Several people have mentioned that the Zablotskyy case is difficult and hard to follow. And that is true. I often find that if I can arrange difficult situations in chronological order ... in a timeline ... they are easier to understand.
This post is not intended to be slanderous. It is intended to be a simple recital of the events, as reconstructed through other already published sources.
Sometime in June 2007, Vlad wrote his initial post about ePerks, titled "ePerks - A New Approach to Real Estate". That post has since been removed from the web. It was favorable towards ePerks.
It was also a paid post. If you are not familiar with paid posts, Google the words "Pay Per Post" or "ReviewMe". Pay Per Post is a legitimate (if somewhat controversial) way to monetize a blog. John Chow reports making several thousand dollars per month with ReviewMe.
So, ePerks evidently placed an Advertiser offer on a Pay Per Post marketplace site. Vlad accepted the offer, wrote the post, and probably received his check.
Vlad's "ePerks - A New Approach to Real Estate" post also generated several comments. A number of the comments about ePerks were not favorable.
Evidently, given the number of comments, and their content, Vlad felt it was important to investigate further, and post a reponse. Which he did on August 10, 2007 with this post titled "ePerks- A Scam or A Gem?" This post generated 163 comments. Many of the comments about ePerks were quite negative. Other commenters came to ePerk's defense. The identity of some of the defending commenters has been called into question.
On October 2, 2007 Vlad posted another follow-up post, titled "ePerks: Three Critical Mistakes A New Startup Should Avoid" This is not the same blog on which he published the previous two posts.
On January 22, 2008 Vlad tried to move on to other things with this post.
Sometime in late January, 2008 This disturbing item was posted on Yahoo Answers. It has since been removed. Much has been written about the possible identity of the poster. The IP address (Internet Protocol address) appears to have originated on the West Coast, not New Jersey.
On February 13, 2008, Vlad was served with a Cease and Desist letter. Vlad copied the text of the C&D letter into his post dated March 17, 2008 http://www.go-beyond-mls.com/eperks/
Vlad's post of March 20, 2008 http://www.go-beyond-mls.com/and-the-question-remains-why/
Vlad's post of March 26, 2008 http://www.go-beyond-mls.com/more-threats/
Vlad's post of April 2, 2008 http://www.go-beyond-mls.com/silencing-a-blogger-with-discusting-tactics/
Sometime in May (the date is not clear in the screenshot), 2008, a "Vlad Zablotskyy ALERT" blog appears, then disappears:
Vlad's post of May 21, 2008 http://www.go-beyond-mls.com/i-am-being-sued-by-eperks/
Vlad was served with a Summons and Complaint on June 7, 2008. On June 8, 2008, Vlad posted this blog about being served.
June 8, 2008. Gregg Swann of Bloodhound Blog set up a legal defense fund for Vlad.
Support Vlad Zablotskyy's Defense Fund
Defend your own right to free speech!
Trace Richardson created the canonical guide here.
Mary McKnight explores the situation in detail here.
Cheryl, I was reading and catching up on this at Inman this morning. Disturbing stuff to say the least. If nothing else, it will likely give many of us pause about what we're writing.
Great post! Thanks fo.... oh never mind.
This is possibly the easiest to understand post of this subject I've seen. I'm going to link to it over on my post, Cheryl. Did you put a link on BHB? It might be welcome there?
Thanks Cheryl, I 've been trying to follow by hop skipping around. This makes it clearer.
HOLY CAMOLI!!! This is COMPLETELY unbelievable!!!! I'd never heard of it until I read your sidebar! THANKS!!!
Thank you for helping bring awareness about Vlad's situation!!!
Wow, what a lot of nasty stuff! Thanks for the awesome summary!
you have put a lot of time and energy into detailing the log of what is happening for this guy. Man, what did he get messed up with- sounds like something out of a nightmare movie. looks like a lose/lose all the way around. The saying use to be any publicity is good publicity but this isn't looking like it is going to be good. Has Reader's Digest checked into doing a feature or better yet get the movie rites - sounds like someone is going down -- cw
I've read so many thoughts about this and it's evident some people really don't know exactly what happened. This is a great chronological summary that anyone can follow to be able to understand the entire situation. Thanks for taking the time and I hope anyone that can afford it will donate to Vlad's defence fund set up at Bloodhound Blog.
Very informative post - thanks, cheryl!
Thank you Cheryl. One have to just wonder how easy it is to misinform and manipulate public opinion and this power is directly related to the amount of money one can "invest" in the misinformation "project". It would be really interesting to run a poll on Acive Rain in July to see what agents do know about the case and how many of them belives that Vlad is a child molester and how many are "not sure".
@Climper Real Estate
It's quiet easy to check wether or not I am.... http://www.familywatchdog.us/ is a good place to start. I live in NJ.
I had never heard the "child molester" part of the story (how did I miss that?) until reading the Broker Science series the other day. I don't know Vlad, although I have run across him online a few times. I had read about the cease and desist and was totally confused over the sequence of the early posts. It never crossed my mind reading that part that it could be true because I had read bits and pieces of the story from a number of people and by the time I read that part I thought it was very obviously "dirty tricks."
I can't even imagine how much distress it could/ would cause to be accused of being a child molester publicly.
Vlad - I don't need to check to know where the truth is Vlad and who you are as a person. Your acts speak fo you. To protect the "truth" you put yourself in a very difficult situation. It is scary, however, that many people migh have to go an check (and good if they do this to remove any doubts the "misinformation" campaign has created in their minds). After all we could watch and study '"accomplishemnts" of Hittler's Minister of Propaganda Hans Globke and efforts of Joseph Stalin, who had to be Globbke's "best" student. I whish you all the best Vlad (I was first to donate to your fund created by Greg Swan). Your case should be very straightforrward to defend and I hope your lawyers will not make it overly complicated. You spoke the truth. Everything else that happened is a result of ePerks guy (I will not bother to remember his name) being scared of truth. Case closed. Hopefully his grave is deep enough by now.
Artur,
I my statement about the "directory" was intended for those who did indeed needed to check. Sorry if it came across as if I was lecturing you or something. It was not my intention.
@Climper- you are playing wit someone's life. Nobody here should consider running a poll on what they believe about Vlad. That is irresponsible to suggest and it makes me question your ethics. It's not a game here- and no one should treat it that way. This guy is one of us- a blogger - he deserves our support. And more importantly- he was not the first to experience the wrath of ePerks and Ben B- talk to Dennis Pease, Trace Richardson and former employees of Reply.com that worked for Ben B. He has a history of legal and online harrassment. Show me a negative hstory of Vlad. Run a poll about what people think about Ben and ePerks. leave Vlad alone- hasn't he suffered enough?
Mary,
Please re-read my entry again. Maybe this time you will find out that I am Vlad's supporter (and believe him unconditionally - what I started above). So, read it again.
Cheryl- Like your photo thutorials this was pretty easy to figure out. Thank you for taking the time to simplify it for us.
Cheryl,
I am sure you have seen latest post about my case by Greg Swann. But if any one else still following my case I have recently written an update:
ePerks Do Not Understand The Concept Of An "Olive Branch"
It was certainly the worst summer I have ever had in my life, but the end is in sight. Thanks again every one for your support!