Carl Freer

Carl Freer
Born Carl Johan Freer
May 9, 1970
Residence Los Angeles, California
Nationality Swedish

Carl Freer (born 9 May 1970) is a Swedish businessman and technology entrepreneur known for founding the American electronics company, Tiger Telematics, which manufactured the handheld game console Gizmondo.[1][2]

Business ventures

Freer founded Tiger Telematics, an electronics company that launched in 2002 and dissolved in 2006 having spent £160m in the previous 18 months.[3] He managed the development, launch and promotion of the Gizmondo. Freer was Chairman of the Tiger Telematics board of directors until he resigned together with fellow director Stefan Eriksson in October 2005 pending publication of an article in the Swedish press.[4][5] By February 2006, the company was forced into compulsory liquidation and Gizmondo was discontinued.[6][7] Freer co-founded a networking Web site for filmmakers, financiers, actors and fans called FilmFunds.[8][9][10] In 2008, Freer aborted a relaunch of Gizmondo.[11][12]

Legal issues

In 2005, Freer was fined £135,000 by a court in Stuttgart, Germany for canceling check payments in a transaction with a car dealer.[5] Freer claimed he cancelled the cheques because he "thought he was being sold stolen cars".[13][1][14]

In 2006, no charges were filed after Los Angeles police found a collection of twelve rifles and four handguns at Freer's home in an investigation that led to his arrest on suspicion of impersonating a San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority police officer to buy a .44 Magnum handgun. Authorities dropped the investigation after Freer established that he did not impersonate a police officer and showed a valid gun permit.[15][13][5]

In November 2009, the law firm Patton Boggs, on behalf of clients David Warnock and Simon Davies, filed an action falsely alleging violations of the civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act against GetFugu, Carl Freer, and other officers and directors of GetFugu.[16] After filing the lawsuit, Patton Boggs issued a press release that falsely claimed that GetFugu and Carl Freer were being investigated by the FBI. GetFugu and Freer moved to dismiss the complaint under Rule 12(b)(6), and in August 2010, United States District Court Judge, George H. King, dismissed the claims with prejudice.[16][17] Subsequently, GetFugu and Freer sued Patton Boggs for defamation, malicious prosecution and related claims, seeking damages in excess of $500 million. Patton Boggs filed a special motion to strike pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16 to the defamation claim, contending that the press release regarding the alleged FBI investigation, even if false, was protected by litigation privilege.[16][17] The California Court of Appeal disagreed, holding that Freer and GetFugu had established that the statement was defamatory and allowed them to proceed with their $500 million lawsuit against Patton Boggs.[17] Patton Boggs also filed a special motion to strike to the malicious prosecution claim, claiming that the law firm had probable cause to prosecute the civil RICO claims against GetFugu and Freer. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, Deirdre H. Hill, denied the motion, holding that Patton Boggs did not have probable cause to prosecute the RICO claims against GetFugu and its officers and directors.[16][17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jeffrey Fleishman; Richard Winton (2006-05-15). "Life in Fast Lane Long Before the Ferrari Crash". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ↑ Gibson, Ellie (6 August 2012). "A Horse named Gizmondo: The Inside Story of the World’s Greatest Failed Console". Euro Gamer. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "Bad Tech: CEOs who fell from grace". T3. 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  4. ↑ Smith, Tony (2005-10-27). "Gizmondo executives quit under cloud". The Register.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Randall Sullivan (2006-10-01). "Gizmondo's Spectacular Crack-up". Wired Magazine.
  6. ↑ "Gizmondo Europe goes into liquidation". Pocket-Lint. 2006-02-07. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
  7. ↑ Snow, Blake (2011-06-07). "The 10 Worst Selling Handhelds Of All Time". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
  8. ↑ "FilmFunds Acquires 3D Conversion Specialists Duran Duboi U.S.". Hollywood Reporter (The Hollywood Reporter). 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  9. ↑ "FilmFunds to Use Crowdsourcing to Pitch 3D Conversions (Exclusive)". The Wrap Covering Hollywood (The Wrap News Inc.). 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
  10. ↑ "FilmFunds buys post house - Crowdsourcing venture wants to be one-stop shop". Variety (magazine) (Reed Business Information). 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
  11. ↑ smith, Tony (2008-05-13). "Gizmondo console revamp 'on track' for Q4 launch, claims boss". The Register.
  12. ↑ Gillett, Nick (2009-01-10). "Games news: Gizmondo 'relaunch' off". The Guardian.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Anthony James, Michael Gillard (2006-05-21). "The firm that blew it all in two years". London: The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 2007-02-12.
  14. ↑ "Freer Dreamed of an Empire". Ekonomi. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  15. ↑ Richard Winton; David Pierson (2006-04-27). "2nd Arrest Made in Ferrari Case". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-12-09.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "Lessons From Patton Boggs Defamation Case". Law360. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2014.(subscription required)
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Hansen, Mark T.; Robert B. Milligan (25 October 2013). "Allegedly false statements posted on internet regarding pending litigation can support defamation claim". Lexology. Retrieved 14 January 2014.