked his supporters to publicly speak about their positive
experiences with him, denied the allegations levied against him, apologized to anyone he
unintentionally offended, and called for (not spurred) the immediate cessation of any
harassment. Contrary to those previously found to have interjected themselves into a
controversy, see McLemore, 978 S.W.2d at 573, Vic neither sought this controversy nor
interjected himself into it.
called for the immediate cessation of (not spurred) any harassment.
called for (not spurred) the immediate cessation of any harassment.
Just waiting for the sad swatting attempt now.
Furthermore, Monica Rial
and Ron Toye appear to be using the "Seinfeld Defense" which is "it is not a lie if you believe
it to be true." The misplaced use of this defense further bolsters the fact that their statements
were made with malice and thus, qualified privilege does not apply and Vic' lawsuit should
not be dismissed.
pretty sure arguments based on seinfeld aren't legal grounds for dismissal, my guy
A veritable Hannibal crossing the Alps he is. May we all bow to his mastery of strategy.pretty sure arguments based on seinfeld aren't legal grounds for dismissal, my guy
EDIT: whoops, I literally sneezed so hard that I accidentally hit the post button. Gimme a sec.
Have skimmed through this a couple of times, and I really don't get it.
He is regurgitating pretty much every argument the twittler army has been going through for months. He is doing hanleia, he is doing the malice/actual malice thing, he is attacking defendants character, he is saying claims in the TCPA are "nuh huh - not true" without backing them up with cases, he is even fucking claiming Marchi who pretty much even Vicstans have given up hope of "defeating" is lying - with Vic's own deposition saying she was absolutely correct.
And yet he still put together this 1.000 page document. He must believe he is lawyering his ass off? It can't just be a grift for him? It fucking looks like he thinks this pile of doodoo is a case winning document of awesomeness.
I think I very nearly let myself get caught in one today. I suspect anyway. All kinds of suspicious flags around that account - started in May, tweets nothing but ISWV stuff and far right conservative retweets, claims uncommon gender neutral pronouns in the profile. Very nearly said "this dude" (probably because they have "boner" in their name) and stopped myself.
On the plus side, this only furthers the cause of the singular they.
The Doug the Pug bit actually isn't bad. It's just totally unnecessary. The section is basically saying that Vic Mignogna is not a household name that everyone would recognize, even when he's outside of the area that he's actually famous for. No one was arguing that. That's where this first came up though
Oh, don't get me wrong, it's totally absurd. But in context, it's like... People are going to hear "it's not like he's George Clooney where everyone knows his name" and will go "well okay". You didn't really have to tell us that your client is less popular than a dog.The reason I mentioned that really fast after posting the link, was just that it stood out to me as being really fucking funny, and with a dose of "my first skimming of this before heading out of the door had me notice this".
I absolutely find it hilarious that a lawyer will mention that:
My client, who is seeking damage from not being able to attend cons and make money from signing autographs to his adoring fans (his poor fan club :( ), and has lost 1-5 million from this, is not a public figure, because:
1. My client has less followers than this dog with a twitter account
2. He could have bought those followers.
I won't make an argument from a legal perspective, since I have no experience in those matters.
But holy fuck is it funny.
Oh, don't get me wrong, it's totally absurd. But in context, it's like... People are going to hear "it's not like he's George Clooney where everyone knows his name" and will go "well okay". You didn't really have to tell us that your client is less popular than a dog.
I was going to look at some of the citations from the affidavits to see how grounded they are but Huber's is really something. It comes across to me like he's really bitter against Chris Sabat and afraid for his own career and so defends Vic for those reasons - and he is very clearly taking Vic's side here, painting him a a victim, so there goes the possible interpretation of him innocently trying to work things out between everyone. He even explains his thinking behind the "sex addict" letter, which apparently Vic didn't even know about, it was just something Huber did on his own.
He does note, however, that he believes that Vic used his position for sex, and gives a hell of a lot of details about how commonly he was viewed as a predator and pedophile. He goes into a bunch of details that I don't think we've seen elsewhere as well.
I'm going to just post a somewhat trimmed down version of it. The last part might have some typos since the scan was slanted and I can't just Ctrl+C it.
2. The facts in this affidavit should not be construed to condone Vic Mignogna's behavior especially as it relates to his infidelity towardMichelle Specht which was personally heartbreaking and horrible.
6. I am friends with several employees of Funimation and have had direct communication with former CEO Gen Fukanaga, Karen Mika, Justin Cook and Colleen Clinkenbeard through my years of employment at Funimation.
