Last month, the National Rifle Association sued its longtime PR and marketing firm, Ackerman McQueen for failure to produce detail supporting millions of dollars in billing to the gun rights org. That precipitated a very public fight that resulted in the disclosure of travel, clothing and other spending by NRA EVP and CEO Wayne LaPierre.
Now the NRA has filed a second lawsuit against Ack Mac.
The National Rifle Association filed a lawsuit accusing its longtime advertising firm of orchestrating a failed executive coup at the gun-rights group and leaking details about lavish expenses, as part of an alleged attempt to “tarnish and ultimately destroy the public image of the NRA and its senior leadership.”
The lawsuit against Ackerman McQueen Inc., filed Wednesday in a local court in Alexandria, Va., is the latest salvo in a battle between the NRA and the ad firm.
In a meeting that took place before the NRAAM in Indianapolis, then-NRA President Oliver North and other board members and contributors asked for LaPierre’s resignation. In response, LaPierre fired off an angry letter refusing to step down and accusing North and Ackerman of using extortion techniques against him.
As the Wall Street Journal reports (paywall), in this latest suit . . .
The NRA also claimed that Ackerman McQueen after the annual meeting began to deliver on its “extortion threats” and “cynically leaked selected portions of confidential business records.”
The NRA is seeking $40 million in damages.