World Wide Association of Specialty Programs v. PURE, Inc. [1]

World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools ("World Wide") is a Utah corporation that provides referral services, counseling, and recomendations with regard to schools and residential treatment programs for troubled and at-risk teenagers. In January 2002, World Wide sued PURE Foundation, Inc., Sue Scheff, and Jeff Berryman in federal district court in Utah after Ms. Scheff and Mr. Berryman made negative comments about World Wide on various Internet sites. The dispute arose when Scheff sent her teenage daughter to a World Wide-affiliated school, removed her daughter from the school, sharply criticized World Wide's practices on her website and various Internet chatrooms (allegedly in conjunction with Berryman), and then founded PURE, a competing service.

World Wide 's complaint alleged defamation, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and unfair business practices under the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. sec. 1125(a) [2]). After lengthy proceedings, the trial court granted summary judgment for Mr. Berryman and dismissed the case against him. World Wide's case against Ms. Scheff went to trial, and the jury found in her favor on all counts. World Wide appealed, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed.