Canadian CANNAINVESTOR Magazine December 2017 | Page 57

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Retail Investor's Perspective

What concerns me is that this person put in writing the possibility of one such company being a “pump and dump”. I cannot express enough that term is not merely an opinion but rather a specific legal term referring to illegal activity. One must take caution when using terms that refer to criminal activity as this real case that is current demonstrates:

Dennis Petke, President and CEO of Alliance Growers Corp (CSE: ACG) is suing St. Albert,

AB-based federal employee Brigitte Petke for allegedly publishing an article on the Internet accusing ACG of engaging in criminal behaviour cheating and defrauding investors.

The defendant published the statements on a popular bulletin board (StockWatch). The full story can be found here. Whether it is bulletin boards or social media, those that resort to slander and accusations of illegal activity such as a pump and dump may find themselves being sued. Not only that, but what reputable company wants to be associated with such a person let alone be seen hiring them to write promotional pieces?