Opinion ID: 182637
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Misdirected Donations

Text: After Folsom launched the woundedwarriors.org website, WWP was contacted by individuals indicating there was some confusion and that people were trying to reach [WWP] and instead reaching [WWFS]. Years later, during discovery in the instant lawsuit, WWP learned WWFS was receiving and cashing a large number of checks intended for WWP. Some checks were made payable to Wounded Warriors Project; other checks were accompanied by correspondence indicating support for WWP or mentioning one of WWP's marketing or fundraising efforts. For example, in 2007, WWFS received a $100 donation For Jerrod's week in Alaska immediately after WWP had publicized providing an Alaskan rehabilitation trip for a wounded veteran named Jerrod. WWFS simply cashed and deposited every check sent to WWFS's address. [4] After subpoenaing WWFS's financial records, WWP hired a forensic accountant from Omaha, Robert L. Kirchner. Kirchner reviewed approximately 7,500 checks sent to WWFS between November 1, 2004, and July 1, 2008, roughly when WWFS operated the woundedwarriors.org website. In his analysis, Kirchner determined WWFS received donations intended for WWP. To determine the amount of donations misdirected from WWP to WWFS, Kirchner compared the amount of donations WWFS received immediately before and after operating the woundedwarriors.org website with the amount of donations WWFS received while such website was operational. Kirchner found that, in mid-to late-2004, WWFS received an average of $1,337 per month in donations. When the woundedwarriors.org website went live, WWFS's receipts spiked to $87,895 per month. After WWFS shut down the website, donations immediately decreased 56.2%. [5] Using the more conservative (latter) valuation, Kirchner calculated the amount of misdirected donations to be $1,267,729. Using the former valuation, the calculated amount of misdirected donations exceeded $2 million.