Sooner State News

An Oklahoma billionaire is filing a lawsuit against a state think tank for allegedly spreading misinformation on his ideas on business closures when the COVID-19 pandemic was starting. 

Chad Richison, CEO of Paycom, clashed with the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a free market think tank, after it posted an article that alleged Richison asked Gov. Kevin Sitt “to order most businesses to close,” the six words at the core of the lawsuit.  

“Some individuals have called for Stitt to order most businesses to close and have the government control how others operate, including grocery stores,” Ray Carter, director of OCPA’s Center for Independent Journalism, said in the article published on OCPA’s website. “Chad Richison, CEO of Paycom, is among those who have advocated such actions.”

Carter included a link to a letter Richison addressed to Stitt on his policy ideas for COVID-19. 

“Temporarily suspend personal-touch services in order to adhere to social distancing, which includes, but is not limited to, hair salons, nail salons, spas and massage parlors,” Richison said in the letter. “Innovate how grocery stores operate by providing drive-thru pick up or delivery for all customers and encouraging the use of technology.”

The lawsuit filed against OCPA alleges it “continues to harbor animosity and malice” due to policy disagreements. The council recently released a statement, firing back that Richison does not respect its First Amendment rights. 

“OCPA and Chad Richison have engaged in public policy debates. It’s a shame he does not respect the First Amendment rights of others.” Jonathan Small, president of the OCPA, said in the statement. “If Paycom has lost clients it is not because OCPA truthfully reported on Richison’s public support and public advocacy for business shutdowns [including through a direct link to Richison’s public letter], but because of the economic consequences of governments following policies similar to those Richison endorsed.”

It is not known if Paycom or Richison asked OCPA to correct the article before filing the lawsuit. John Falcone, the attorney representing Paycom in the suit, and representatives from the OCPA did not respond to requests for comment.