Wilfs loses epic lawsuit in NJ

[Hunter Morrow]

They violated RICO? It is like a Sons of Anarchy episode. Quick, see if they tried to do any business deals in Charming, CA.

[DanAS]

Wilfs loses epic lawsuit in NJ that takes 4 judges, 21 years to litigate. How blown deal could cost family millions

http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2013 ... wsuit.html

Two of the things most important to me in life are (a) civil fraud cases (i.e., my career) and (b) the Vikings. Consequently, this lawsuit hit me a little too close to home- I'd rather bury my head in the sand and not focus on what the Wilfs may (or may not) have done.

But why is everyone else being so silent about this? Does this topic really not interest people? Have I chosen such a boring sub-specialty?

[Eli]

Two of the things most important to me in life are (a) civil fraud cases (i.e., my career) and (b) the Vikings. Consequently, this lawsuit hit me a little too close to home- I'd rather bury my head in the sand and not focus on what the Wilfs may (or may not) have done.

But why is everyone else being so silent about this? Does this topic really not interest people? Have I chosen such a boring sub-specialty?

Because the vast majority of people probably think:

a) It will have no effect on the Vikings.

b) It's just business. A rich people's spat being settled by endless teams of overpaid lawyers who make a living from suing each other. Nothing to see here.

In the long-running stadium thread, I linked to a Strib article the other day about Dayton making some comments about the Wilfs' business ethics and how he's concerned that they didn't fleece the state of Minnesota in the deal. I think the whole stadium deal will be reviewed with a fine toothed comb, now, but as far as I can tell, it's a done deal either way. It would certainly suck if they were to raze the Humpty Dome and then someone decides that the stadium deal is off kilter and _that_ ends up in the courts.

[The Breeze]

I think it's moot as far as the stadium goes....but that's just my birds eye. I 'm not up to snuff on this type of stuff. I also think the Gov'ners comments smell a little like righteous politcal speak. I can't imagine that anyone truly thinks the Wilfs are somehow set to screw Minnesota. Whatever went down in NJ sounds personal and vindictive not business as usual.

But like I said....I really don't know enough to express more than an opinion. Maybe you, Dan, have some solid facts for concern?

[PurpleMustReign]

Dan, go ahead and review the documents

Really, I am just hoping this is a "blown out of proportion" thing by the media again... I can understand Dayton's concerns, but really, if he didn't have the best lawyers he could get to review the documents, then shame on him.

I wonder if there is more history with Wilf(s) with these types of problems... has anyone heard?

[Texas Vike]

Dan, go ahead and review the documents

Really, I am just hoping this is a "blown out of proportion" thing by the media again... I can understand Dayton's concerns, but really, if he didn't have the best lawyers he could get to review the documents, then shame on him.

I wonder if there is more history with Wilf(s) with these types of problems... has anyone heard?

Did you read the article that Dead_poet posted? The judge (not the media) said some very, very stern things about the Wilfs' fraud and lack of integrity. I agree w/ you Dan, I thought it would blow up and cause a huge stir. Jennings makes rather innocuous comments and it turns into a major controversy, then the Wilfs go through this and it's ignored. Curious country we live in.

[PsyDanny]

Did you read the article that Dead_poet posted? The judge (not the media) said some very, very stern things about the Wilfs' fraud and lack of integrity. I agree w/ you Dan, I thought it would blow up and cause a huge stir. Jennings makes rather innocuous comments and it turns into a major controversy, then the Wilfs go through this and it's ignored. Curious country we live in.

I can't imagine that this is a new thing to the mucky mucks who put together the new stadium deal. From what I understand, the case goes back decades; hence, they had to know about it if there had been any due diligence.

[Demi]

The judge (not the media) said some very, very stern things about the Wilfs' fraud and lack of integrity.

Oh that evil media!!!

[DanAS]

I think it's moot as far as the stadium goes....but that's just my birds eye. I 'm not up to snuff on this type of stuff. I also think the Gov'ners comments smell a little like righteous politcal speak. I can't imagine that anyone truly thinks the Wilfs are somehow set to screw Minnesota. Whatever went down in NJ sounds personal and vindictive not business as usual.

But like I said....I really don't know enough to express more than an opinion. Maybe you, Dan, have some solid facts for concern?

I've honestly been avoiding doing that, lest it affect my enjoyment of Vikings games, because I do take allegations of massive fraud extremely seriously, and yes, I have seen something about the judge's take on the situation.

Frankly, I'm even more interested in the fans reactions to an alleged fraudster than to the issue of whether or not the allegations are true in this case. I just think it's fascinating that this is getting so little play. Stated differently, I can imagine why die-hard Vikings fan would look the other way, but why is the media so unconcerned? Do we live in a society where fraud is considered a mere annoyance, or worse yet, as just one of many aspects of a successful businessperson's repertoire? I'll just leave that question out there. Not having taken a poll, I don't profess to know the answer.

[Demi]

Do we live in a society where fraud is considered a mere annoyance

No, but the fraud was apparently perpetrated over two decades ago.

If this was a few years old? I think it'd be another story.

Or if the courts were able to give them an actual punishment other than a slap on the wrist I guess. It's a non-story for the courts, they can't punish them in any meaningful way. So why should the general public really care?

[The Breeze]

I've honestly been avoiding doing that, lest it affect my enjoyment of Vikings games, because I do take allegations of massive fraud extremely seriously, and yes, I have seen something about the judge's take on the situation.

Frankly, I'm even more interested in the fans reactions to an alleged fraudster than to the issue of whether or not the allegations are true in this case. I just think it's fascinating that this is getting so little play. Stated differently, I can imagine why die-hard Vikings fan would look the other way, but why is the media so unconcerned? Do we live in a society where fraud is considered a mere annoyance, or worse yet, as just one of many aspects of a successful businessperson's repertoire? I'll just leave that question out there. Not having taken a poll, I don't profess to know the answer.

Well, to answer your fan based question, I'm a little shocked by it but not completely surprised. This kind of white collar crime is one of the hallmarks of the country, going back to broken peace treaties with the indigenous. I would probably fee more indignant about it if I lived in the Twin cities area, but this kind of thing is so common and not adequately prosecuted due to the wealth of the perpetrators, that i'm more shocked by the fact the Wilfs lost.

I'd be interested in hearing the Wilf's side about why they felt justified to act so. From what the judge stated it sounds pretty clear cut that they were cooking the books. Yet it took 20 years to reach a conclusion. Did they fight it because they think they were justified or because they thought they could just obfuscate everything and get away with it?

It does put a rather sizable dent in the ownerships integrity. As a fan I feel powerless and sad about it........which is how it often feels to be a fan lol

[CalVike]

If the way Reusse portrayed it is true, i.e. that Zygi Wilf decided the terms of a deal his Uncle Harry Wilf made with those defrauded in the 1980s was simply too good in his opinion and chose to illegally not honor the terms for that reason, then I personally will lose all respect for Zygi Wilf as a businessman. How it will affect my fandom is another matter. But I already have conflicted feelings on publicly funding stadiums for billionaire owners making millions off the NFL, so this fraud makes me less enamored with the Vikings stadium deal, especially since I thought the public funding mechanism was ridiculous from day 1. How will it affect my rooting for the team on any given Sunday? Likely not at all.

[Texas Vike]

http://www.startribune.com/local/minnea ... 07711.html

It starts. Stadium plan on hold to probe the Wilfs' finances.

[Funkytown]

http://www.startribune.com/local/minnea ... 07711.html

It starts. Stadium plan on hold to probe the Wilfs' finances.

...no

[PurpleMustReign]

Should we be worried?