7. I have been a voice actor for Okratron5000, a company owned by Chris Sabat, since 2004 and have been an employee of Deep Space Mustache, a film company founded by Chris Sabat, during 2012-2013.
8. I have been friends with Plaintiff, Victor Mignogna ("Vic"), for at least 10 years.
9. I have been friends with the Defendants', Jamie Marchi and Monica Rial for at least 10 years.
10. I know Ron Toye from his relationship with Monica Rial.
11. The first time I heard Vic's name was in a conversation in 2003 or 2004 with Chris Sabat. This occurred while I was recording for a Funimation property at Okratron5000.
12. In that conversation, Chris Sabat verbally disparaged Vic's Christian faith and speculated that Vic was "actually gay" based on the way he dressed.
13. In that conversation, Chris Sabat stated that Vic was a pedophile who liked "little girls". Despite these statements, he did not express concerns about risks to fans, which I thought was odd.
14. During this conversation, there was no specific mention of Vic committing sexual harassment, sexual assault, inappropriate behavior with teenage fans or that Vic posed a risk to fans at conventions.
15. In approximately 2007, Vic began the practice of autographing artwork depicting anime characters for money at anime conventions.
16. Other voice actors (Jamie Marchi, Monica Rial and Chris Sabat) and other Funimation employees initially described that practice as "stealing from fans," "using fans," or "being an asshole." We all later adopted the same practices and currently follow those practices at conventions.
17. This behavior by voice actors (including Jamie Marchi, Monica Rial and Chris Sabat) and other Funimation employees toward Vic's successful business tactics demonstrates longstanding negative opinions about Vic.
18. In virtually all conversations I had with these voice actors when Vic was not present, disparaging remarks were made about Vic. Typical statements included "he's a prima dona, he's a douche, he's a diva, his clothes are gay," plus comments of his purported infidelity, dislike of his conservative Christian beliefs and personal attacks for his support of Donald Trump. All of these comments were made at one time or another by Monica Rial, Jamie Marchi, Chris Sabat, and others. All of them, however, conceded his ability to do his job.
21. In December 2013, at Yama-Con, I had lunch with Sean Schemmel and Sonny Strait.
22. Sean Schemmel tried to persuade me to participate in a derogatory video about Vic known as the "Vince Mangina VA pedophile video". The video was to portray Vic as a pedophile. I refused because Vic is my friend and he is not a pedophile.
23. Most of the time when I interacted with Sean Schemmel, he attacked Vic for pushing his Christian faith on fans at conventions and for Vic's purported sexual promiscuity.
24. In 2016, I was at Funimation and witnessed a producer at Funimation, warn other Funimation employees of Vic's arrival and address Vic negatively with directors at Funimation.
25. In approximately 2016-2017, a director employed at Funimation, told me that Vic would never get a directing job at Funimation because he was "such a douche." This conversation happened at Funimation. I advised Vic of this conversation. Vic later told me he addressed this issue with Justin Cook, a member of Funimation management.
29. In my opinion, the voice actors and Funimation employees described above were overly preoccupied with disparaging Vic.
30. Over the last decade, I was around Vic, the Defendants' and other Funimation employees hundreds of times. Until January 2019, none of them directly accused him of sexual assault or sexual harassment in my presence.
31. Until January 2019 negative discussions about Vic Mignogna in my presence were accompanied by laughter and derision but never included concern for any alleged victims or named specific victims. Vic has always been a joke to a certain clique of influential Funimation employees for decades but never a threat.
32. Vic indicated to me that in 20 years of working at Funimation he had never been warned of any complaints about his behavior.
33. Vic told me he had a meeting with a producer at Funimation, in approximately 2018 specifically to discuss any issues with his behavior. He stated that there was no mention in this meeting of his having committed sexual harassment, sexual assault or his having behaved in an inappropriate manner at Funimation or at any conventions. He stated that she told him that he was "difficult to work with" because he sometimes asked directors to do additional takes when the director was satisfied with his initial take.
34. Senior Fumimation directors have described the work environment at Funimation to me as a "Den of Poison," "Kafka Nightmare," and "Orwellian Slave Factory."
35. My experience working at Funimation was unpleasant. It is well known that if one falls out of favor with certain people (including Chris Sabat) or if one tries to do anything to change the working conditions, that person will not be rehired as a voice actor. I felt threatened with not being used as a voice actor in subsequent projects if I complained about the work environment.
