CEOs claim Biden's brother promised them 2020 candidate would help their companies

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

According to sworn declarations contained in a court filing in Tennessee, James Biden told potential partners at two medical services companies that his brother Joe would help their companies land lucrative contracts with the court system.

Executives at Azzam Medical Services and Diverse Medical Management, firms that provide rural healthcare solutions, claim they were told by the younger Biden sibling that his brother would incorporate their healthcare model into his presidential campaign.

The allegations against James Biden are not new, and follow claims that Biden’s son Hunter offered access to his father to help Chinese companies establish high-level influence in the US. But the latest accounts go further in establishing that Biden’s relatives have sought to profit from his public service.

(snip)

In a third declaration, Diverse Medical’s former general counsel Mitchell Cohen alleges that James Biden claimed his brother’s connections at the Department of Veterans Affairs could help the firm land contracts with the department and, based on his connections with unions, help win contracts with first responders.

(snip)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/27/joe-biden-brother-business-promises-executives-claim

This is a news article.

[saidsimplesimon]

1. Thanks Uncle, the truth be out, imo

[HerbChestnut]

2. There's a reason...

Joe Biden has been framing his arguments in the healthcare debate a certain way. This very well may be it.

[bluewater]

3. "Executives at Azzam Medical Services and Diverse Medical Management..."

Executives at Azzam Medical Services and Diverse Medical Management, firms that provide rural healthcare solutions, claim they were told by the younger Biden sibling that his brother would incorporate their healthcare model into his presidential campaign.

Hmmm. Not a good look.

[OKNancy]

4. also

"The allegations do not include any claims that Joe Biden knew anything of the claims his brother is alleged to have made."

[Uncle Joe]

5. I imagine the same holds true for his son; Hunter

The allegations against James Biden are not new, and follow claims that Biden’s son Hunter offered access to his father to help Chinese companies establish high-level influence in the US. But the latest accounts go further in establishing that Biden’s relatives have sought to profit from his public service.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/27/joe-biden-brother-business-promises-executives-claim

[emulatorloo]

41. Spreading RW talking points & lies about the Clinton Foundation? are you seriously going to do this?

[sheshe2]

45. Thank you, emulatorloo.

It never stops and she is not even running.

[Cracklin Charlie]

105. But why?

Is the root of the obsession money, power, or some weird ideology or mindset? How do you get people to exhibit so much hate for someone who has spent their life trying to improve the actual lives of actual other people?

Taking big picture here, I will never understand their need to halt any kind of progress to mankind. Somebody, somewhere (actually many someones), spend fortunes of money, and decades of time and effort, to wage war against the betterment of mankind. For what?

I will never understand.

[sheshe2]

126. I will never understand either, Charlie.

[at140]

33. Is that a reliable source?

That seems like a serious charge of corruption. Better be authenticated by reliable sources.

[Uncle Joe]

36. The court document pdf is on The Guardian's website of the OP, I just re-posted

that paragraph which is in the OP on the post to which you responded to.

It's highlighted in red in the words "offered access."

[lapucelle]

57. Those links are broken. N/T

[Uncle Joe]

59. Correction it's "sworn declarations" that are the court document pdf

"offered access" leads to the New Yorker article about Hunter, but the links work when I try them. shrug:

[lapucelle]

67. how many of the "sworn declarations" directly involve Joe Biden? N/T

[Uncle Joe]

68. What part of the OP or affidavit do you not understand? n/t

[lapucelle]

70. What this has to do with candidate Biden, N/T

[Uncle Joe]

72. Possibly nothing, it's an allegation and pending lawsuit, I imagine it depends

on how the trial ends.

My own gut feeling is, that at the very least the corporate media conglomerates T.V. which haven't covered this issue from what I can tell will most assuredly start covering it if Biden becomes the nominee..

They almost always favor the Republicans and in my book are highly if not most responsible for Trump's rise to power from "reality T.V." to the highest office in the land.

Trump is their creation.

[lapucelle]

73. It's an allegation about a person other than the candidate. I trust responsible journalists and

newspapers of record to cover the story, if there is one.

Gossip and innuendo aren't news.

