Oh Jessica, Jessica, you couldn't resist could you?  I've kept you out of it (and even agreed with you) but you had to attack me at some point.  And even after we ignored your little hate mail so many months ago - sad.  I'd decided to let this whole thread die in the interest of this community but alas, I must make one last post.  Linda and I were telling facts, not ranting.  But since you've made this personal... Lets look at the real facts (and not delusions told you by your friend), and then I'm done with this:

1. FACT - Ken had the audacity to bring 'god' into it and bless people for the sins and lies of truthfully telling they weren't paid and those of us who know where the money went and how he ran his business.  As I said, i'm NOT religious and I find that sickening.  HE brought religion into a discussion where it had no place... so again, I agree with you.

2. FACT - I do not own a company, nor do I receive any compensation from Abstractopia in any way. 

3. FACT - We do not have a bookkeeper.  We don't need someone on staff full time to have them not pay people, Linda was Ken's bookkeeper and that was her role as dictated by him.

4. FACT = Ken was completely responsible for losing his clients on his own.  If your business is strong, someone opening anywhere who covers your area shouldn't affect your business if you've serviced your clients well, which I know you'd agree with because I perceive you run your business this way (see - I can still speak rationally to you despite your attack - I respect your ability as a businessperson regardless of your friendship with Ken). If your business is well run, one competitor shouldn't have you shutting your doors within a year! 

There was no stealing, I'm no thief nor am I dishonest - SOT provided us with all the resources and advertising abilities we needed to get started.  It wasn't until Ken screwed US on a rush order that we had back in an hour, which he knew, then cancelled on us and refused to take calls that we ever had a single client in common so your 'facts' are erroneous- I doubt you know that story.  Ken would like to believe we came in the night and stole all his clients (sorry, that still makes me laugh) but I know 100%, we only had 3 in common when he closed.  The others we have he did NOT have when Linda was fired in October.  We run our business well, communicate well, give good phone and joke with our abstractors and clients - we don't need to steal.

We've picked up a few from my post in the MarketPlace and when I learned he CLOSED, I finally solicited some I knew who were good pay.  Oh wait, I have a quote here from one of our shared clients while we were discussing GoGo's closure just yesterday and it really points out what great relations he had with his clients (odd wording is not mine, i copied/pasted):  I hate to say this because it’s kinda I’m not disappointed they are gone. It was a nightmare working with them

Before you start preaching the truth - you should learn it because you're being fed The Imaginary World According To Ken.  I'm glad you asked for the truth, now you have the real story.  I've seen it myself - he blames everyone but himself.  Blame Linda for not paying people he told her not to pay. Blame everyone in the office for his mistakes. Blame me, the horrible client relations person/sales person for stealing his clients (how's THAT work out rationally?  I sucked so bad he fired me but I'm so good I can steal all his clients and drive his business into the ground singlehandedly?)

We all worked there because the economy sucked and no one else was hiring.  I don't think anyone out there with two degrees and a long successful career in various facets of real estate (and as a previous business owner) would have expected to end up working in some guy's basement with centipedes, and to be condescended to and berated daily.  Even the 20-somethings who worked there didn't deserve such treatment.  I would have gladly cleaned out kennels iinstead (and believe me I applied) but everywhere I went I was over-qualified and over-educated.  Fortunately or unfortunately, Ken discounted my extensive knowledge in real estate (said it didn't apply to their business), overlooked that I'd been a business owner, overlooked my resume in general or I would never have had the pleasure of being a verbally abused basement dweller making wages i hadn't made since my Freshman year of college. 

Oddly enough?  The reason I didn't leave was because I felt loyalty to his clients.  I felt personally responsible for getting orders back, for keeping up promises, for trying to run it like my own business.  Everywhere I've ever worked, I've always personally invested myself in doing my job right.  I finally put stickies above my desk admonishing myself "Shut up, don't make suggestions."  "It's not your business, stop caring."  We argued less when I tried to care less.

Jessica - the sad thing is we  would probably get along fine if you didn't have this inconceivable need to defend Ken and take his word as gospel.  I've never said anything negative about you and I've agreed with you at at times.  You've sent me hate mail and now gone on a rant against me personally.  Other that this facet of your personality, you've seemed generally reasonable and pleasant.  I'm glad I have this amazing ability to stay away from the computer when I'm angry with someone, then again, I'm not easily angered and certainly not easily baited into making myself look petty by attacking you personally.  YOU requested the truth, well, you got it.

Everyone else, Robert included - sorry to take up your valuable professional forum with this kind of nonsense.  This is the end of it for me.