36. Funimation posted no employment policies regarding sexual harassment in the workplace or at conventions.
38. In the twenty (20) years I worked at Funimation, it was very common for employees, voice actors, writers, producers, directors to hug and kiss each other at the Funimation offices. Raunchy and sexual comedy was extremely common. Sexual relationships between Funimation employees and voice actors was common. No one was ever disciplined or terminated for this conduct.
39. When Sony acquired a majority interest in Funimation in late 2017, a "no hugs" policy was announced. Funimation employees and voice actors largely ignored this policy at first.
40. The voice actors (including Jamie Marchi and Monica Rial) and other Funimation employees talked and flirted freely at Funimation on a regular basis, though this did become less common after Sony instituted the "no hugs" policy.
41. When the Dragonball Kai was being recorded in 2007, I heard rumors that actresses had been recast at Funimation for refusing sexual advances by Funimation employees. I consider these rumors credible based on my experience working at Funimation and from direct messages received from a former DBZ cast member.
42. I also heard that actresses who participated in sex with Funimation/Okatron5000 employees were cast in roles. I consider these rumors credible based on my experience working at Funimation
44. During this timeframe, I sent a text message to Chris Sabat who responded that "if this has anything to do with Vic, I will not talk about it."
47. Chris Sabat engaged in negotiations, either directly or through Funimation for various projects with TOEI, owner of the Dragonball Z properties.
48. The voice actors employed by Funimation generally consider Chris Sabat to be a de facto manager at Funimation and they believe his approval and support is vitally beneficial to succeeding at Funimation and the conventions and the converse regarding his disapproval.
49. Chris Sabat has more influence at Funimation and other studios, including Roosterteeth and Toei, than Vic has ever had in the Anime industry.
50. I heard Chris Sabat and Sean Schemmel call Vic a pedophile numerous times before the allegations against Vic in January/February 2019 arose.
51. I have observed Chris Sabat on multiple occasions talk in a derogatory manner about members of Funimation management and other people he calls "friends."
52. I was aware of no rumors or accusations that Vic committed rape, sexual assault or sexual harassment until the accusations arose in January- February 2019 on the internet.
57. I was aware of no rumors or statements that identified any purported victims of sexual assault or sexual harassment by Vic until January- February 2019 on the internet.
58. Jamie Marchi and I have been close friends and writing partners since 2009. She never mentioned the hair-pulling incident at Funimation that she alleges occurred between Vic and her.
60. I believe Jamie Marchi would have mentioned the hair-pulling incident, if it had bothered her, since she is typically very outspoken. In addition, while Jamie Marchi, Monica Rial and other Funimation employees often expressed animosity towards Vic, they never claimed he had sexually harassed or sexually assaulted anyone. Their animosity was primarily due to his personality, his sexual promiscuity, his Christian faith and claims that he was difficult to work with.
61. In 2009. Jamie Marchi and I worked with Chris Sabat on CONdotcom.com, which was a website where voice actors could provide content for fans. Vic was a digital guest on that website and our primary marketing force because of his prolific convention schedule. In dozens of specific conversations about Vic there was never any concern about pedophilia or other criminal sexual behavior.
62. I have never seen Vic behave inappropriately with any fans of any age.
63. Although voice actors and other Funimation employees called Vic a pedophile and accused him of liking underage girls for years, they never said these things to Vic and never expressed any concerns about working with Vic or doing panels at conventions with Vic until 2019. Nor did they express concern for the convention fans until 2019.
65. Jamie Marchi, Monica Rial, myself and almost all other voice actors have kissed and hugged hundreds of fans at conventions, no matter their age.
66. I approached Jamie Marchi and Monica Rial to attempt a settlement between Vic and the Defendants' in early March 2019. Vic was not aware of my efforts.
67. I was initially supportive of what Jamie and Monica were doing because my understanding was that they were, with inflated versions of their stories, attempting to help the alleged underage victims of rape and sexual assault by Vic, which they along with Michelle Specht directly told me existed, who would otherwise be too afraid to speak out. I never considered Jamie and Monica to be victims of attempted rape or sexual assault by Vic.
68. I drafted a proposed statement by Vic that included the phrase "I am a sex addict" because my conversations with Jamie Marchi and Monica Rial convinced me that Vic would have to admit some form of "guilt" for them to settle. Vic never saw or approved that phrase.
69. I am not educated about sex addiction nor am I an expert about sex addiction.
70. I talked with Vic about sex addiction and advised him to speak with his counselor about it. I now believe his sexual activity and infidelities are more closely associated to the common narcissism and ego from men in his position. I believe Vic is sincere in his efforts with his counselor to correct the abject moral failings associated with his sexual behavior.