[Uncle Joe]

74. I view the Guardian as a responsible site of record and there are multiple others that have covered

this story just a few of which are listed elsewhere on this thread post #16 but hardly no T.V. and that's where older Americans primarily get their information, I wonder why that is?

Whether one believes the allegation or not, it's a serious issue, the affidavit filed in court is not gossip.

[lapucelle]

75. The Guardian is generally not considered to be a newspaper of record.

The allegation might be a "serious issue", but it doesn't concern the candidate. The attempt to link the candidate himself to the allegation is gossip and innuendo.

[Uncle Joe]

77. I believe it's as good as the rest and as I stated, they're not the only one that

reported on this issue.

Here is USA Today and they're not the only one either.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/08/02/tennessee-businessman-says-joe-biden-brother-conned-him-michael-frey/1898670001/

It may not concern the candidate but we won't know that for sure until the trial is over, the point is T.V. isn't covering this issue at all.

[lapucelle]

81. It's a lawsuit, not a trial,

and the person being sued is "Joe Biden's Brother".

It's hardly surprising that TV isn't covering a "Joe Biden's brother is being sued in civil court" story.

[Uncle Joe]

82. Why do you believe he is being sued and

what is the absolute worst case scenario that can come from this trial?

[lapucelle]

86. I "believe" that Joe Biden is not being sued.

I think the worst thing that can come out of this civil suit is the narrative that a Democratic candidate and his brother are somehow the same person.

[Uncle Joe]

87. Well I believe there are worse case scenarios than that but just taking your scenario

as the result, I believe it's better to have this issue covered now instead of in October of 2020.

[ehrnst]

89. A lawsuit doesn't involve a trial. If lawsuits did, we would have known about this one earlier:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bernie-sanders-apologizes-says-he-didnt-know-about-30000-settlement-of-2016-campaign-staffer-accused-of-sexual-harassment/2019/01/10/db2c061e-14fc-11e9-90a8-136fa44b80ba_story.html

[Uncle Joe]

94. False, a lawsuit can reach a settlement which happens most of the time or go to civil trial. n/t

[ehrnst]

95. OK - noted. However, this lawsuit was far, far more directly involved with a POTUS candidate

than the one you are saying is very damning to Candidate Biden, and didn't go public until after the election.

You acknowledge that?

[Uncle Joe]

96. We don't know anything until it's settled or the trial ends. n/t

[ehrnst]

98. We definitely know about the $30,000 harassment settlement against the Sanders campaign.

Or are you saying that Biden's brother might be a high level campaign staffer to Biden, and we don't know it yet? Wishful thinking?

That would be the only way that it would involved/be as damning to Candidate Biden as much as the sexual harassment suit I mentioned involved Candidate Sanders.

And certainly the sexual harassment settlement against Sanders' Iowa campaign lead Rob Becker didn't go public until much later - you acknowledge that, yes? So if something is settled, then no, it doesn't necessarily go public, and won't actually harm a candidate - especially if it doesn't have to do with the candidate, which is the case with Biden's brother.

Here's the question again, for your convenience:

However, this lawsuit was far, far more directly involved with a POTUS candidate

than the one you are saying is very damning to Candidate Biden, and didn't go public until after the election.

[Uncle Joe]

102. We don't know the full circumstances, result nor the end date of the lawsuit against

Biden's brother James, so there is no way to compare as to how "damning" it will be.

[ehrnst]

103. So you're holding out for a connection to Candidate Biden that is more damning than

if it was senior campaign staff who were creating a hostile environment for women to the point of a $30,000 settlement against the campaign. So, it's wishful thinking. Got it.

[Uncle Joe]

106. I'm stating the facts as they are known today, period.

[ehrnst]

107. Wishful thinking.

Got it.

I guess a claim about "not knowing" about what one's brother is doing in his business is far less believable than a claim about not knowing about a $30,000 sexual harassment settlement paid out by one's campaign. For some, anyway.

[Uncle Joe]

109. Projection.

Got it.

[ehrnst]

110. Nope. That's one of yours. Period.

Got under your skin, I guess.

[Uncle Joe]

111. Not even close

"Got under your skin, I guess."

[ehrnst]

114. Your posts indicate otherwise.

Lots of evasion of the point, and non-answers, then the sprightly "You're AMUSING me" posts when I don't follow the derail or give up as instructed.



