Yah, guy comes out of nowhere to protect as-yet-unidentified interests, and thinks he's teaching an online MBA program on Twitter.
On the lawyer thing...
They just wrapped up the dumb lawsuit that Monster filed over the Vocl .com shenanigans. Derek Newman's firm was representing both Epik and Monster personally. Two things I can say about Derek Newman is that he's a very enthusiastic lawyer and sends very enthusiastic invoices. The Vocl .com case finally settled, and if I had to guess I would say that his bills were a large part of Epik's motivation to do so.
In the Adkisson suit, both Royce and Epik are represented by Seyfarth Shaw. If you aren't going to get Perkins Coie or K&L Gates to represent you in the WAWD, then you are certainly welcome to break the bank with Seyfarth.
Their lead attorney got his JD from Yale, and has been a Seyfarth partner for two years. He was an associate at O'Melveny & Myers for coming up on six years and did not make partner. Personally, I view that as a plus, since it means he doesn't lie about his hours. O'MM is also a topshelf great place to go broke on lawyers. From there he went to DLA Piper, made partner in his seventh year, and stuck around for another four. More recently, he picked up an adjunct professor gig at Seattle U law school and moved laterally into Seyfarth as a partner. He's very highly qualified, and has made some good decisions along the way. Having been related by marriage to an O'MM partner, and also having worked with a lawyer from that firm on a piece of litigation involving a client of mine, it's a classic life-sucking beast typical of Bigfirm® law.
Significantly, the defendants are Epik, Epik Holdings, Masterbucks LLC, Royce and Monster. Thus far Epik, Epik Holdings and Royce are commonly represented by Seyfarth. The corporate defendants have answered, and Royce has moved to dismiss as to him.
No appearance has been entered and nothing has been filed on behalf of Monster. His answer or responsive motion was due on April 24. He could, of course, have some kind of understanding or deal with the plaintiff as to his deadline or more, because they haven't filed for entry of default as to him either.