Exclusive: Dan Doyle Threatens to Sue WPRI 12 for Libel

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Exclusive: Dan Doyle Threatens to Sue WPRI 12 for Libel

Dan Doyle
Lawyers for Dan Doyle, the Executive Director of the Institute for International Sport, have alleged that WPRI 12 committed libel for a news segment on Doyle by Walt Buteau in February 2014 -- and Doyle will be seeking damages.  

Doyle was arraigned in May 2013 in Rhode Island on 18 criminal counts in Superior Court following a months-long investigation into his financial direction at the Institute.  Now, his lawyers are contending that Buteau's piece "Dan Doyle's Institute Website is Still asking for Donations" nearly a year ago was an "obvious and blatant attempt by [WPRI 12] to create a story where none existed, in order to discredit Mr. Doyle."  

In two separate letters to WPRI, the first from attorney Michael Blanchard in September 2014, and the second from attorney Robert Peretti in December 2014, the lawyers outline the scenario which they contend caused Doyle harm. 

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Read Blanchard Letter HERE -- Read Peretti Letter HERE

"Our research indicates that no one other than employees of your news organization, most probably at Mr. Buteau's direction, has contributed to the Institute for International Sport since its tax-exempt status lapsed.  It has been confirmed that the five 'donations' were all made by WPRO, WPRI, and/or Channel 12 employees," wrote Blanchard to WPRI President and General Manager Patrick Wholey, in which Blanchard stated that Doyle believed the "highly inflammatory report..and Mr. Buteau's statements in writing and on air constitute libel."

Wholey did not respond to multiple requests for comment on Tuesday.

Latest Legal Development

Buteau noted in his February 2014 piece that "according to the Institute’s website, donations are still accepted. Under the “Get Involved” tab, it reads “all contributions are tax deductible.”

"According to the IRS, the Institute’s tax exempt status was revoked last May for “failure to file Form 990” for three consecutive years," Buteau continued.  "The IRS website states one of the effects of losing the exemption is the organization cannot receive tax-deductible contributions."

The Institute for International Sport, at the University of RI.
Blanchard's letter to WPRI countered that "nominal 'contributions' are sitting in a PayPal account with nowhere to disburse, as the bank account associated with that institute was closed in 2012.  As such, the Institute has never received any monies as affirmatively state in the article and news report, nor did the 'donors' receive any confirmation of receipt of their 'donations' or that their 'donations' were tax deductible."

"The 'donors' can directly contact PayPay for return of those 'donations,' and if they decline, PayPal will be instructed to launch a fraud investigation into this activity," Blanchard continued.  

In the subsequent follow-up letter, attorney Robert Peretti wrote that "upon further investigation it turns out that all of the alleged 'contributions' to the Institute that Mr. Buteau cited as the basis for his report, were made by employees of your station.  Clearly this was an obvious and blatant attempt by your news organization to 'create' a story where none existed, in order to discredit Mr. Doyle."

Next Steps

The complaints are the latest in a series of actions taken by Doyle and his lawyers.

In February 2014, Doyle threatened libel against the Hartford Courant, alleging a series of articles from the paper were "false, intentionally misleading, and [were] published with reckless disregard for the truth," regarding the coverage of Doyle's tenure at the Institute, and subsequent arrest for embezzlement."

Doyle told GoLocal that he could not speak about any current or pending legal actions, but sources close to Doyle say that he will be filing  "pro se" lawsuits in the upcoming weeks, representing himself in the legal proceedings.  As for his current legal proceedings with the state, Doyle affirmed that a trial date has not been set.  

Rod Steier with Duo Fast Northeast in East Hartford, CT - and longtime Institute board member -  said he was "aghast" at Rhode Island's investigation of Doyle and the Institute.

"I was interviewed by the Rhode Island State Police about this matter, but since my responses did not fall into the narrative that was being erected," said Steier.  "I was not called before the grand jury.  If called, I will testify in Mr. Doyle's behalf.  I have knowledge concerning the approvals of Mr. Doyle's salary, approval of the running of his camps, the tuition remission for his children, and our support for the Bates Trusteeship and Mr. Doyle's creation of the Bates Scholar-Athlete Society which brought credit back to the Institute." 

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(Photo: Alan Levine, Flickr)
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