Former UCAN founder wins lawsuit

Michael Shames yesterday (August 27) won a lawsuit filed against him by the Utility Consumers Action Network (UCAN), which he had cofounded. UCAN had filed suit claiming that Shames owed it $450,000. By 11 to 1, Shames won and was awarded $141,00 he said he was owed.

In a statement, Shames denounced former UCAN employees and executive directors, as well as the Union-Tribune and the Reader. In a long internal conflict, the Federal Bureau of Investigation looked into allegations made by UCAN employees but it never filed charges against Shames.

In a previous dispute, Shames had sued a former UCAN employee and attorney, Mike Aguirre, for libel and other transgressions. Shames lost that case at the trial level and on appeal.