Isn't it about time for "I'm done. Peace to you. "

[whathehell]

108. The Guardian is most certainly a trusted, responsible news source.

and I believe you'd have a hard time getting many here to disagree with that statement.

[lapucelle]

121. Their headline is misleading, at best.

Biden's brother dropped the former vp's name in 2017-2018. Joe Biden was not a candidate at the time.

[HerbChestnut]

10. Right...

We've never heard that excuse before. From anyone in politics. Especially the President.

[ehrnst]

104. We've never heard that excuse before. From anyone in politics...

"Bernie Sanders apologizes, says he didn’t know about $30,000 settlement of 2016 campaign staffer accused of sexual harassment."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bernie-sanders-apologizes-says-he-didnt-know-about-30000-settlement-of-2016-campaign-staffer-accused-of-sexual-harassment/2019/01/10/db2c061e-14fc-11e9-90a8-136fa44b80ba_story.html

[Vegas Roller]

6. Guilt by association and meaningless Biden bashing doesn't help BS

It will make people choose someone else -- like Sen Warren and not BS.

[mcar]

7. +1

[vsrazdem]

11. Interesting, though, that every time one of Bernie's campain staff does something stupid,

he is definitely guilty.

[George II]

14. BS hired each of those staffers and is responsible for their actions until he fires them....

Joe Biden can't "fire" his brother, and they have no common business interests. John doesn't work for the Biden campaign.

[vsrazdem]

18. Candidates do not personally hire all of their campaign staff throughout the country.

The hypocrisy is laughable.

[uponit7771]

46. They're responsible when the staff screw up Biden isn't responsible when his brother screws up

[ehrnst]

118. Indeed. (nt)

[quickesst]

15. Joe's brother....

.... is not part of, nor does he represent the Biden campaign. Little bit of difference.

[Vegas Roller]

49. It is HIS staff and the buck stops at his desk

Biden's brother is not his "staff" or in his campaign

[sheshe2]

69. His upper management staff are Stein voters.

His staff can't get any more stupid than that.

vsrazdem
11. Interesting, though, that every time one of Bernie's campain staff does something stupid,

he is definitely guilty.

Not saying he is quilty of anything, well perhaps poor judgement hiring them...nothing more.

[Raine1967]

84. Bernie is the boss of his staff.

are you saying that he's not responsible for what his employees say?

I want Bernie to be a better manager.

Bidens' Brother is not Joe's employee.

[ehrnst]

90. Bidens' brother isn't on his campaign staff. And to dismiss sexual harassment as simply "stupid"

Last edited Thu Aug 29, 2019, 09:15 AM - Edit history (1)

doesn't show an understanding of harassment.

And Sanders hired the staffer back - Robert Becker, the lead for his campaign in Iowa, so yes, he personally approved that hire - after he was let go to head up "Bernie for America."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bernie-sanders-apologizes-says-he-didnt-know-about-30000-settlement-of-2016-campaign-staffer-accused-of-sexual-harassment/2019/01/10/db2c061e-14fc-11e9-90a8-136fa44b80ba_story.html

Also, Bernie's National Deputy Political Director Arturo Carmona ( yes, Bernie personally approved that hire) who was named in harassment charges, got "demoted up" according to one of the women involved, and then invited to "The Gathering" in December 2018 - long after his victims finally went public, after frustration after no communication whatsoever from Senator Sanders about the harassment after they emailed him about it, that nothing was going to change in the campaign.

So no, Becker and Carmona, who Candidate Sanders personally hired, didn't simply "act stupid" they did something much worse.

I hope that clarifies things for you. No hypocrisy whatsoever - Sanders' staffers actions are not even in the same category as Biden's brother's actions, concering how it connected it is to the candidate.

[rurallib]

17. What you said

[EveHammond13]

55. +1

[vsrazdem]

56. I do find it so interesting how an OP about Biden somehow becomes about Bernie Sanders.

[Vegas Roller]

62. It is dependent upon who posts it. nt

[ehrnst]

115. IKR?

[Raine1967]

80. Yup.

I'm undecided and this is not a good look from his supporters.

