Copyright 1991 The Atlanta Constitution The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
February 17, 1991
SECTION: National News; Section A; Page 21
LENGTH: 213 words
HEADLINE: Self-help guru Werner Erhard selling empire
BYLINE: The San Francisco Chronicle


BODY:
SAN FRANCISCO - Stung by a series of damaging allegations by family members and business associates, est founder Werner Erhard is selling off the assets of his human potential movement empire.

Mr. Erhard, whose much-lampooned weekend workshops became synonymous with the "Me Decade" of the 1970s, is selling the assets of Werner Erhard and Associates to a group of employees.

Spokesman Bill Barnes said the holdings include real estate in California and New York, computers, furniture and an 18-year licensing agreement for the "technology and intellectual property" used in the weekend workshops, which have been marketed in recent years as "The Forum."

"Erhard will have neither an ownership nor a management role in the new company," Mr. Barnes said.

Mr. Barnes said the ownership changes were already in the works before the company was hit by a recent wave of negative press, but the charges speeded up the transaction.

Mr. Erhard's problems began early last year after the San Francisco Chronicle reported allegations by former employees of the pop psychology guru. The employees said they were forced to obey Mr. Erhard in a manner "akin to God" and to submit themselves to "numerous instances of verbally and physically abusive behavior."


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