A real-life drama and the players
September 22, 2000
ROBERT E. KOLODY - For upwards of ten years a local lawyer he trusted, DANIEL V. HANLEY, reportedly elicited from Kolody details of his legal strategy plans. Kolody contends that The Coca-Cola Company and their marketing adjunct, Simon Marketing, stole Kolody's intellectual property, being storyboards and designs. Kolody had difficulty getting a Chicago-area attorney to pursue his claims. Since 1997, Kolody's case has been in the U.S. District Court in Chicago, No. 97 C 190.
In February, 1999, Kolody retained Dan Ivy, an outspoken attorney from Arkansas. As required under the local federal rules in Chicago, Ivy designated Hanley as "local counsel", meaning Hanley has to be informed of all proposed court filings and procedures.
SHERMAN H. SKOLNICK - As a long-time court reformer and TV Show moderator/producer I began investigating the Coca-Cola case. In May, 2000, in the presence of Ivy and Kolody, I interview Hanley:
Skolnick "Does Coca-Cola and their attorneys know the legal strategy of Robert Kolody and his attorney Dan Ivy here?"
Daniel V. Hanley "Yes."
Skolnick "Really? How could they know?"
Hanley "My sister is MEDIA BUYER FOR COCA-COLA."
From the signed court Declaration by Skolnick and Skolnick's court testimony made in the presence of Daniel V. Hanley, 8/22/00.
After the May interview, I find out that his sister, Mary Hanley, is Associate Media Director at the advertising agency DDB, with offices worldwide.
And get this DDB represents both Coca-Cola and their alleged "competitor" Pepsi-Cola, an apparent Anti-Trust violation situation.
TRIBUNE COMPANY - As the parent firm of the Tribune media empire, the Tribune Company owns the CHICAGO TRIBUNE, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, and other newspapers around the country as well as numerous radio and TV stations. Tribune Company is reportedly trying to strong-arm COCA-COLA for more advertising dollars, by reportedly leaning on DDB. But Tribune has not been interested in publicizing the Kolody suit against Coca-Cola.
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