[HeartlandProgressive]

117. guilt by association

I think people pay attention to how close that association is.

doesn't that matter?

[ehrnst]

120. You mean closely associated - like a candidate's wife? (nt)

[George II]

8. Interesting that a google search yields the following results in order:

Politico
The Guardian
National Review
One America Network
Fox News
Salon
Washington Examiner

Not a single story (from a google search) by CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, NPR, NY Times, Washington Post, etc.

[HerbChestnut]

9. Oh, are we skeptical of news outlets all of a sudden?

[George II]

12. We are skeptical of right wing news outlets/sources. In fact, they're frowned upon.

[HerbChestnut]

13. Right, right.

[melman]

23. Some of us are

OTOH, some of us post tweets from a Daily Wire guy

[George II]

28. What's your point, are you now cataloging and indexing all of my posts here on DU?

But that tweet wasn't a "news source", was it? Read the thread again.

Now, sir, are you going to follow me from thread to thread and post to post again tonight like you've done in the past?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

50. Bazinga!

[Kurt V.]

78. ...

[questionseverything]

34. the guardian is not a right wing news org

it is simply a news org

and your list shows why supporting the guardian is so important, evidently msm has not decided how to spin this

[FoxNewsSucks]

101. good point.

It's not a good thing when crap sources like OAN, NewsMax or Breitbart are able to take up most of the first page of a news search. Most people don't know they're crap, and will think things are true since most "sources" say the same thing.

I think you're right about the corporate cable channels. They are pushing Biden onto us, and haven't figured out what to do with this story.

[at140]

35. Politico & Salon are RW?

I doubt that.

[Demsrule86]

42. Salon can fuck off...they bashed Hillary non-stop and helped elect Trump who can forget...

HA Goodman or whatever the fakers name was...as for politico ...yeah it leans right...the far left and the right are teaming up...won't work though....must be getting desperate.

[at140]

43. Although I will bow to your judgement of Politico,

here are some of the latest headlines from Politico today...

"Trade insiders say Trump’s botching chances of a China deal"

"Trump backs Brazilian president as he rejects aid for fighting Amazon fires"

"Trump claims to be an 'environmentalist' despite skipping G-7 session on climate change"

"Trump team braces donors for potential recession"

Not very pro-RW I would say.

[Demsrule86]

63. Try reading it...you will see a RW bias.

[uponit7771]

47. Americans have always been skeptical of outlets tightly aligned with political parties no? tia

[Uncle Joe]

16. Actually I find that interesting as well George but perhaps not for the same reason you do.

However I believe one would be deluding themselves if they believe CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, NPR, NY Times, Washington Post, etc. won't cover it, at some point they will come out with it as well, with perhaps an exception or two.

I didn't even know about this story until today and it's a few weeks old but here are a few more outlets that have covered it.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/other/lawsuit-accuses-joe-bidens-brother-and-hedge-fund-manager-of-fraud/vp-AAFn5Sr

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2019/08/02/joe-biden-brother-jim-accused-fraud-federal-lawsuit/1901987001/

http://www.therepublic.com/2019/08/05/us-jim-biden-fraud-lawsuit/

There are other sites covering it as well on the Internet.

[sheshe2]

19. The Daily Mail as well.

[melman]

25. So what?

This thread has no Daily Mail link. What does it matter where else the story is if the linked source is legit? It doesn't.

[sheshe2]

30. ...

[LincolnRossiter]

20. That's it..,

I can no longer in good conscience support Biden’s brother for the presidency.

[Uncle Joe]

21. How about

his son Hunter?

The allegations against James Biden are not new, and follow claims that Biden’s son Hunter offered access to his father to help Chinese companies establish high-level influence in the US. But the latest accounts go further in establishing that Biden’s relatives have sought to profit from his public service.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/27/joe-biden-brother-business-promises-executives-claim

[LincolnRossiter]

22. Nope. Hunter's out, too. That guy's almost as obnoxious as Bernie Sanders.

NT.

[Scurrilous]

24. ...

[Lisa0825]

51. DUzy!

[Tarheel_Dem]

61. You owe me a new monitor!

[asiliveandbreathe]

79. Just reading comments on this thread and then your comment..literally, figuratively

ROFLOL -

[ehrnst]

91. .....

