Found this posted today - will paste it here, in case it gets censored, or anyone does not wish to go to reddit:
"While we were hoping not to have to engage with and respond to this public smear campaign, Randall and Focus V LLC’s recent post on Reddit and subsequent unlawful and defamatory attacks on our business, integrity and reputation have given us no choice but to respond. This is written for everyone with a Carta, anyone with a vested interest in the future of the Focus V brand, and all who are passionate about the cannabis industry and are following this story...
Since this is an ongoing legal matter, and without addressing each and every defamatory claim made by Randall and Focus V, LLC, in no way are we engaged in a “hostile takeover” nor have we lied or breached any of our obligations to Focus V, LLC or to our business partners or customers. We understand that the foundation on which our business has been built is our relationships with our vendors and customers, and would never do anything to jeopardize that trust.
The truth of the matter is that Randall and Focus V, LLC never owned or had any contractual rights to Carta or Focus V despite their misrepresentations to us and all of you to the contrary. He was simply a sales representative for the Chinese manufacturer and rightful IP owner, fraudulently masquerading as its owner, including to us. The fact is Focus V is owned by a woman in China. She is the one who developed the design of Carta, the app, created the brand and is the lawful owner of the IP. We understand that Randall doesn't want to accept that he engaged in bad business practices and ruined his relationships, but these are the facts.
Nevertheless, rather than abide by the terms of our distribution agreement, it was them that breached this agreement, trying to cut us out entirely, surreptitiously trying to make deals behind our backs and in direct contravention of the agreement. We tried hard and in good faith to resolve these issues so that we could fulfill existing orders and continue to build the brand on its upward trajectory, but they had no interest in doing so.
Their reasons for wanting out of our agreement are clear: per the terms of our Agreement, we were to own all of their IP related to these products NOT them in addition to having an option to acquire their company outright. So, after much time, investment, and capital from us to significantly increase the value of the brand and product, they then wanted to take advantage of us again, by unilaterally “opting out” of our agreement (which they had no legal grounds to do) solely for the purpose of ripping the proverbial rug out from under us, and benefitting from our hard work. Maybe they didn’t expect the brand to be as successful as it was once we got involved or maybe they didn’t like the deal any more for other reasons, but that does not give a party the right to renege on a valid and binding agreement.
Ultimately, they didn’t even have the rights they purported to have in the agreement any way and in addition to breaching our agreement, and as he admits in his email, Randall also misled the manufacturer and true owner of the Focus V and Carta IP. Of course he refers to the manufacturer’s claims as “lies lies lies”, but it is not a coincidence that Randall’s only response to all of the parties alleging that they were involved in wrongdoing is that EVERYONE ELSE lying except them... There is one common bottom denominator here, and that is Focus V, LLC and Randall. Ask yourselves, why, if Focus V, LLC is truly operating in good faith here and telling you the truth as to their ownership of Focus V, would they dissolve their entity? This would make no business sense and appears to be just another attempt to duck and hide from their legal and ethical obligations and unlawfully liquidate as much product as they can in the meantime.
We will continue to work through these issues with Focus V, LLC through legal channels, but we are the lawful exclusive distributors of Focus V and Carta products throughout the world (and Randall and Focus V, LLC have no legal rights to distribute these products as they have been cut-off by the manufacturer).
We have an excellent relationship with the manufacturer (not because we paid them “some amount they could not refuse”, but because they chose to do business with us based on our reputation and results). We care deeply about the Focus V and Carta brand and products, and will continue to provide the highest quality products and customer service, as we have been doing from the very beginning of our involvement with the brand, which you have come to know and love. That is our promise to each of you and one we stand behind.
Since Randall has decided to attack the integrity of our team and company, we wanted to also take this opportunity to provide a little history on SHO Products. As a team, we have been building our business for the last four years. We have traveled to all corners of the world promoting solventless extraction and the benefits of rosin. We have lobbied in Washington to change cannabis laws. We work hard to bring value to our customers and have done everything we can to preserve the culture that has made our industry so great. When we picked up the Carta - it was unknown. We put our hearts into it, from getting glass artists to make tops, to getting it into over 1,000 shops and will continue to make this the best product and brand we can.
Moving forward Masterminded Distribution will handle all wholesale inquiries. All retail orders are being taken on
www.focusv.com. Managed by SHO and owned by its true and rightful owner, in China.
SHO will continue to do what we do - which is build great brands, innovative products and push forward our industry. If anyone would like to speak directly to the co-founders of SHO, contact us directly on Instagram @thesamsho and @worldofvin, and we will happily chat with anyone. Contact [
support@focusv.com](mailto:
support@focusv.com) - ALL warranties on previous orders will be honored."
https://www.reddit.com/r/FocusV/comments/dzcxi2/just_the_facts_around_focus_v_carta/
