To bring up a very unpleasant topic with many very good people, I write to explain that the 2003 Worrell 1000 victims represented by my law firm have entered judgment against Michael Worrell, both individually and in his capacity as CEO/President/Indian Chief of Worrell 1000, Inc. and Coastal Races, Inc. The judgment for eleven separate plaintiff teams total $65,076.00 or $5,916.00 per team.

I represented the following sailing teams/sailors:

1) Frank Moore and JD Solomon, Team Windy Hill (NC & PA);
2) Doug Kirby, Team Howard’s Pub (NC);
3) Carl Tessiey, Team San Diego (CA);
4) Charles Thuman, Team Outer Banks (NC);
5) Chris Lefferdink & David Cunningham, Team Moxie Racing (IL);
6) Tiffany Beckwith & John Tomko, Team San Antonio(GA & NC);
7) David Lennard & Michael Krantz, Team Lamarck (NC & GA);
8) William Sunnucks, Team Sunnucks (GBR);
9) Iam Sammis & Stuart Bernd, Team Oklahoma Kansas (KS);
10) Hugh Piggin & Warwick Kerr (NZL);
11) J.R. Fowler & Amanda Comunale (OH).

I will finalize the paperwork and get certified judgments in the next couple of weeks. If anyone sees the elusive Mikey, tell him to give me a call. In my fourteen years as a trial attorney, I have never had more difficulty tracking a man down. At one point I thought he might be dead or even worse, opening a new bank account in Bermuda with a $180,000 initial deposit.

I wish all a safe and healthy holiday season and I hope to see everyone at the Steeplechase. JD and I are making our inaugural run around the Island.

Thanks,

Frank M. Moore – Team Windy Hill – USA 271
Frank@mansmann-moore.com
Mansmann & Moore
220 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
800-727-4878

Frank

I hope the lawsuit works out and people get there money back. Thanks for working on this. Looking forward to seeing you guys in FL for the Steeplechase. I think you guys will have a good time it is such a fun race.

Frank,

Thanks for staying on this and trying to help us out. It is really a shame that so few people realize the crime he committed against the sailing community in 2003. See you at Steeplechase and give me a call or e-mail since I may be able to help you find him.

Jon Britt
OBXCC

There is no question that MW screwed up royally. Considering the aggressive direction he was taking with the race, he should have had a plan B, or at least made something up when it was clear that the race would not happen in the form he had advertised. Though the race bore his name, it belonged equally to the sailing community. Just throwing in the towel was stupid and cheated us all out of a great legacy. But was it a premeditated fraud? No.

The W1000 was the premier catamaran race in the world, rivaling the Round' Texal in prestige. It was his name and it was his life and both of those things are gone. Any credibility he had in the sailing community is lost forever and his chances at some other business career are greatly in jeopardy. It's a very long way to fall. Would anyone do that to themselves for a lousy $180,000? To call him a criminal is unjust. Was he a bad businessman? Did he have incredibly poor judgement? Absolutely, and he is suffering the consequences. But to accuse him of a premeditated criminal act and hurl cruel accusations at him is unfair. MW will suffer the consequences of his poor judgement for the rest of his life. He's lost his livelihood and his entire family is dealing with the loss of their good name. The sailors in the race lost $5,000. Get on with the lawsuit and collect what you can, but stop the public stoning.

Steve, The teams that were registered for the 2003 Worrell 1000 lost alot more than $5000 each. Most teams I know had $20,000 invested per team. 1) many of the teams purchased a boat that we would not have purchased otherwise. After the Worrell failure teams tried to sell the boats but the market was watered down since so many of us had our boats up for sale...2) Lots of the teams flew into Virginia beach for a weekend seminar..My team flew in 3 people. Thats hotel rooms, airfare, food, etc. 3)Most teams had already purchased shirts with a huge worrell 1000 logo and sponsors, etc on them. My team has 120 of these shirts still in boxes. 4)stickers, Vinyl logos, etc for sail. 5)an unbeleivable amount of time..Listen I could go on all day long here...Do you actually believe all we lost was $5000?


Ian Sammis
TKOracing.com

how much are the shirts? serious here, I love sailing shirts

I find it very difficult to feel sorry MW in ANY way. To say he wounldn't toss it all away for 180K is a stretch. A LOT of people would do a lot worse for a fraction of 180K! In my world 180K is a crap load of money!!!

Asking us to feel sorry for MW is like asking the employees of Enron to feel sorry for the scum bags that stole their retirement!!!!

Incompetence is NOT a valid excuse!!!

I think the group that is suing Michael Worrell should advertise that they are putting on a Worrell 1000 in 2005. If Michael doesn't like it, what can he do but sue you? And if he sues you, then you will have re-established contact with him and can serve your judgments on him. Right? And if he does not sue you, you can go ahead and put on the Worrell 1000. Right?

sure I'll take a few myself. Do you want to part with any? How much?

>To call him a criminal is unjust. Was he a bad businessman? Did he have incredibly poor judgement? Absolutely, and he is suffering the consequences. But to accuse him of a premeditated criminal act and hurl cruel accusations at him is unfair. MW will suffer the consequences of his poor judgement for the rest of his life. He's lost his livelihood and his entire family is dealing with the loss of their good name. The sailors in the race lost $5,000. Get on with the lawsuit and collect what you can, but stop the public stoning. >


Interesting, so why didn't MW try to settle out of Court? , or Abitration?

In the 'Judgement' who were the legal fees awarded to?

.

To SteveT....Any chance of you moving to Western Pennsylvania and becoming a professional juror for all of my criminal cases...It only takes one brilliant guy like you to hang up a jury and walk a criminal back onto the street.