[emmaverybo]

29. 😂 LOL. NT

[ehrnst]

93. You owe me a new keyboard...

[Funtatlaguy]

26. I hate primary season.

[at140]

37. Primaries bring out problem areas of all candidates

You can rest assured in general election Republicans will not stay quiet if there are problem areas.
It is best all problem areas be exposed during primaries, so we end up the best nominee.

[uponit7771]

48. ... that few people care about in the long run. None of this is going to be a show stopper for Biden

... or Warren or anyone else.

Red Don has already given the blue print on how to handle "scandals"; give glib factual response and don't talk about it ... it'll die out.

[ehrnst]

99. It's interesting how the GOP supports (via attack ads on a rival) or stays quiet about a Democratic

primary candidate that they want to be the nominee, isn't it?

[at140]

124. yes, an obvious tactic by GOP

I noticed very few attacks by GOP on Biden. The worst Trump calls him is sleepy Joe,
but he calls Bernie "crazy" & never lets go by any reference to Warren as "Pocahauntus".

[ehrnst]

127. I see more attacks on Biden and Warren than I do Sanders.

Trump Can’t Stop Attacking Biden. G.O.P. Strategists Wish He Would.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/14/us/politics/trump-biden-2020.html

Trump is trying to turn Biden’s gaffes into a major liability
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-is-trying-to-turn-bidens-gaffes-into-a-major-liability/2019/08/13/07bee6c4-bde5-11e9-b873-63ace636af08_story.html

Trump vows to revive 'Pocahontas' attack against Warren
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/08/trump-warren-pocahontas-new-hampshire

GOP taps anti-Clinton strategy to damage Elizabeth Warren early
https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article153446694.html

Republicans pray for Bernie as Democratic nominee
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/07/bernie-sanders-republican-senate-1307296

Republican strategist Karl Rove says Bernie Sanders could beat Donald Trump in 2020
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/4/20/18508880/karl-rove-bernie-sanders-could-beat-donald-trump-in-2020

GOP Rep. McCarthy: Bernie Sanders Has Best Chance To Win Democratic Nomination
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2019/07/02/gop_rep_mccarthy_bernie_sanders_has_best_chance_to_win_democratic_nomination.html

[at140]

128. That is very good research

of the situation. I guess I have not spent enough time following the news items.

[quickesst]

32. This song dedicated to James Biden.....

...by Roger Clinton and Billy Carter from their new album: GUILT BY ASSOCIATION featuring James Taylor

https://m.

[sheshe2]

38. Why would you believe what CEO's of any Medical facility "claim" ?

Bernie thinks they are all corrupt.

[melman]

39. "Bernie thinks they are all corrupt. "

Source for this claim?

[sheshe2]

40. .

Corporate Greed Must End

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/corporate-greed-must-end_b_7653442

[George II]

76. Bazinga.....

[ehrnst]

92. He certainly doesn't think they're all corrupt enough to refuse their $$, I'll give you that.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bernie-sanders-accepted-pharma-executives-donations-prior-pledge/story?id=64390750

[melman]

112. You'll give me what?

[ehrnst]

113. You challenged Sheshe2's claim that Bernie called all Medical corporate CEOs "corrupt."

39. "Bernie thinks they are all corrupt. "

Source for this claim?

I'm pointing out that he doesn't think they are all corrupt, because he has taken donations from them.

You're welcome.

[melman]

116. Nope

The claim was "Medical facility CEO". I don't see any "medical facilities" mentioned there. Do you?

[ehrnst]

119. I was including medical research facilities that definition

One of the individuals who gave to the Sanders campaign is Lynn McRoy, who identifies herself on her LinkedIn page as vice president and global medical lead, breast cancer at Pfizer. She's additionally identified as the breast cancer lead with U.S. Medical Affairs at Pfizer Oncology in an October 2018 press release. Pfizer is among numerous pharmaceutical companies on Sanders' list.

Another donation of $1,000 came from Schiffon Wong, who identifies herself on LinkedIn as the executive director, global evidence and value development at EMD Serono, a company covered on Sanders' list that describes itself as a “biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the U.S.” Both EMD Serono and Merck are on Sanders' list.

