Marc Stein, Plaintiff, v. Northern Liberties Neighbors Assocaition, et. al, Defendants. Jury Trial Demanded Counterclaim Christopher Sm1:!J!er v. Marc Stein dlb/a 626 Front LLC FULE!!J ocr 1 4 !VJJ HAc 20f4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ; r ; , ~ ! Lr:;, l(lJl\f2 Cl Counterclaim _,,. D er;, Jurisdiction and Venue I. This court has jurisdiction over the Pendant State Law claim as- serted herein pursuant to 28 U.S. Code 1367. 2. This court is the appropriate venue for the current counter- claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. A. l391(b). Parties 3. Marc Stein is the plaintiff in the above action and the defendant in the counterclaims being asserted. He is a citizen of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania with his business address located at 626-628 North Front Street in Philadelphia, PA. 4. Counterclaimant, Christopher Sawyer, is a citizen of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania and can be contacted through his counsel, A. Jordan Rushie of Mulvihill and Rushie, at 2424 East York Street in Philadelphia, PA. Factual Allegations 5. On August 27, 2013 the plaintiff, Marc Stein, filed the above titled action against the counterclaimants for Selective Enforce- ep. Clerk. Case 2:13-cv-04644-WD Document 92 Filed 10/14/14 Page 1 of 5 Christopher Salll)ier v. Marc Stein d/bla 626 Front LLC Counterclaim ment, Defamation, Discrimination by Interfering with a Con- tractual Interest and Tortious Interference with Business. 6. The suit was premised on Christopher Sawyer's blog posts about Club Aura, which were made on his blog Philadelinquency. 7. Although critical of Club Aura, all of Sawyer's blog posts were either true, hyperbole, or opinion commentary. 8. The suit against Sawyer was initiated to try and silence him from reporting critically about Club Aura's illegal activities on his blog and on social media, not to redress a legitimate injury. 9. On October 3, 2014 plaintiff Marc Stein was deposed. IO. In sworn testimony, plaintiff admitted to counterclaimants' counsel, on the record and in specific detail, that none of the content in Sawyer's blog posts contained false statements of fact. II. Once Stein conceded in his deposition that he did not believe that the statements made by Sawyer were false, that they were hyperbole, or opinion commentary, Stein conceded that the Sawyer was not liable for the the blog posts he sued for. I2. By admitting this, plaintiff also conceded that his allegations in his Amended Complaint, which averred that the statements made in the defendants' blog posts were false, were baseless and without merit when alleged. 13. However, instead of withdrawing the action against Sawyer, he has chosen to continue to litigate these frivolous claims for no other purpose than to procure a settlement that allows him, and his attorneys, to avoid suit for wrongful use of civil proceedings. 2 Case 2:13-cv-04644-WD Document 92 Filed 10/14/14 Page 2 of 5 Christopher Sa"!Yer v. Marc Stein dlb/ a 6 Z 6 Front LLC Counterclaim Causes of Action Count I: Abuse of Process 14. This above mentioned litigation strategy is being used by the plaintiff to accomplish a purpose for which the civil litigation process was not designed. 15. This continued litigation has caused and will continue to cause Sawyer significant financial harm in the form of attorney's fees and costs associated with the ongoing litigation. 16. The plaintiff has deliberately perverted this particular legal process for their own personal benefit. 17. This perversion of the civil process is not an authorized goal for which the process was intended. 18. The plaintiff's actions are willful and wanton and are being committed with deliberate disregard for the integrity of the fed- eral litigation process and the Sawyer's civil rights. Request for Relief Wherefore, counterclaimant Christopher Sawyer respectfully re- quests the following relief; Compensatory damages in excess of$175,ooo.oo; and Punitive damages in excess of $175,000.00; and Actual damages to fully reimburse Sawyer for the attorney fees and costs incurred in litigating against the causes of action in plaintiff's complaint; and Any and all attorney fees and costs associated with the litigation of this countersuit; and Any other relief that this Honorable Court deems necessary, just and proper. 3 Case 2:13-cv-04644-WD Document 92 Filed 10/14/14 Page 3 of 5 Christopher Sauyer v. Marc Stein dlbla 626 Front LLC Counterclaim Respectfully Submitted, ,;'i A.JoL Rushie Jordan@FishtownLaw.com Pa. Id. 209066 Mulvihill & Rushie LLC 2424 East York Street Suite 316 Philadelphia, PA 19125 215.385.5291 4 Case 2:13-cv-04644-WD Document 92 Filed 10/14/14 Page 4 of 5 Certificate of Service I, A. Jordan Rushie, certify that I sent a copy of Defendants' Coun- terclaims to the following parties via CM/ECF: A. Jordan Rushie Marirose Roach, Esquire Roach, Leite & Manyin, LLC 2938 Levick Street Ground Floor Philadelphia, PA 19149 Dated: Thursday, October 9, 2014 FHlED OCT 1 4 20t 4 IVllC . ASL. i; Sy ! KUN;z, Clerk .,..."""""'"""'--Oep. i e r i ~ Case 2:13-cv-04644-WD Document 92 Filed 10/14/14 Page 5 of 5