Bannana in the Legal Gulag: Exposing Trickery and Manipulation

By Martti Vallila

This "Bannana book" describes my experiences in the legal systems of Silicon Valley and Finland, initiated by good faith efforts to commercialize potentially transformational technologies from Russian inventors. The Russian inventor's non-compliance with obligations, stipulated in signed agreements, forced the initiation of arbitrations where I found myself opposed by top-notch legal talent, sometimes forced into representing myself. In Silicon Valley the scientist was Dr. Vladimir Poponin, his technology, the direct optical detection of DNA (promising the immediate reading of the human genome, the gateway to personalized medicine), my opponent, high-profile billionaire Vinod Khosla (who wished to remain anonymous). In Finland the scientist was Dr. Igor Pomytkin, his technology, a possible prevention of Alzheimer's and many age-related neurological ailments, my adversaries, top Helsinki law firm Juridia, and my OWN lawyer! I discuss parallels between the two experiences. Hard ball legal tactics were employed by Fenwick & West in the service of Silicon Valley investor Khosla, whose deeds were in conflict with a carefully crafted public persona. The appendix of the book includes a transcript of the five day arbitration hearing, providing the reader a comprehensive view of the process and a perspective from which to judge the truthfulness of representations made in the text. My California experience provided important lessons when I was confronted, years later, with behavior in Finland forcing me to initiate legal action against my co-founders in Buddha Biopharma OY. Efforts were initiated to terminate the arbitration on procedural grounds, without regard to underlying facts. Efforts at "discovery" of evidence were stymied by delay and obfuscation. In the California arbitration (tragically) no final "award" was announced, leaving the transcript as the only evidence from the proceeding. (A Court decision supporting my position was issued, and is included in the appendix.) In the Finnish case, an absurd "award" emerged and is included in the appendix, with commentary. Lawyers are exposed as unethical word-splitters. Arbitrators can be viewed as driven by economic interests, while protectng powerful patrons. There is a David vs. Goliath element to both tales. I feel a responsibility to tell this story in hopes readers will learn useful lessons.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1490340548
• ISBN13: 9781490340548
• Release Date: July 2013
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 356 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"