Oh dear . . . anything I can do from Houston? I love Don Adams.
Posted on 02/25/2004 6:32:21 PM PST by Physicist
Gentle Freepers,
Today I received a phone call from Don Adams. The case he and his sister Teri are waging against the Teamsters, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, and Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham is in imminent danger of failing for lack of funds.
(If you are not familiar with Don and Teri Adams and their struggles, please turn to the "REMEDIAL SECTION" below.)
Now, I know that FreeRepublic is not a forum for fundraising, but FreeRepublic has been involved in the plight of the Adamses since the moment it began in October, 1998, and because Freepers have given generous support to them in the past, I was adamant that Freepers be given the opportunity to know the score while there was still time to do something about it. To that end, I urged Don to write a few lines explaining the situation, with the understanding that I would post them to FreeRepublic.
There is nobody on this website who has sacrificed more in the struggle against Clinton and his corrupt syndicate than Don and Teri Adams. They deserve whatever support we can provide. Don writes:
As you know, Teri and I are in the legal fight of our lives with the Teamsters, Ed Rendell, and Lynne Abraham.
Having lost our Federal Civil Rights claim in summary judgment, Teri and I made the tactical but difficult decision to end our relationship with Judicial Watch, Inc.
Much had been written on Free Republic's web site about the problems we encountered in dealing with Larry Klayman, Esq., particularly the year long battle we fought to gain possession of our case file from his firm.
After the dispute became public knowledge, Judicial Watch finally agreed to turn the file over to our new attorney, Trey Mayfield, of Gura and Day.
Meanwhile, the Teamsters (local and international), filed a motion with the Court, last year, to force us to pay their attorney's fees and costs which totaled over $160,000.
Imagine, they beat us up, put us on trial, and then attempt to make us pay their legal bills!
Fortunately, Attorney Mayfield vigorously argued the matter and the Judge agreed to defer his decision until after the 3rd Circuit rules on our Federal Appeal.
Attorney Mayfield must now file the Appeal. Teri and I hired him on retainer. However, Mr. Mayfield cannot work for us pro bono and the costs of the appeal must be paid in advance.
Unfortunately, we may not be able to continue. We have used up our resources and must come up with $2400.00, ASAP, to pay for the costs of the initial filing of our appeal.
Attorney Mayfield thinks we have a strong case. He and his firm have dedicated themselves to a successful outcome. Teri and I absolutely hate the thought of resurrecting the Defense Fund--especially since so many have already contributed to the case through Judicial Watch--but we have no choice!
We are appealing to those who remember our case, and to those who believe in defending First Amendment Rights, especially the Right of American citizens to criticize their Government.
Any small donation would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be sent to:
The Adams Legal Defense Fund
P.O. Box 306,
Cheltenham, PA 19012
Recent articles:
Don Adams Update: Teamsters File Motion to Recover $62,673.46 in Fees and Costs
Summary of the 8/6/2003 Don Adams Decision, U.S. District Court
Anti-Clinton Protesters Lose in Suit Against Rendell
Who-what-where:
There was I time on FreeRepublic when I didn't have to introduce the topic of Don Adams. Other than Whitewater, it was FreeRepublic's first cause celebre.
In as few words as I can bear to muster, this is what happened. On October 2, 1998, Don and his sister Teri were beaten by members of the Teamsters Union for the crime of protesting against Clinton in Philadelphia.
(I myself had been attacked by the same mob earlier in the day, and I witnessed the Adams incident. I reported the events on FreeRepublic. One famous result was that it prompted Jim Robinson to call for a march on Washington, DC, which drew around 4000 people on October 31, 1998, to demand Clinton's impeachment.)
The DA filed no charges, so Don and Teri Adams pursued private criminal complaints against two of the Teamsters (Kevin McNulty and Marc Nardone), along with Teamster Local 115 boss Johnny Morris. In response, the Teamsters filed charges against Don Adams. McNulty and Nardone copped a plea and got probation. Morris walked. Don Adams was subjected to the indignity of a trial, and was acquitted in July, 1999. Meanwhile, three other Teamsters were identified from video: Charlie Davis, Mark Hopkins, and Norma Bottomer. Don and Teri Adams filed another private criminal complaint, to which the defendants copped pleas and received probation.
In November of 1999, IBT President James Hoffa ordered that Teamsters Local 115 be placed into trusteeship, and that Johnny Morris be stripped of his powers, partly as a result of the Adams beating incident. Morris contested this bitterly until the end of his life.
The civil phase has been lurching along slowly since the end of the criminal phase.
Why you should care:
It is the business of Freepers to exercise our rights under the First Amendment. When we talk back to power, we have an expectation of being secure in our persons, in our property, and in our liberty. If Don and Teri Adams lose, none of these expectations are valid. It will mean that the men in power can silence us at will, without serious consequences. Five foot-soldiers of the totalitarians have received probation. That's something. But unfortunately Don and Teri have been made to pay a long series of terrible prices over the last five years, and much more lies ahead. I expect it to get worse for them before it gets better.
Would YOU be up to it?
The Don Adams Page is now defunct, but a version of it remains cached on archive.org (Warning: slow to load).
Civil Case:
Johnny Morris criminal case:
Davis, Hopkins, Bottomer criminal case:
McNulty and Nardone criminal case:
Let me know if you want on or off this ping list.
Shhh!
Should he find himself refractory, I'd be happly to fill the void.
Thanks for letting me know about their position. I just mailed them $100.
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