by Sarah Schauerte
During the week of Thanksgiving, the Wounded Warriors Project (“WWP”) served up a steaming helping of lawsuit to fellow non-profit, Help Indiana Vets.
Both organizations are designed to help veterans. According to Help Indiana Vets, however, WWP is a fraud. Dean Graham, the owner of Help Indiana Vets, posted an article on its website alleging that WWP is a sham because it does not donate a majority of its profits directly to veterans in need. The article picked up more exposure when it was posted on Facebook, yet more proof to never discount the power of social media. Soon many individuals were posting about their disappointment with WWP and cancelling their subscriptions.
Ultimately, Graham’s criticisms reached those at WWP, and they were not game for having the organization’s name dragged through the mud. (They draw the line at Tough Mudder).
WWP is very, very proud of its reputation. In the 31-page complaint (the “Complaint”) filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, WWP outlined the different services it provides to veterans to fulfill its mission of “honoring and empowering injured service members.”
In November, Help Indiana Vets attacked this reputation by publishing a number of disparaging statements about WWP on its website (http://www.helpindianavets.com), including comments about how WWP was “best paid non-profit ever…” and that it “was really a fraud…that needs to be investigated immediately.” Also, on the same page as these statements, a link enabled website visitors to make a PayPal donation to Help Indiana Vets. This was a follow-up to an email with similar content that had been sent to government officials and entities back in July.
The six-count Complaint against Help Indiana Vets alleges false advertising, criminal deception, defamation, unfair competition, tortious interference with business relationships, and unjust enrichment. It can be accessed here. In the Complaint, the bottom line is that Help Indiana Vets seeks to drag WWP’s name through the mud and divert its donations.
But is legal action worth it?
To me, the act of filing a lawsuit seems a little drastic. WWP has worked hard to build its reputation, and there’s no question that it should defend that reputation. But couldn’t it just as easily have done that by writing to Dean Graham and threatening him with legal action if he didn’t stop his actions? His company is small and new; theirs is big and established. There’s no mention in the Complaint that this was attempted.
And here’s the another point. I’m blogging about this story because it’s interesting (ah, the power of social media). One non-profit for vets, suing another non-profit for vets. Who would have thought? This wouldn’t be interesting, however, if the two organizations had just slugged it out on-line. WWP could have done an email blast to its thousands of followers about the accusations and clarifying where its money goes. Or it could have addressed the attacks on its website, and asked its supporters and allies to spread the word. Instead, it has a public lawsuit where all variations of the tagline address that it is being accused of “being a fraud.” Why be so vocal about it?
Maybe WWP has an agenda in taking the contentious approach. Or maybe it’s just one tough mudder. Access its website at: http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/.
