Can PR's Petty Infighting Stop?
A little squabble has erupted between two PR firms in Los Angeles. According to our sources, GMMB Inc., the politically connected public relations firm there, filed a lawsuit late last week against a former subcontractor Durazo Communications Inc. In the lawsuit, GMMB claims, "Defendants misappropriated at least $2.8 million and refuse to provide an accounting of the monies and refuse to return said monies."
The $2.8 million had been earmarked to pay for Spanish-language television ads that were part of the preschool campaign, "First 5 California." GMMB had hired Durazo to help with Spanish-language media buys.
The lawsuit goes on to assert that Daniel and Jane Durazo, two of the firm's directors, treated their public relations firm and its funds as a "personal financial entity."
Ron Arredondo, Durazo Communications creative director, said Durazo had no comment on the lawsuit or the missing funds.
STRUMPETTE EDITORIAL
Obviously this is all just a little misunderstanding. Certainly, the new house, boat, vacation condominium, etc. that Daniel and Jane Durazo had been thinking about is all somehow tangentially part of the "First 5" campaign. Right? I would think. What happened to giving the other guy the benefit of the doubt? It's obvious that this is all just a simple matter of miscommunication.
That's said, I think this underscores a bigger issue in PR today: just how petty PR can be sometimes. I mean, it's only $2.8 million. There was a time when something "a little extra for the effort" was more generally accepted. What happened to the Industry's ability to look the other way?
As always, I encourage and look forward to your comments.
- Amanda Chapel
UPDATE
Durazo Communications closes shop
14 Jun 2006
LOS ANGELES: Following the June 5 dismissal of a contractual fraud lawsuit filed by former contractor GMMB, Durazo Communications has officially shuttered its doors.