 Curley had made multiple objectionable comments about Randi on Usenet.Despite suggesting to Randi on Usenet that Randi should sue – Curley's comments implying that if Randi did not sue, then his allegations must be true – Curley seemed entirely surprised when Randi actually retained Toronto's largest law firm and initiated legal proceedings.The suit was eventually dropped in 1998 when Earl Curley died at the age of 51 of "alcohol toxicity."