All,
I hope TIGHAR’s attorneys are looking at this whole matter as it verges on the boundary of a “grand conspiracy” on behalf of Tim Mellon et al.
The reason I suggest this is: If you look at the correspondence that “Heath” has provided (
ref. Ric’s post of Aug 13, 2013 @ 09:16) it appears that this entire “lawsuit” matter has been in the works for a long period of time. My guess would be it started shortly after returning from the 2012 expedition.
My assumptions: Tim Mellon, after making his major contribution, completing the expedition and returning “empty handed” is really pi--ed. Tim Mellon goes to his “secret” web site and vents his spleen and is encouraged by “someone” to file suit against TIGHAR on the basis of what we now see in the filed complaint.
The “someone” convinces Tim Mellon that based upon the 2010 expedition videos there is ample evidence to suggest that the A.E. aircraft has been found and his contribution is a result of a major ruse.
Tim Mellon believes in the sympathy offered in his plight and buys into the suggestion and begins legal proceedings.
What assumptions and logic do I suggest the above?
• The time in finding an attorney to take on this case, the time the attorney needs to research the allegations made in the suit and the effort to put arguments into a petition to the court takes a great deal of time and effort i.e. the assumption this whole affair goes back to the time shortly after returning from the 2012 expedition.
• Tim Mellon finally confides in “someone” that he has indeed started the litigation process: This communication to “someone” goes out over the “secret” forum and in return is leaked/discussed within that forum.
• This leak/discussion gives Tim Mellon great concern because the suit is not quite ready to be filed and Tim Mellon wants to know who spilled the beans.
• Hence the hunt (vis a vis Heath’s correspondence suggesting this was to smoke out the leaker)
“Someone” – “I would suspect a spy”,
Mellon – “how can we solve that?”
“Someone” – plant bogus info”,
Mellon – “how do we do that in a private forum?”
• Tim Mellon then comes up with the spoof of “if and when TIGHAR goes bankrupt etc.,etc., "
"Someone" says he wants “me” to save the email as proof of a spoof.
Bottom line I would suggest:
• Tim Mellon felt defeated and sorry for himself after the 2012 expedition
• Another “secret forum” member sympathizes with Tim Mellon and suggest legal action
• Tim Mellon agrees and proceeds to hire the attorney(ies) to proceed.
• The legal proceedings are leaked shortly before the suit is ready to be filed.
• Finally, Tim Mellon goes into defense mode to find out who is leaking the suit info.
In summary:
I would suggest that if we would go back into the A.E. forum just after the 2010 video was released to all, we could determine the “someone” by name.
This “someone” convinced poor ole Tim Mellon to spend more money to get his just reward in order to sooth his (Tim Mellon’s) bruised ego and hence the lawsuit to be addressed in a few days.
Sad situation!
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Modified to include link to Ric's post; each Forumite's own time zone is used to affix time stamps, making it problematic to refer to previous posts by the posting time that's displayed. Creating such links is covered by Marty's tutorial in the FAQs.]