BREAKING! 5WPR Apologizes
As you probably remember, we broke the story. Agriprocessors PR firm, 5WPR impersonated Rabbi Morris Allen and other Agriprocessors critics. It also left dozens of sockpuppet comments meant to make Agriprocessors look good.
Today, almost two months later, 5WPR apologized. It really isn't much of an apology, but here it is:
Gentlemen:
We understand that you have received the attached unauthorized internet, email, or blog communications designed to appear as if they were sent by Rabbi Morris Allen and Hekhsher Tzedek. Neither Rabbi Morris Allen or Hekhsher Tzedek authorized or sent these comments. Rather, an individual at 5W Public Relations posted these communications without Rabbi Allen or Hekhsher Tzedek’s authorization or approval. We apologize for any damage this may have caused.
Thank you.
So 5WPR apparently escapes a potentially devastating lawsuit by issuing a very weak apology on the Friday afternoon of Labor Day weekend.
Pretty pathetic.
And, even though 5WPR says, "We understand that you have received the attached unauthorized internet, email, or blog communications," no such "communications" were attached.
Also note 5WPR has not yet admitted to or apologized for impersonating John Diamond from JVNA, or Yochanan Lavie. And it has not apologized for or admitted the dozens of other sockpuppet comments it left here and on other websites.
You can't get more lame than this.
Yet the Hechsher Tzedek people apparently withdrew their potential lawsuit based on this 4 sentence farce. This does not bode well, I think, for Hechsher Tzedek's future.
The post the broke the story.
The post that broke the story 2.
5WPR index page.
They only issued the phony apology in regards to Allen & HZ because of the threat of lawsuits & criminal charges. If JVNA pursued the same avenue they would also get an "apology".
Posted by: Archie Bunker | August 29, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Steve Durchslag is a Chicago attorney. Who is he representing?
Posted by: Archie Bunker | August 29, 2008 at 03:24 PM
HT.
Posted by: Shmarya | August 29, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Are you sure it was 5WPR that sent it, and not a sockpuppet like this posting is from? :)
Posted by: alternative childcare | August 29, 2008 at 03:46 PM
++So 5WPR apparently escapes a potentially devastating lawsuit by issuing a very weak apology on the Friday afternoon of Labor Day weekend. ++
They avoid lawsuit by admitting guilt and acknowledging that damage might have been done?
Hardly.
Posted by: rebitzman | August 29, 2008 at 03:52 PM
They avoid lawsuit by admitting guilt and acknowledging that damage might have been done?
Hardly.
Not "hardly" – absolutely. This "apology" got them out of a lawsuit.
Posted by: Shmarya | August 29, 2008 at 03:56 PM
++This "apology" got them out of a lawsuit.++
Only because Rabbi Allen is a mensch.
Posted by: rebitzman | August 29, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Rabbi Allen is a mentch. But that is not why this "apology" was accepted.
Posted by: Shmarya | August 29, 2008 at 04:04 PM
Statement of Agriprocessors on Today's Action by the Iowa Attorney General's Office
Agents from the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation came today to the Agriprocessors' plant in Postville with a search warrant, took some photographs, and obtained samples of certain knives and cutting tools used by workers in the production process. As it has done in the past, the company cooperated completely. No one was arrested, and there was no interference with production. As the Attorney General's press release stated, no charges have been filed and the company, like everyone else in America, is to be "presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty."
Chaim Abrahams
Spokesman
Posted by: Statement of Agriprocessors | August 29, 2008 at 04:43 PM
All he gets is a letter?
If it were me, I'd expect an apology and a trip to Disney World.
Posted by: Carol-Ann | August 30, 2008 at 12:14 AM
... So now what? Case closed?
Are we supposed to have wine and celebrate? This is it?
It's not a fight until somebody gets butthurt but NOBODY GOT.
Posted by: Lilit | August 30, 2008 at 03:03 AM
"As it has done in the past, the company cooperated completely."
More spin from Chaim Abrahams.
If Rubashkin cooperates, there is no need to get a judge to sign off on search warrants.
And no mention of seized computers / files.
Posted by: Archie Bunker | August 31, 2008 at 08:27 AM
BS"D
Did 5W scrub Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's Wikipedia page just before being selected by John McCain to be his running mate? I'm sure "YoungTrigg" is probably someone else, but 5W certainly set the example.
Posted by: Stephen Mendelsohn | August 31, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Stephen: The Wikipedia page was dealt with by McCain staffers, not 5Wankers. (I will still vote for MC as the lesser of 2 evils).
An apology is all I'm asking for from the Wankers. Getzel gave me his personal apology, which was a nice gesture, but it's not official.
Posted by: Yochanan Lavie | September 02, 2008 at 10:03 AM