Press Release
GTI President Wins a Defamation Suit against Ricardo Software Manager
Wheaton, IL - An Illinois state court jury ruled on August 31, 2004 in favor of Dr. Thomas Morel, president of Gamma Technologies, Inc., and against Fawzan Alsharif, Business Development Manager of Ricardo Software in a lawsuit over untrue and defamatory e-mails.
Dr. Thomas Morel alleged that in June 2002 Fawzan Alsharif, Business Development Manager for the software division of Ricardo Inc., recklessly and maliciously defamed him in a series of e-mails sent to more than 60 persons in the automotive industry. Specifically, Dr. Morel alleged that the e-mails were untrue and defamatory both personally and to his company.
During the two-day trial, the jury heard extensive evidence that showed that Mr. Alsharif had fabricated and sent the e-mails under an assumed name, after concluding that he needed to "smear" Dr. Morel's reputation in order for Ricardo Software to be able to compete with Gamma Technologies for sales of automotive software products, according to Dr. Morel's attorney James A. Fletcher.
On the basis of the compelling evidence, the jury awarded $30,000 in compensatory damages to Dr. Morel. Furthermore, in view of the severity of the case, the jury also awarded $100,000 in punitive damages.
Regrettably, Ricardo Inc., which was not a defendant in the case, formally declined to issue any apology to Dr. Morel for the damages he suffered.
This press release is also available here.