In each instance, the job titles of the donors were provided in non-specific terms -- as "medical director" and "researcher" for McRoy and Wong, respectively. Such descriptors are common in FEC reports and both individuals disclosed their employers, as is required.

Azzam Medical Services, and Diverse Medical Management are the companies mentioned in the OP...

[treestar]

60. Zing!

[sheshe2]

66. ...

[keithbvadu2]

44. When right wingers mention it: Do you mean he is another Jared?

When right wingers mention it: Do you mean he is another Jared?

Donald Jr? Eric?

[aeromanKC]

52. I'm waiting for Biden's brother to come out with his own beer

Jimmy's Beer!!

[Bettie]

53. Not going to knock him on this one

he has no control over his brother.

[napi21]

54. I'm going to wait to hear from MSM. I always do that when some info sounds fishy to me.

Most of the time the fishy story isn't true, but there are exceptions. We'll see.

[Demsrule86]

64. The same MSM that breathlessly announced Biden...demise over what has been proven to be

an outlier poll? And they should have known...if there not out there with the long knives for Biden. I don't trust any of them...read many different articles and somewhere the truth lies.

[stonecutter357]

58. lol LIKELY VOTER Harris X Aug.23-26: Biden 36%, Sanders 14%, Warren 14%, Harris 6%, Buttigieg 5%

[BeckyDem]

65. Terrible.

[NurseJackie]

71. ...

[Freethinker65]

83. Has James Biden said anything about this?

Will Ukraine now be getting the funding Trump is holding back, or will there be even more shit slung Biden's way?

Honestly, if true, it sucks...but did any of that make it back to Joe Biden? Have not heard anything about that yet?

Trump changed the GOP policy platform for Putin's world view. Ivanka is getting patents from China and the boys are still making foreign real estate development deals. Fucking Jared tried to tout real estate development to the Israelis and Palestinians!
Yesterday's news I guess.

[Uncle Joe]

85. The trial is just beginning and I have no doubt James Biden will contest it.

As to the rest of your questions, I don't know.

[ehrnst]

100. There are those chomping at the bit for a connection to Candidate Biden

Just as there were those chomping at the bit for an indictment of Candidate Hillary Clinton all the way up to election day.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

122. And those that were hoping the "fbi investigation in to Jane and Bernie Sanders" would materialize

Ironically those same people are squawking loudest about this story being brought up.

[Autumn]

125. The Taxes!!!!! Jane in prison!!! Good times

[ehrnst]

130. "Jane in prison?!!"

Do tell. I love tales about absurd straw men.

I predicted you'd be jumping in attempt to deflect the discussion at some point, when things got uncomfortable.

[ehrnst]

129. Care to be more specific about who you're referring to?

Didn't think so.

[ehrnst]

131. ....

I thought you'd be showing up with a straw man.

[sheshe2]

88. Next up, Jill Biden?

[LanternWaste]

97. Another week of playing 'pin the concern on the candidate..."

Fingers crossed this one gets closer than previous attempts, and gets a increased level of pretense that it's actually a sincere concern rather than than simply another in a long line of stuff thrown at the all in hopes it sticks....

[ismnotwasm]

123. How interesting

According to the depo, it looks like they are concerned about a countersuit.

The parties in this action explored a variety of business relationships in order to further Plaintiffs’ mission of providing high quality rural health services. Unfortunately, Plaintiffs realized that Defendants had no interest in furthering this mission, had no plans on investing or acquiring their business, and were actually attempting to execute a fraudulent scheme to dilute Plaintiffs and steal their business model. When Plaintiffs saw the Defendants for what they were, they filed this lawsuit.
Approximately a month later, Third Friday Fund filed the Florida Lawsuit alleging that DMM breached certain unsecured loan agreements. This claim, however, is the mirror image of Count IV of this lawsuit, in which DMM seeks a declaration that those agreements are unenforceable as a matter of law because they were procured as part of Defendants’ fraudulent scheme.
As a result, this Court must retain jurisdiction over this lawsuit and enjoin the Florida Lawsuit pursuant to (1) the first-to-file rule and, (2) alternatively, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 13 because the Florida Lawsuit is a compulsory counterclaim to this action.