Tuesday, August 17, 2010

When Corrections Fail to Correct

Dear Readers,
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Well, I didn't get the apology I thought I was due, considering the situation (see previous article). According to a friend of mine who actually purchased a hard copy of the newspaper, I didn't get a correction in the paper where their subscribers could see it. But I DID get a nasty, vindictive letter from the editor and this "correction" on their online website.

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Correction In the article “Court reverses Nexus v [Hannabelle]” in the July 28 Messenger, it should have said, Judge John Sommerville didn’t agree with [Hannabelle]. The motion to dismiss was denied by Sommerville.
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I suppose I could make a big stink about this. No corrected dates. Nothing about that I won the appeal... However, my cause isn't what's wrong with the local newspaper (although perhaps yours should be, if you're interested in getting accurate information). Through the years, my noble attempts at encouraging accuracy in their reporting about the Nexus/Onamia coalition have seemingly failed. Coinkidink?
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My cause is a what is wrong with the decision of the Onamia city council to represent the interests of a corporation rather than the citizens and the rights of citizens. Oh... and those pesky SLAPP harassment lawsuits... I guess they have also become my cause.
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I am very sad that mean-spirited people continue to attack me with accusations of being mean-spirited - whenever I try to set a mis-story straight. I've learned more than a few things these past three years, including:
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1. Our First Amendment Rights are precious and MUST be protected.
2. You still have the right to remain silent.
3. Anything you say will probably be used against you - if at all possible.
4. Freedom of Speech isn't free (you have to pay the lawyers).
5. When we exercise our right to free speech, we must be prepared to take responsibility for what we say.
These lessons might seem self-evident. I thought I'd learned them in grade school. But I've been forced to revisit these principles and re-learn them - the hard way. After all that has been said and done, one thing I still maintain: If you have the right to exercise your free speech to write a story about my lawsuits, I have the right to exercise my free speech to correct you when you make mistakes.
(See 5. above)
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"It is lamentable, that to be a good patriot one must become the enemy of the rest of mankind."
Voltaire
1694-1778

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Back to Square One

Here we go again.

We launched the Mille Lacs News, an online news source, in 2007 - to correct misinformation and Pro-Nexus propaganda being published by the Mille Lacs Messenger, our local newspaper. It was, and still is, my belief that people have the right to the Truth. Publishing the Mille Lacs News and the Bradbury Buzzz was a way for us to ensure that accurate information as well as our viewpoint reached the public.

After a long hiatus, I'm back - because once again, there is misinformation being printed in the Mille Lacs Messenger - and this time it's personal.... it's about me. So, once again, it is necessary to make the appropriate corrections and set the record straight.

Diane Gibas, a reporter employed at the "Mess" recently wrote an article about my lawsuits which included false information. She got her facts mixed up.

As you know, I was targeted with two harassment lawsuits by the Nexus corporation - not in 2009, as she reported, but in 2007 - three years of my life ago. I was sued as an attempt to silence and intimidate me with, apparently, the ultimate goal of destroying my life. They've done a great job! As my old friends and neighbors stood mutely watching on the sidelines, my life has unraveled before their eyes. Thanks a lot, guys. Guess I got what I deserved for trying to save your homes from the 94 governmentally imposed sex offenders that live with you now. No good deed goes unpunished and the road to hell is paved with good intentions. (sigh)

But back to Diane... She misinformed the community by stating that in the Nexus corporation vs. me case that Judge Sommerville sided with me and threw out the case. She stated in error that Nexus appealed and won.

THIS IS TOTALLY FALSE! I filed a Motion to Dismiss under the MN Anti-SLAPP law. Judge Sommerville questioned the constitutionality of the law. He ruled that Nexus, a corporation, had the right to "Discovery" as well as the right to put me on trial by jury. He denied my motion, but never ruled on their claim of "defamation". (I told the truth and stated my constitutionally protected opinion. I never defamed anyone.)

THE TRUTH IS: I am the one who made the appeal. Not Nexus - because as usual, Nexus got what it wanted - this time in district court. And here's the big news flash folks: I BEAT NEXUS IN THE MINNESOTA COURT OF APPEALS. The appellate judges reversed Sommerville's decision. Now we have to start all over again. Back to the beginning. Square One.

I called Diane Gibas to politely set her straight. She couldn't remember the source of her bad information and promised to call me back. She didn't.

Will I get a retraction? Will I get an apology? Will they correct their error? I don't know. I'm still waiting.

So, after three years, we have progressed to the destination of "Square One". Once again I've been forced into the position of writing in self-defense.

Encore, encore. I'm back.