71. My settlement efforts were an attempt to help my friend Vic who was suffering tremendously, to protect Jamie and Monica from the difficulty of a lawsuit and to heal the Anime community, which has been seriously divided by the allegations against Vic.
72. During my settlement efforts. Todd Haberkorn told me that that Chris Sabat, Ron Toye and Sean Schemmel told him that he was in danger of never working at Funimation again because Haberkorn retained the same law firm as Vic. (see attached email)
73. I also feared that my twenty (20) year voice acting career at Funimation and personal reputation would be damaged by retaliation for my association with Vic.
74. I contacted Gen Fukanaga, the then CEO of Funimation to discuss my concerns with Chris Sabat's gaslighting of Sean Schemmel, damaging use of his authority toward actors and his attempts to destroy my career, in early March 2019 who met with me and advised that Vic would lose and have to pay via something he had learned about called an Anti-SLAPP motion. He also, in response to my specific concerns about Chris Sabat, said that he had been friends with Chris Sabat for 17 years and he did not believe me. This meeting occurred on March 5, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. in Gen's office approximately a month to a month and a half prior to Vic filing the current pending lawsuit.
75. I and my wife fear direct, planned and specific retaliation from Chris Sabat and those loyal to him in response to this affidavit that will be damaging to my reputation and career.
76. I have known Vic for many years, and I do not believe he has ever sexually approached anyone past the point of them telling him no.
77. I believe Vic utilized his position of privilege in shameful ways in attempts to obtain sex.
78. In my experiences with Vic, if someone acted like they did not want to be hugged or kissed, he stopped immediately.
79. Funimation employees, including Jamie Marchi, Monica Rial and Michelle Sprect have advised me more than once since February 2019 that criminal charges are coming against Vic. In response I encourage them to help these alleged underage victims of rape and sexual assault to come forward. When asked to provide specifics to these allegations they couldn't or refused to do so.
80. When I was told about the contents of the "confidential" investigation undertaken by Tammie Denbow on behalf of Funimation, my opinion was that Funimation, Jamie Marchi and Monica Rial acted together and with encouragement from Chris Sabat and Sean Schemmel, to destroy Vic's career and life.
81. I believe that the purported incidents investigated by Tammi Denbow occurred of Funimation property and not at Funimation events. The one incident that purportedly occurred on Funimation property occurred prior to Sony's acquisition of Funimation, thus the "no hugs" policy from Sony was not in effect (i.e. there were no signs about the policy hung around the Funimation office).
81. I do not believe that Vic kissed Sarah Bachmeyer without her consent. I have never heard rumors of Vic behaving sexually inappropriate at Funimation.
82. Funimation has supported the accusations made by Defendants' that Vic is a sexual predator, pedophile and rapist by supporting the accusations directly with their own public statements (I, as a member of the pubic, viewed the Tweets made on February 11, 2019 by Funimation as supporting the accusation against Vic and asserting Vic was fired for sexual harassment and threats).
83. It appears to me that Ron Toye, Monica Rial and Jamie Marchi have been speaking with Funimation's tacit or overt consent in tweets that have been made by them since January 2019.
I was going to look at some of the citations from the affidavits to see how grounded they are but Huber's is really something. It comes across to me like he's really bitter against Chris Sabat and afraid for his own career and so defends Vic for those reasons - and he is very clearly taking Vic's side here, painting him a a victim, so there goes the possible interpretation of him innocently trying to work things out between everyone. He even explains his thinking behind the "sex addict" letter, which apparently Vic didn't even know about, it was just something Huber did on his own.
But again, what is the relevance of this regarding the case at hand.
Once you start pulling the perspective back, none of this is relevant to the case at hand. It is really interesting in the perspective of the larger story, but looking at this case in particular - why does any of this matter?
You are gonna have to specify some shit to get a concise answer here.
It's actually very close to the narrative that Beard is pushing. Huber is also talking about a conspiracy against Vic, but his is that Chris Sabat's at the center of it and is bullying Vic for being a gay-looking Trump supporting Christian. He's also denying that sexual assault happened, although part of that is treating the manipulation of fans for sex as somehow separate rather than insisting that it didn't happen. He's also pushing that the workplace's atmosphere justifies things that happened there.
Without (further) delay:
Edit: This is seriously on the same level as Vicstans arguing on twitter. He makes the argument that since there is a dog that has more twitter followers than Vic, he is not a public figure. This is hilarious.