August 2006

Lawyer says Perle, Petersen knowingly lied about RCS

Carlos Negrete, the attorney who defeated "Quackbuster" Stephen Barrett in court five times, has served Dynamic Chiropractic publisher Don Petersen, Jr., and Stephen M. Perle, DC, with a demand for retraction of libelous publication.

The action stems from Mr. Petersen's publication of a column authored by Dr. Perle ("The Ethics of Research a.k.a. Marketing") which contained "false statements and information that are clearly designed and intended to be libelous on their face," according to Negrete.

In his demand letter, delivered June 23, Negrete notes: "It is apparent that the article was intended to cause my clients to be held in a false light and damage their reputation and business, which would invariably lead to damages. Indeed, the entire article is grossly libelous and based on false statements, half‑truths and innuendo which is also intended to subject them to ridicule and false portrayal. The article contains no literary value other than to defame my clients in order to advance your own personal and professional animus that you have had toward my clients for years, now further advanced by your calumniating statements directed at RCS and its founders."

Although Perle's column was primarily directed against Research & Clinical Science (RCS), a private‑sector research project which has received financial and editorial support from Terry A. Rondberg, DC, Perle also took potshots at Dr. Rondberg himself, dredging up decades‑old controversies unrelated to RCS or other current issues.

In reviewing the situation, Negrete concluded that the current article was merely the latest volley in a long‑standing campaign by Petersen against Rondberg and his competing newspaper, The Chiropractic Journal.

"We are very mindful of the history of attacks that you have directed toward Dr. Rondberg over the course of many years," Negrete told Petersen in his letter. "We observe that your motives are transparent and not overlooked. It is of general knowledge that you, Mr. Petersen, are a business competitor of Dr. Rondberg which has, in the past, displayed your proclivity to defaming and attacking Dr. Rondberg and his business interests June 23, 2006 for the purpose of advancing and enhancing your own business operations and interests."

After enumerating the specific instances of the numerous false and libelous statements made in Perle's article, Negrete told Petersen: "The fact that this article is, in itself, a true bait‑and‑switch tactic of the publisher is confirmed by your own solicitation of 'donations to the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research' (FCER). This article demonstrates to be a carefully orchestrated plan and scheme to cause damage to RCS by diverting funds to for your own personal benefit and crusade." He added: "It should be noted that our office will be conducting an investigation as to FCER and your participation therein along with the role and participation, if any, that the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic has had in the publication of this article."

In the past, Dynamic Chiropractic has reported on the legal actions undertaken by the attorney in defense of chiropractic and is aware of his aggressive devotion to ensuring fairness to the profession. Negrete reminded Petersen of his company's reputation, saying: "As you are certainly aware, our firm has been dedicated to providing representation to professional individuals and companies that have come under attack. Our firm enjoys a special relationship with our clients. Not only do we support their philosophies and objectives, but we also stand in front of them when they are the subjects of vicious attacks such as the Article. Based upon recent events that you, yourself, Mr. Peterson, have reported about our law firm, I am confident that you understand that our firm is not reluctant to take cases to trial to correct an injustice that has been perpetrated against our clients. This case would be no exception."

At press time, no response had been received by Petersen or Perle.

"We will let them just ignore this issue, as though they are above standards of common decency and professionalism," Negrete stated. "No one in this profession is above the law, no matter how powerful their allies are. I've always fought for chiropractic, whether it is against critics outside the profession or those who try to tear it apart from within, and I'll continue to do so with all my strength and resources."