Dawkins sues Josh Timonen

[Cunt]

I didn't read so clearly but was it Mr. Dawkins who filed suit, or the Foundation?

Could be important.

[maiforpeace]

Almost a million bucks they're claiming they're owed!!

And if they win all the judgements, that will be at least 1.2 million to Josh in the end by the time the legal fees are tacked on.

I didn't read so clearly but was it Mr. Dawkins who filed suit, or the Foundation?

Could be important.

Both.

The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, a Delaware Charitable Corporation and Richard Clinton Dawkins, (commonly known as Richard Dawkins) an Individual.

Dawkin's attorney: http://www.sslm.com/Text%20Files/beg%20 ... LATEST.pdf

[JimC]

The parasitic life-forms commonly known as lawyers will gorge themselves full well...

[Blondie]

a certain pzmyers linked this on ratskep a few seconds ago

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010 ... imonen.php

Fuck PZ. He was as big a supporter of Josh as Dawkins, maybe more.

[Blondie]

Shameless plug: I've decided to start up my own blog. No prize for guessing what my first post is about.

[Ameri Boi]

If Mr. Dawkins can get the old forum back up and running the way it was, and have a good system for running it, I would go back.

Yup. Happy to.

Fuck Timonen. I think it would be nice to look back on things and describe it as his ATTEMPT to screw it up.

this x Infinity

[drl2]

Timonen handed over financial books that detailed his embezzlement, Dawkins says, including $500 meals, trips to Timberline Lodge in Oregon and the Malibu Beach Inn, and $314,000 in "salaries" paid to Timonen and his girlfriend -though Timonen and the Foundation agreed that the $278,000 it was aware of paying him would be his combined salary for running the store and performing his other duties.

Ho-leeeee fuckshitcuntcocksuckerwankadoodle!

$278K for running a web site sitting on a free open source content management system? Somebody tell Richard I'd be thrilled to fuck up his web site for less than half of that!

[Trolldor]

Dawkins describes himself as "the world's best known and most respected atheist."

Other than that, I don't care.

[JimC]

Dawkins describes himself as "the world's best known and most respected atheist."

Other than that, I don't care.

As someone else posted, perhaps it could be a phrase invented by his lawyer...

If not, very disappointing...

[Alan C]

I didn't think to look here for a post on this. D'oh.



Sweet fucking arsecrackers the ratskep one is already 60+ pages, Iz got some readin.

[anthonzi]

RDFvTimonen.pdf page 18

DATE: September 27, 2010

This suit has been under wraps for quite a while. Does anyone claim to be aware of this before the posting of the Courthouse News Service article (other than the involved parties)?

Dawkins describes himself as "the world's best known and most respected atheist."

Other than that, I don't care.

As someone else posted, perhaps it could be a phrase invented by his lawyer...

If not, very disappointing...

It would be accurate perhaps if it were in the past tense.

[Trolldor]

It would be accurate perhaps if it were in the past tense.

No. It's an 'absolutist' claim and as a scientists he should be ashamed of such a thing.

[anthonzi]

It would be accurate perhaps if it were in the past tense.

No. It's an 'absolutist' claim and as a scientists he should be ashamed of such a thing.

On further review the quote is inaccurate. The full text reads (page 2)

Professor Dawkins is an internationally renowned evolutionary biologist, university professor, lecturer, award winning intellectual and best-selling author, and perhaps the world’s best known and most respected atheist.

Notice the qualifier "perhaps". I think we can reasonably assume Courthouse News Service intends to mislead for sensationalist effect.

[Rum]

Interestingly the affidavit refers at the beginning to a 'verbal contract'. A lesson there perhaps.

[floppit]

Is it only me that sees the importance of these events going beyond the outcome of the lawsuit?

Myers seems keen to stress his ongoing support for a charity which has openly paid over market rate and been unable to keep track of it's funds over a number of years. Most other observers 'appear' to want resolved the background to events but little has been said (LP the exception) about the evident incompetence involved and the open poor judgement (to pay over market rate for a person based on believed but as yet unseen talents). In this context continued support smacks of the blind loyalty visible in religious groups that find themselves in the same position i.e. when big pastors leg it with the takings then blame the devil!

I admit I felt the concept of RDF flawed long before these events came to light, even the notion of having a figure head by virtue of charisma to campaign predominantly against religion and placing the lack of a belief rather than the positive belief in reason at it's core. Remember it's a red 'A' not a red 'R' for reason.

Moreover there is a less expensive route open to supporters of science, the role that Richard once held which has been taken over by Marcus du Sautoy, the Simonyi Professorship for the Public Understanding of Science. Granted this is not a man concerned with dismantling religion - go figure, but certainly engaged in the title of his position. It is possible, plausible and rational to dump the old and get behind the new. I question whether the reluctance surrounds the emotional bond with both RD and his cause, he certainly had his share of fans.