To whom it may concern:
DDOS attacks commenced against the Ross Institute (RI) Web sites on about March 8th. They continued for some time causing difficulty accessing this message board and the Web site database.
This took place about the same time that Royal Jacumba Way supporters were repeatedly contacting RI through lawyers.
As you can see a new hosting company and more secure server has helped to end this problem.
Some Royal Jacumba Way supporters were banned from this board, for behavior that can easily be seen as "flaming," i.e. attacking people personally on this thread.
DDOS attacks began in early March and continued periodically, but were eventually halted by the security of the current hosting company.
About that time implied legal threats were made against me personally and RI by those representing Royal Jacumba Way, which have been shared with RI's attorneys.
RI is no stranger to lawsuits, the institute has been repeatedly sued by disgruntled groups, which has led to humiliating legal defeats for the plaintiffs, including the following:
Church of Immortal Consciousness
[
www.culteducation.com]
Pure Bride Ministries
[
www.culteducation.com]
Landmark Education
[
www.culteducation.com]
Gentle Wind Project
[
www.culteducation.com]
Gentle Wind would eventually face a much more serious legal situation, when the Attorney General of Maine pursued the group for fraud, closed it down and seized assets.
It is interesting to note that the Maine prosecutor probably wouldn't have known about the group, its products and practices, except for the attention garnered through its frivolous litigation.
Another purported "cult" called "NXIVM," led by a former failed multi-level marketing guru named Keith Raniere, also filed suit against RI. This group has suffered one legal defeat after another, all the way to the US Supreme Court.
See [
www.culteducation.com]
NXIVM is now being sued by RI for $1 million dollars, regarding unlawful conduct.
See [
www.culteducation.com]
If anyone has information that might lead to discoverying the source of the recent unlawful DDOS attacks against this Web site and/or the name and location of the hacker/attacker please contact me.
See contact information at [
www.culteducation.com]
A detailed report has been filed with national law enforcement.
DDOS attacks are against the law and the criminals that launch them and their sponsors should rightfully be prosecuted and/or sued.
Please understand that RI has not and will not divulge the identity of anyone posting at this message board.
This board remains a completely safe place to discuss your concerns.
FYI -- Landmark Education attempted to use its lawsuit as a means to discover the names of message baord members.
But that effort utterly failed.
A federal judge told the seminar-selling company that any such effort in discovery would be fruitless.
FYI -- A federal court ruling "Donato v. Moldow," was later cited by Landmark Education in its brief seeking to dismiss its own lawsuit.
That ruling essentially held that the host of message board could not be held legally liable for the posts of its members.
Another victory for free speech on the Internet.
Legal threats, hackers and DDOS attacks should not trump freedom of speech.
Rick A. Ross
The Ross Institute of NJ
www.culteducation.com