ABPG Files Answer to Libel Lawsuit

Arkansas Business Publishing Group filed an answer April 1 to a libel suit brought Feb. 25 in Washington County Circuit Court by Melvin Robinson, a trustee for an entity called Genesis Trust.

Genesis Trust, which is closely affiliated with publicly traded Golf Entertainment Inc. of Springdale, has been the subject of in-depth reports by the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal and Arkansas Business — two publications owned by ABPG. Also named as defendants are three employees of the Little Rock publishing company: Jeffrey Wood, editor of the Business Journal in Fayetteville; Jeff Hankins, president and publisher of ABPG; and Olivia Farrell, who has an ownership interest in the company.

Since August, when stories about Golf Entertainment’s questionable business dealings were first published, the penny stock has changed its name to Sienna Broadcasting Corp.

The answer states that “there is a complete absence of a justifiable issue of either law or fact raised in (Robinson’s) complaint.” It asks that the complaint be dismissed with prejudice for attorney and court costs and “all other relief to which [the publishing company] may be entitled.”

Quattlebaum Grooms Tull & Burrow PLLC of Little Rock represents ABPG. Teresa Briggs of Farmington is Robinson’s attorney.

The news reports, based primarily on public records and personal interviews, outlined what appears to be a conspiracy to defraud shareholders.

A hearing has been set for April 22 after Robinson’s request for an injunction to prevent the Business Journal from modifying any of its electronic articles or headlines that may be found by searching the archives at www.arkansasbusiness.com.