Let's pretend I defend the alleged criminal, Worrell. I will make the following closing argument in my defense of Michael Worrell for Felony Theft by Deception, Wire Fraud and Bank Fraud...

MEMBERS OF JURY, LISTEN CLOSELY...A SAILOR FROM COLORADO TOLD ME WHY MY CLIENT IS INNOCENT. I WILL QUOTE HIM DIRECTLY AND YOU MUST ACQUIT MY CLIENT AFTER YOU HEAR HIS LOGICAL ARGUMENT: "...To call him a criminal is unjust. Was he a bad businessman? Did he have incredibly poor judgement? Absolutely, and he is suffering the consequences. But to accuse him of a premeditated criminal act and hurl cruel accusations at him is unfair. MW will suffer the consequences of his poor judgement for the rest of his life. He's lost his livelihood and his entire family is dealing with the loss of their good name. The sailors in the race lost $5,000. Get on with the lawsuit and collect what you can, but stop the public stoning..."

SteveT, 36 sailing teams lost on average $20k per team ($720K+)!!!! They would testify as to their losss. Do you think these men and women are millionaires?

Did you proof read your thoughts before posting? The jury wouldn't even get their butts into the deliberation room...they would convict Worrell in the hallway.

Seriously, I need jurors like you in Pittsburgh. Call me when you get into town.

I apologize for the satire, but I lost over $15000. I ain't no millionaire.

Frank Moore

Steve

If Mike Worrell is not a criminal why didn't he give the $5000 entrance fees back to the teams? What did he spend all that money on? The race never started, so what were his expenses: hotels - none, rental cars - none, charter boats - none.
Mike stole that money from the sailors to pay his back bills and law suits, which is illegal. Mike's luck just ran out when he had spent all the money for the 2003 event and could not find someone to fund it. Steve, since it does not bother you, you can send me $20,000 and then we will see if you change your mind.

Prisons all over the world are filled with people who used "bad judjement" in their decisions. It appears that bad judgement in this Worrell fellow is a chronic state since he doesn't own up to it. I'd say that makes him a criminal. Or a nut.

Ding Ding Ding - we have a winner..

Tracie

Has anyone filed a criminal complaint against Mike Worrell? Has there been any criminal investigation or indictment?

I am very curious about the story; thanks for letting this community know about your class action suit.

GARY

Who wants to take bets that he'll be organizing another "race" with another cash "purse" for the "winners" with an extraordinarily high "entry fee" so he can pay off this lawsuit?

Who thinks anyone would actually sign on for that race?

Nah, it's unfortunate, but I would bet that's the last we've heard from MW. His ambition coupled with poor (criminal) decision making cost him lots and took away a lot of recognition our sport. It's a damn shame because the Worrell was really beginning to gain global recognition...but hopefully the Tybee and OBX folks can continue to build an even better replacement. International recognition of the Tybee 500 and OBX500 is gaining - I trust that we will see some solidification the whole 1000 mile combined race in the future.

Frank, JD, see you guys in the Keys in a couple of weeks! Team Seacats will have both our new F18s racing around Key Largo and we're all Steeplechase virgins! I started some planning with bluechart and wow....except for crossing a few channels, maximum depth for 100 miles is roughly 9 feet! Boards UP!

Thanks for your post and efforts to achieve justice and hopefully compensation of some type to the many good people and excellent catsailors you represent.

I also sent in a partial entry fee which was not returned .

Like many teams upon hearing the event was cancelled in 03 simply changed course and raced the Tybee 500, I,m very happy to see the 1000 mile races continueing ,-hopefully well into the future ,though regretfully missed last years race ,having raced the previous 6 1000 mile races and one in 87 when it was known as the World 1000 event .Hoping to race future events with my sons as they become more skilled sailors and able to handle an event with the more extreme demands this 1000 mile race up the Eastern US seaboard offers , and as I,m physically able,-The race is a truely unique experience in life ,each one different .

He deserved some credit for organizing the race event for the years accomplished , but sadly ruined it all at the expence of good people and mostly at his own and the negative effects it will continue to have on him.

wish you well in the refund efforts.
all the best
Carl

Norfolk Virginian-Pilot

November 18, 2004

Court in Pa. issues judgment against Beach's Worrell over sailboat-race funds


A Pittsburgh court on Wednesday issued a judgment against Michael Worrell of Virginia Beach. Worrell is the founder and director of the now-defunct Worrell 1000 catamaran sailboat race.
Brought by attorney Frank Moore of Pittsburgh, the suit sought judgment for 11 plaintiffs for a total of $65,076.
Thirty-six teams paid $5,000 each to enter the 2003 edition of the Worrell 1000, which was canceled by Worrell at the last minute. None of the teams has been repaid its entry fee.
"If I had it, it would have been paid long ago," Worrell said. "All the entry fee money was used in the course of ordinary business. I had a sponsor that left me hanging.
"I'm sorry and I've been working hard to recoup the money and pay the bills. I didn't even have enough money to go to Pennsylvania for court."
Moore, a member of Team Windy Hill, said that teams lost a lot more than the $5,000 entry fees.
"We had about $25,000 to $27,000 invested in get! ting ready for the race," Moore said.
"We had to buy a boat and get equipment and pay for all kinds of stuff that we didn't ever use. We sold our boat and lost money on it. I had sponsors and I'm a lawyer, but some of these teams lost a lot of their own money and they can't afford it."< < - LEE TOLLIVER







Copyright (c) 2004 The Virginian-Pilot
Record Number: 7195074