Boycott the Commonwealth of Kentucky as Foote Loses Ground
Jeffrey Reynolds Ph.D, owner of AmericanFlags.com has set up a site asking people to boycott the state of Kentucky after a circuit court judge decided to allow for the seizure of 141 online gambling domain names November 17.
What does this mean? Don't travel to Kentucky? It's likely that the majority of Gambling911.com readers have never been to the state nor do they plan on visiting. Though I myself planned a road trip through Kentucky this past July, two weeks ago was the first time I ever stepped foot in the state in order to cover an October 7 hearing before the Honorary Judge Thomas Wingate.
Dr. Reynolds "boycott plan" takes things a step further than simply avoiding the state like the plague.
He wants everyone and anyone who gets his message to boycott Kentucky-based businesses in an effort to send a powerful message to Democratic Governor Steve Beshear, who initially filed the complaint against these online gambling enterprises.
Reynolds has even set up his own website for the cause - www.boycottkentucky.com
Today, we start to roll out our list of Kentucky-based companies to avoid. First up, is among the most obvious: Yum Brands. Founded in 1997 and based in Louisville, Yum operates or licenses Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, Long John Silvers and A&W Restaurants. Their fast food empire includes about 35,000 restaurants that bring in about $10 billion annually. Boycott these restaurants in your own community and maybe stop in to tell the local franchisee why you are opting out.
Then call Yum's corporate office and ask them why they haven't repudiated Governor Beshear's actions. Here's the number for Yum's PR Department: (502) 874-7400.
Dr. Reynolds have even planned his own trick or treat efforts for Halloween, calling Beshear's actions "downright scary!!!"
Call his office on 10/31/2008 and tell his staff that you oppose the Governor's actions and urge him to reconsider his wanton seizure of lawfully owned domain names. His aggressive actions infringe on civil liberties, harm business and are costing Kentucky taxpayers money. Urge friends and family to call. Pass along this post. Let's overwhelm the Governor's switchboard on 10/31 and show him that we are outraged!!!
The number to call on Halloween is (502) 564-2611.
There is word also that Judge Wingate has been getting pressure from many sides following his decision to allow for a forfeiture hearing to take place on November 17.
The Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming, one of the associations representing a few dozen of the 141 domain names, has filed a Petition for Writ of Mandamus, which requests a Superior Court to compel a lower court or a government officer to perform mandatory or purely ministerial duties correctly.
iMEGA's President, Edward Leyden, believes that the judge has received a bad rap for delivering a decision which should have been left up to a higher court.
"Judge Wingate worked hard to render what he believed to be a fair decision," Leyden said. "The problem is it simply did not belong in the circuit court".
Lawyers representing another online gambling association, the Internet Gaming Council, physically appeared at the Franklin County Courthouse on Wednesday and asked for a Motion to Stay, which essentially delays the November 17 forfeiture hearing. Judge Wingate ended the hearing by stating he would "take the request under advisement".
"He could have flat out rejected the motion," Leyden points out. "So this is a good sign that the judge is at least thinking about it."
Lawyers for the commonwealth, specifically Robert Foote (pictured above), aren't exactly thrilled with the judge's decision to hold a forfeiture hearing as ironic as that might sound.
83-year old Jimmy Johnson, a well regarded Kentucky attorney representing a handful of online gambling operators including one of the biggest sports books, has spoken extensively in regard to how Foote and other "high priced" attorneys stood to make a significant amount of money only if the state received damages. Judge Wingate's decision does not call for operators to pay fines.
Sources close to Gambling911.com have stated that Foote is "clearly flustered" and "agitated by something".
Could it be that he is now essential fighting a pro bono matter for the Commonwealth of Kentucky?
In fairness, Foote has spent a good deal of his life fighting to improve the nation's health care system including fighting the high price of drugs in America, in "In Re Lupron® Marketing and Sales Practices". So he can't be all the bad.
Most believe Foote had no idea what he was getting into when he took on this "domain matter" and the public outcry that would follow. The local Kentucky media is blasting Judge Wingate's decision.
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
