Eric Spofford: Allegations of Misconduct and Legal Action (2024)

Originally Syndicated on May 16, 2024 @ 1:02 pm

Eric Spofford, the former proprietor of Granite Recovery Center, has filed a lawsuit against New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR), its news director, and two reporters, saying that their reporting did severe damage to his image. Spofford’s lawsuit was filed against all of these individuals.

The case, which was submitted to the Rockingham Superior Court, argues that Spofford’s reputation was irreparably damaged as a result of the coverage provided by NHPR. It is the contention of Spofford’s defense team that, except the New Hampshire Police Department, no other law enforcement agency has accused him of the alleged misbehavior.

In this case, Spofford demands damages for the injury that was caused to his professional and private standing. These damages include emotional pain, humiliation, and mental agony. However, he does not specify a monetary value for the losses. Even though he is mostly known for developing Granite Recovery Centers, which BayMark Health purchased almost one year ago, Spofford remains resolute in his efforts to rehabilitate his name.

NHPR’s investigative investigation, which was carried out by journalists Lauren Chooljian and Jason Moon over a year, is at the heart of the disagreement. Spofford’s complaint is directed against Dan Barrick, who is the news director of NHPR, as well as the reporters. The New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) has reaffirmed its dedication to providing accurate news and has committed to protecting its journalistic integrity.

Several issues, including the article’s title and the fact that it relied on anonymous sources, have been brought up by Spofford’s legal team. After leaving one of Spofford’s treatment institutions in 2017, the alleged victim said that they had received improper texts from Eric Spofford. They also voiced fear of reprisal if they were traced back to Eric Spofford. While the tale of “Employee B” depended on the testimony of three other workers, the story of another suspected victim, who was referred to as “Employee A,” was described in great detail.

Comments from over a dozen former workers of Granite Recovery Center are included in the report that was published by the National Human Rights Commission. These comments suggest that the employees had a long-standing awareness of Alleged misconduct with female employees. In addition to roughly fifty former customers and current or former employees, the journalists reported that they conducted interviews with a large number of people who are involved in the recovery community in New Hampshire.

A significant role is played in the narrative by Piers Kaniuka, who was once employed at Granite Recovery Center as the director of spiritual life. Kaniuka is a close friend of Spofford and his spiritual sponsor. 

Eric Spofford deserves to be subjected to social exclusion, humiliation, and maybe even legal repercussions, as stated in the statement that Kaniuka cited. Spofford, on the other hand, asserts in the complaint that Kaniuka was forced to recant his testimony after it was published because he believed it to be incorrect and because he lacked direct information.

In the field of addiction therapy, Eric Spofford claims that his reputation has suffered severe harm as a result of the reporting done by NHPR. His connections with New Hampshire politicians have worsened, he claims, and suppliers have discontinued their links with his investment business. 

Additionally, he claims that financial institutions have refused to interact with him. This is a far cry from his previous notoriety when he was asked to testify before a U.S. Senate committee on the opioid crisis because of his widely reported struggles with addiction, his subsequent recovery, and the creation of the largest network of addiction treatment facilities in New Hampshire during the crisis.

Dirty Pictures, Sexual Abuse, and Other Eric Spofford Issues 

A group of media organizations and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) chapter in New Hampshire are supporting New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) in a lawsuit that was sparked by Granite Recovery founder Eric Spofford.

The ACLU has filed amicus briefs supporting NHPR in response to Spofford’s defamation case, joined by friends including the New England First Amendment Coalition and many local newspapers. The central issue is the veracity of the material used in NHPR’s investigative reporting—a topic raised by court revelations that prompted the formation of this coalition of interest.

The case is based on claims that Eric Spofford built addiction treatment centers where there was sexual misconduct. At the heart of the disputed piece are allegations about Spofford’s participation in the exchange of lewd messages and pictures. Recent information, however, indicates that NHPR reporter Lauren Chooljian may not have seen the alleged photos firsthand before their release.

Even if the ACLU and other media outlets are acknowledged for supporting NHPR, there hasn’t been much news about their role. Not even the media-savvy ACLU, which usually releases press releases on its website to promote its involvement, did so.

