Ed Bukstel makes defamatory statements about people on the internet using various aliases
continuing an old pattern
Business Wire - June 16, 1999 09:12
TARRYTOWN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16, 1999--AHT Corporation (Nasdaq: AHTC) announced today it has received evidence as to the identities of individuals responsible for several hundred abusive and often sexually vulgar postings on the Yahoo! Message Board regarding the Company, its officers, directors, and stockholders. Information subpoenaed from Yahoo! appears to indicate that Ed Bukstel and David Bukstel, Esq., posing under numerous aliases, have been waging an ongoing campaign of misinformation in what appears to be an attempt on their part to influence the outcome of two court cases in their favor by suppressing the price of AHT's stock. Ed Bukstel and David Bukstel, Esq., are the Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of a shell corporation named Bukstel and Halfpenny, Incorporated (B&H).
The subpoenaed Yahoo! records appear to indicate that in over 300 postings on the Yahoo! Message Board, both Ed Bukstel and his brother, David Bukstel, a licensed attorney, have engaged, under the guise of being concerned stockholders, in a systematic pattern of unethical and fraudulent postings. These records show that one of the tactics employed by the Bukstel brothers has been to post messages under one or more aliases and to respond to such postings using one or more different aliases. The Bukstel brothers are involved in two previously disclosed court actions against AHT: one, as the sole plaintiffs in a rescission action which seeks the reversal of AHT's 1997 acquisition of B&H's assets and, the other, as putative members of a proposed class action in connection with the Company's stock price decline in 1998. The Company has brought these postings to the attention of the Judge presiding over the rescission action.
"Clearly, what we have uncovered is a manipulative, abusive and unethical use of the Internet medium. This is a high-tech method of utilizing low-rent tactics," said Eddy Friedfeld, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of AHT Corporation. "These virulent postings tend to depress the price of AHT's stock and to create an environment to dupe and mislead our stockholders. Some of the Yahoo! postings have engendered fear among certain employees and their families. No company or its employees and their families should be subjected to this type of abuse. We plan to take all steps legally available to us to stop those who resort to posting misinformation and threats on the Internet while hiding behind false identities."
Jon Edelson, MD, Chairman, CEO and President of AHT Corporation, stressed, "These individuals are acting contrary to the best interests of our Company and our stockholders. We will not tolerate such actions from these or any other individuals. We are working hard to build a healthcare e-commerce business and do not intend to let individuals who propagate false information about our Company stand in the way of creating value for our customers and our stockholders."
AHT Corporation participates in the growing healthcare e-commerce market. The Company provides information technology enabling the electronic management of laboratory and prescription transactions. AHT's goal is to be a leading provider of Internet-based clinical e-commerce among physicians and healthcare organizations. For more information, please visit AHT's website at www.ahtech.com. (Effective February 1, 1999, Advanced Health Corporation changed the name under which it is conducting business to AHT Corporation and changed its Nasdaq stock symbol from ADVH to AHTC.)
This press release contains forward-looking information regarding AHT Corporation. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, including statements as to industry trends, future economic performance, anticipated profitability, anticipated revenues and expenses, and products or service line growth may be significantly impacted by certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, failure of the clinical e-commerce industry to develop at anticipated rates, failure of the Company's clinical information technology products and services to gain significant market acceptance, competition and other economic factors. No assurances can be given as to the outcome of any pending lawsuits involving AHT. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the future. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in AHT's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: AHT Corp
Arthur Dague, 914/524-4783
[email protected]