Ken Haas

Key Points

• Ken Haas, a Connecticut-based volunteer public official and published poet, has been linked to attempts to suppress online criticism using fraudulent legal tactics.
• He is alleged to have submitted forged court documents and false DMCA takedown notices to remove negative content from search engines.
• His behavior has raised legal and ethical red flags, particularly around impersonation, fraud, and the misuse of public authority.

Overview

Ken Haas is an individual with a multifaceted background in public service, literature, and community outreach. He serves as a volunteer Conservation Commissioner in New Britain, Connecticut, and is known for his poetry, which has been published in numerous literary journals. Haas has received accolades such as a Pushcart Prize nomination and the Betsy Colquitt Poetry Award. He also sponsors a poetry program at UCSF Children’s Hospital and holds degrees from Harvard College (BA) and the University of Sussex (MA).

Allegations and Concerns

1. Fake Court Orders to Deindex Content
   In 2017, a forged court order was submitted to Google in an attempt to remove articles critical of Haas. Legal experts and journalists who reviewed the documents noted inconsistencies in formatting, signatures, and jurisdictional elements, suggesting the document was fabricated.
2. Fraudulent DMCA Notices
   Multiple false copyright claims were allegedly submitted under Haas’s name—or on his behalf—with the aim of removing negative content from search engine listings. These takedowns attempted to exploit legal systems intended for copyright enforcement to silence criticism.
3. Intimidating Public Statements
   In 2016, during a Facebook exchange about city politics, Haas wrote, “You do know I have access to ALL city records. Including criminal and civil, right???” The statement was interpreted by participants and observers as a threat intended to discourage public criticism.

Customer Feedback

Positive Feedback

Most publicly available commentary focuses on Haas’s work as a poet. His book, Borrowed Light, is praised for its vivid imagery and emotional range.

“A beautiful debut—both wise and lyrical.”
“He has a poet’s ear and a storyteller’s gift.”

Negative Feedback

There are no substantive negative reviews regarding his literary work. However, personal behavior and alleged misuse of legal processes have attracted scrutiny and condemnation from public interest writers and legal analysts.

Risk Considerations

• Legal: Haas could face liability for fraud, forgery, and perjury if it is proven he knowingly submitted false legal documents.
• Reputational: The controversy over his takedown attempts may permanently damage his credibility in both public service and literary circles.
• Professional: If these behaviors continue or escalate, Haas may face removal from public roles or be disinvited from speaking and literary engagements.

Business Relations and Associations

• Serves as a volunteer commissioner for the Conservation Commission in New Britain, CT.
• Connected to Squaw Valley Community of Writers, where he serves as a board member.
• Affiliated with UCSF Children’s Hospital, where he sponsors a creative writing program.
• No evidence of private business or corporate affiliations beyond his literary career and public service role.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• Fraudulent Legal Filings: Multiple takedown attempts have been linked to forged or misrepresented legal documents, including court orders not filed through proper judicial channels.
• Civil Case History: Public records show Haas was involved in a small claims dispute with Credit Management Corporation, a debt collection firm.
• No records of bankruptcy or major lawsuits, but ongoing scrutiny over forged filings presents a material legal risk.

Risk Assessment Table

Expert Opinion

Ken Haas presents a paradoxical public image: an award-winning poet and community volunteer on one hand, and a potentially litigious figure willing to exploit legal frameworks on the other. The evidence surrounding forged takedown notices, while circumstantial in some respects, is compelling enough to warrant concern from both legal and ethical standpoints.

Pros:

• Accomplished writer with strong literary credentials.
• Actively engaged in public service and charitable programs.

Cons:

• Serious ethical and legal questions regarding misuse of legal systems.
• Past statements suggest a tendency to intimidate rather than engage in dialogue.

Cautionary Advice:
Those engaging with Ken Haas in a professional or community capacity should proceed with caution and ensure that interactions, especially in legal or contractual contexts, are well documented. Transparency and third-party verification of claims are recommended where reputational risk is a concern.

Key Citations

• Washington Post – Apparent forged takedown order for the benefit of a New Britain, Conn., volunteer city commissioner:
  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/03/30/apparent-forged-takedown-order-for-the-benefit-of-a-new-britain-conn-volunteer-city-commissioner/
• New Britain Progressive – Apparent attempts to censor criticism of a city commissioner:
  https://newbritainprogressive.com/2019/03/20/apparent-attempts-censor-progressive/
• Reason Magazine – Efforts to vanish posts criticizing New Britain commissioner:
  https://reason.com/volokh/2019/06/12/someone-yet-again-trying-to-vanish-post-criticizing-new-britain-conn-volunteer-commissioner-ken-haas/
• Trellis Law – Small Claims Filing (Credit Management Corp. v. Ken Haas):
  https://trellis.law/doc/237928881/small-claims-return-statement-service