What to do, What to do

Ok everybody, you might remember a post I had in the old forum about somebody sueing the Tri-State Herp Society due to "stealing of a reptile show."

Well, our first show of the year is coming up Saturday the 16th, and I was wondering if there was wnything I could do to keep this guy away.  First off, he's a fish and boat employee (to what extent, I'm not sure) so if he needs to investigate something, we technically can't keep him out right?  Do they have to have any kinds of warrents to show up at reptile shows to investigate or "look over" the stock.  Not only that, but if he does try to use his position to get in, he probably won't investigate anything, just accost our vendors and pressure them into signing away our show (afidavits)sp  

Is there anything I can do to keep this guy away?  The shows go much smoother and our vendors seem unhappy since his last notorious visit.  Can I get a restarining order?  Can I call his superiors?  What should I do?

Todd Evans

I would do everything I could to make it uncomfortable for him
-call his superiors
-video tape him harassing venders
-call him out
-ask if his business is official or business
-call the police 10 minutes after he shows up
-call a local newspaper[these guys hate bad pr]
I think you get the idea now, you have to do what you can to protect your rights
Apple

I am assuming this guy comes to your show in some sort of "official" capacity.  If so, and he expects to enter at no cost, as John says, "keep the pressure on him". To add to what John said, make a big deal with the video camera.  Have someone meet him at the door and keep the camera on everything he says and does.  Make sure you have someone who represents you escort him the entire time he is in the show.  You also have the right to make him bring written permission from his supervisors, stating what his mission is, what he is checking on, etc.  As soon as he arrives, make a PA announcement stating his name and again, what he will be looking for.  If you have not already aranged for security, hire you an "off duty" cop, they usually can perform this extra duty in full uniform.  Make sure he or she is briefed on what you expect and to be ready to interviene when needed.  I could go on all day, but you can make it so uncomfortable for anybody, anytime, that they will usually leave you alone!!!!

ps  If he pays to get in, he is to be treated as a paying customer, and he is expected to act as one.

also tell all your vendors about him

If I remember correctly from the "new", "old" BOI (lol), this situation you are in is very serious. You are in a life and death struggle businesswise right?
If this is the case then you need to be extremely proactive. Hopefully you have spoken to his supervisor regarding your concerns. If his supervisor in any way gives you reason to think that he is not understanding of your predicament then you MUST go up the chain to HIS supervisor!
You should request that if for any reason a representative of the department needs to be at your facility that you do not want it to be the person you are concerned about and you can give all the reasons you are concerned. They should be able to send some other representative to your show if they feel they need to have an official presence.
Like I said, if they give you ANY reason to think your request will not be honored then you MUST go another level up until you get the answer you need.
This way if the guy shows up it will be as a private individual who is expected to abide by the normal expectations of any PAYING visitor.  PERIOD!
Since you are in a life/death struggle (businesswise) then you might also want to consider this show as an OPPORTUNITY to win a battle. You could let the guy in but have him secretly surveiled. That way if he pulls any stunts you have tapes/recordings/witnesses etc...
Don't cut this guy any slack or he could destroy what you have built.
-John Albrecht (i screwed up my registration, how do i fix it?)

For those of us who were not on the BOI when this guy did, whatever he did, could you fill us in on the situation? What did he do?

The story is as follows.......

This person has been threating a lqawsuit for about a year now, claiming that we "stole" his reptile show from him.  He did have a reptile show in the area like our, is fact, it was initially sponsored by us (the tri-state herp society) but he dropped our name when he wasn't receiving help from us.  He held the shows for a little over a year and then got burned out.  He came to us seeking help in paying off a former debt (to reptiles magazine for advertising) and wanted us to go 50/50 on the next show.  We began organizing it, and he was to do us one favor.....give us his vendor list.  He never got it to us so we started creating our own.....we had the show, where he came and demanded that we give him his "cut" of the money.  We refused, stating that he didn't help in any way, and didn't come through on the vendor list.  He got a little upset and decided that he was going to sue us for "stealing" the reptile show.  Since it's been a year, we are sure that the threats are pretty lame and that he doesn't have a case, but he insists on showing up at the shows and accosting vendors, trying to make them sign affidavits for his "case."  He is a part time employee of the PA fish and boat commission, and has on occasion appeared in uniform (out of his jurisdiction) to throw some of his "weight" around and attempt to scare the vendors.

Todd

UPDATE!!!!

We just had our first show of the year yesterday and he didn't show up......talk about relief.......