> Start from Part 1

Threatening to sue someone is an act of emotional violence. I talked to people who were threatened with lawsuit by move2nz owners, and I was struck by both the level of distress the memory still caused them, and the lack of skepticism with which they regarded the threat. As an American, I forget what dreadful power the threat of a lawsuit still holds for many people. I took someone to court for the first time when I was 20 (I won), and while it gave me enormous appreciation for the time, the expense and the tedium involved, it also demolished any superstitious awe I may have still had for the process. The service of a lawyer is an established fact in American life, and even here, the company I co-own with another expat (Expat Exposed) is all squared away with a local law firm and a ribbon on top.

The interesting thing is, the owners of move2nz aren't American. They're British, and have also had their own traumatic brush with a disreputable company threatening a meritless lawsuit. Whether that incident gave them ideas, I don't know. But as Brits, they would presumably have full appreciation of the distress they were causing the fellow Brits and continental Europeans they threatened in turn.

Here's a sample of a threat they sent to someone ("Trisha", now a member of Expat Exposed), just for logging back in and sending an e-mail after she had left move2nz:

Hi Tricia,

I have monitored your use of the site under the name 'Tamdan' since August despite your confirmations that you would not access the site.

While you were not causing additional michief I tolerated the access however I noticed recently that you contacted a member and made defamatory statements about me personally. Your comments were I believe malicious and defamatory and I shall be taking legal advice to see whether I should begin a legal action against you. My solicitor will be in contact in due course.

Your account has been closed and any further activity on the site is strictly forbidden.

Please note: Any attempt to access the site will be met by legal action against you. Any further defamatory statements against myself or move2nz will be met by the strongest legal action I can bring. I am saddened that after all the assistance we attempted to give you and the friendship we thought we had built you have decided to personally attack me. Shame on you.

Regards,

Mike

And what is this defamatory statement? Drumrolls please:

"Mike and Tammy were not happy as they thought we were all being too negative and in the end we either were asked to leave or chose to leave ourselves to avoid further tension."

So... In order to even have a shot at claiming libel, they have to prove they were actually HAPPY with us.

As the lolcats say, 'I'm in UR private messages, violating UR trust'

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