A U.S. District Court has issued a significant ruling in favor of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK), dismissing all counterclaims and third-party claims brought by HonorSociety.org, citing a pattern of misconduct that included perjury and concealment of evidence by its CEO, Michael Moradian.
In a sharply worded opinion, Judge Carlton Reeves of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi found that HonorSociety.org CEO Michael Moradian committed perjury, concealed critical evidence, and attempted to wrongfully manipulate the judicial process. The Court noted that Moradian lied under oath about his intentions toward PTK and its CEO, Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, including at a hearing before the Judge, with his real intent being to remove her from her position. In the words of the Court:
- “He [Michael Moradian] perjured himself in July 2024 and then again in October 2024.”
- “Moradian not only perjured himself, but he concealed relevant evidence again, which on this record, alone warrants dismissal.”
- “The Court finds that Moradian’s concealment of relevant evidence ‘amounts to a pattern of calculated evasion.’”
- “Honor Society and its CEO have ‘willfully abused the judicial process based on the totality of its litigation misconduct.’”
According to the order, Moradian made false statements under oath and deliberately concealed communications with at least 24 former and current PTK employees. The Court also cited messages in which Moradian expressed a clear intent to remove PTK’s CEO, Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, from her position—contradicting his prior sworn testimony.
“The conduct that led to the First Preliminary Injunction, Second Preliminary Injunction, and finding of civil contempt already demonstrated a disregard for honesty and transparency,” the Court wrote. “At this stage, less onerous sanctions would not adequately address the repeated and offensive conduct.”
While the Court declined to issue a default judgment in PTK’s favor, it ruled that PTK may proceed to trial on its own affirmative claims against HonorSociety.org. For example, PTK alleges that Honor Society infringes PTK’s trademark and trade dress, falsely advertises itself, and has tortiously interfered with PTK’s business through an online smear campaign intent on damaging PTK and Dr. Tincher-Ladner. The trial is scheduled to begin June 2, 2025.
This marks a major milestone in PTK’s pursuit of its litigation goal: to rid the community college space of Honor Society’s practices, which PTK believes include confusing students as to which organization they are joining and misleading students into joining under the guise that Honor Society is in fact an honor society. PTK remains committed to protecting the integrity of its mission and the students it serves. Read the full order here.
About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the first national honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. Recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges as the official honor society for two-year colleges, PTK is made up of more than 4.4 million members and nearly 1,250 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 220,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.
Contact: Makayla Steede | press@ptk.org | www.ptk.org