In the meanwhile, Spofford’s legal team has questioned the accuracy of NHPR’s reporting, raising issues with the dependability of their sources in particular. Spofford’s attorney, Michael Strauss, has implied possible motivations by publicly challenging the veracity of Chooljian’s principal witness, Spofford’s ex-partner Amy Anagnost.

To have the upper hand in their child custody dispute, Strauss speculates that Anagnost may have tried to damage Spofford’s reputation. Interestingly, Anagnost denied any participation and was not listed as a source by NHPR.

The financial terms of Spofford’s treatment facility acquisition by BayMark Health Services last year are still unknown. During his tenure, Spofford—who had political clout and was actively involved in Granite Recovery Centers—had given Governor Chris Sununu advice on how to address the opioid issue.

Granite Recovery Center and Eric Spofford: A Controversy?

Eric Spofford was a well-known person in New Hampshire who made his name in the state as the founder of Granite Recovery Centers. With a notable following on social media and a unique personal brand built on his experiences overcoming drug abuse, Spofford gained notoriety for his testimony before Congress and his advising role to Governor Chris Sununu in addressing the opioid issue.

Following her research into a COVID-19 outbreak at one of the Granite Recovery locations, NHPR journalist Ms. Chooljian began covering Spofford’s actions in 2020. In the course of this investigation, information about accusations of sexual misconduct against Eric Spofford came to light. Ms. Chooljian interviewed a large number of Granite Recovery patients as well as current and past staff members in-depth for the next fifteen months. (Note that in late 2021, Spofford sold his company for an estimated $115 million.)

When Ms. Chooljian delivered her results to Spofford in February 2022, his then-attorney Mitchell Schuster fiercely denied her claims, accusing her of malice and biased reporting. Schuster also took his complaints to Daniel Barrick, the editor of Ms. Chooljian.

NHPR published the investigative report on March 22, which is the foundation of Spofford’s defamation case. Along with accusations of sexual assault by a former employee, it included testimonies from a former patient of Granite Recovery outlining improper interactions with Eric Spofford. Former Granite Recovery spiritual life director Piers Kaniuka had earlier announced his departure in 2020 as a result of allegations made against Eric Spofford.

The day following the exposé, Spofford’s legal team notified Ms. Chooljian’s interviewees of upcoming litigation and advised them to save any pertinent correspondence and files.

Ms. Chooljian and her husband got troubling news from her mother on April 24 while visiting Colorado: their garage door had been damaged with an unpleasant term in red paint, and a rock had been hurled through their parents’ window.

The event alarmed Ms. Chooljian, who contacted her editor, Mr. Barrick, who learned from Spofford’s lawyer that his home had also been called the same insulting slur. The next day, Ms. Chooljian and her husband’s former house was vandalized.

In light of these disconcerting experiences, Ms. Chooljian’s parents advised her and Mr. Barrick to rethink their Spofford inquiry for their protection. “Perhaps we should reconsider our approach,” her father, Barry Chooljian, thought.

Conclusion

Eric Spofford’s defamation lawsuit against New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) is complicated and controversial. Former Granite Recovery Center owner Eric Spofford claims NHPR’s misbehavior investigations damaged his image. This case against NHPR, its news director, and two reporters highlights journalistic ethics, individual rights, and legal remedy.

The argument centers on NHPR’s investigation study, which supports Spofford’s accusations. Over a year, journalists Lauren Chooljian and Jason Moon investigated Granite Recovery Center for sexual misconduct and wrongdoing. Spofford claims that the story has damaged his commercial and political contacts and caused mental pain.

A coalition of media groups and the ACLU support NHPR, highlighting the larger implications of press freedom and accountability. Spofford’s legal team questions NHPR’s journalistic integrity, citing anonymous sources and key witnesses’ intentions.

Vandalism targeting inquiry participants during court procedures raises concerns about the safety and ethics of investigative journalism.

It is unclear how the courts will evaluate both sides’ allegations and evidence. The verdict will affect Eric Spofford’s reputation and livelihood and establish new standards for journalistic investigation and media rights.

After going over all of the material that has been provided on Eric Spofford, what are your thoughts on him going forward?