one last rumor for the week

Garner company sued by Florida company over alleged defamation
February 06, 2013 6:30 pm • By LAURA BIRD


GARNER — A Florida company has filed a defamation lawsuit against a Garner company in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.

Control Systems Research Inc. is claiming that Diversified Management Solutions Inc. of Garner sent a defamatory letter to employees of the Federal Aviation Administration, which both companies seek contracts with.

“We consider it a frivolous lawsuit,” said Jeff Short, president of Diversified Management Solutions.

According to court documents, Control Systems Research is a minority-owned and controlled corporation that provides meteorological support services to federal government agencies.

Diversified Management Solutions also provides services under the Federal Aviation Administration’s Contract Weather Observation program.

According to court documents, in September 2011 the FAA began procuring a new weather observation contract. While a competition for a federal contract is ongoing, contractors are restricted in communications with government officials.

However, Diversified Management Solutions allegedly sent a letter to two FAA officials on Jan. 26, 2012, “with malice aforethought and with the specific intent to injure CSR in its trade and profession,” according to court documents.

According to Control Systems Research, the letter contained “false and defamatory statements” including that the company was misusing a mentoring program.

Control Systems Research claims the statements by the Garner company were made to gain an unfair advantage in seeking the government contract.

The company also claims Diversified Management Solutions achieved its goal because the FAA revised the extent to which Control Systems Research could participate in the new weather observation contract.

Control Systems Research is seeking $70,000 in actual damages, $300,000 in punitive damages, attorney fees and other relief.

Okay, so the above story appears legitimate:
globegazette.com/news/local/garner-company-sued-by-florida-company-over-alleged-defamation/article_91050c9e-70c4-11e2-98ab-001a4bcf887a.html

Almost certainly, that is where Weather Data Services was located, northern Iowa.

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If true it means that if any part or all of the CWO program survives they won't be getting the 4 groups they thought they were getting.

This is not a rumor but fact. WX Solutions and EKO have been found to be ineligible. WX Soultions has filed a separate protest challenging the findings. I would guess that EKO will do the same but has not as of today.

While I certainly have no reason to doubt this information is there a link so we can check this out?