Posted on 10/18/2004 7:51:05 PM PDT by nypokerface
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Author Patti Davis, the daughter of the late President Ronald Reagan, has sued the Salvation Army for breach of contract, saying the religious group reneged on a $15,000 speaking engagement because she supports stem cell research.
According to the complaint filed last week in Manhattan Supreme Court but made public on Monday, Davis signed a contract to speak at a Salvation Army event in Santa Rosa, California, on Nov. 19, 2004.
But one day after appearing on ABC's "Prime Time Live" in August, the Salvation Army told Davis's booking agent, Greater Talent Network, Inc., that it no longer wanted her to speak at the event and that neither her fee of $15,000 or a $7,500 cancellation fee would be paid.
"They told the talent agency they were not going to proceed with the contract because of her support of stem cell research, which they said was against their policy and position,"
Davis's lawyer Lawrence Fabian told Reuters.
A lawyer for the Salvation Army in Santa Rosa, Michael Watters, said the lawsuit was without merit. "There was no binding contract and in fact (the booking agent) had never signed the agreement and sent it back."
The lawyer also said that stem cell research and Davis's views of stem cell research had nothing to do with the cancellation. "As far as I know, the Salvation Army has no public stance or position on stem cell research," he said.
Fabian said that Davis had been scheduled to speak about her new book "The Long Goodbye," a remembrance of her father who died last July after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Ronald P. Reagan, Davis's brother, addressed the Democratic National Convention in Boston in July and criticized opponents of stem cell research for standing in the way of scientific progress.
Supporters of stem cell research say it could lead to cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries.
the natural children of Reagan just dont measure up.
How very Michael Moore-like!
Hey Patti, GTH.
Stem cells, the modern day laetrile.
You know you have problems when you are sueing the Salvation Army over speaking fees.
Gee, isnt that "compassion in action!" How many homeless people will go hungry because Patti wants her cash.
They might have to pay that $7500 cancellation fee
Well, if the case goes to Court after November 2nd, she can hire Kerry and Edwards and Edwards as her team of attorneys. And Heinz can do the commentary in one of the languages she speaks.
I saw the Primetime report in question. Forget Sinclair's show based on Stolen Honor; Davis' segment was a gift-wrapped ABC News valentine to the Kerry campaign disguised as a news story -- the prototype of what the left is accusing Sinclair of doing.
Essentially, Davis was interviewing a teenage girl who had contracted Juvenile Diabetes, and detailed how crushed she and her parents were when President Bush made his compromise and only approved federally-funded research on existing embroyic stem cell lines. The girl joined a march on Washington that coordinated with the Senate testimony of Michael J. Fox, among others. The girl's parents spoke as if Bush's decision was a declaration of death for her daughter.
Naturally, there was no focus on promising studies of adult stem cells or cord blood, painting the picture that only shredded embryos hold hope for the future. And throughout most of the report, Davis was attired in an unflattering peach-colored sleeveless blouse. Ugh.
If I was in charge of the Salvation Army, I would be searching for ways to dump Davis' appearance too. Only I would be more up front about it.
Looks like Patti wants money for doing nothing. Huh. Sounds like a Liberal to me.
Speaking of the Reagans: was cruising channels tonight and there was Michael Reagon on BENNY HINN telling his life story. After I got over the shock of him on BH, I listened to him tell about his young life. Poor guy had a miserable childhood. Part 2 is tomorrow.
Unfortunately, the two Reagan children got more of Nancy's genes than Ronnie's.
"Author Patti Davis, the daughter of the late President Ronald Reagan, has sued the Salvation Army for breach of contract, saying the religious group reneged on a $15,000 speaking engagement because she supports stem cell research." well duh! Pattisnake Davis missed the name as Salvation Army and wants it to be Destruction Army I guess.
Shameless little b!tch, seeking to capitalize on sympathy for her father!
What is she doing taking money from a CHARITY in the first place just for her to speak? This is just another scam from the Hollywood and political elite to pad the pockets. I thought we were ALL supposed to DONATE to charities NOT TAKE from them.
If the contract was never signed and returned to her agent, there is actually nothing to cancel.
She might be entitled to the $7500 if they had signed and returned the contract, and then refused to have her attend and speak.
No signature- no pay.
Do you know how embarrassing and tacky it is to sue the Salvation Army Pat dear?
I wonder if the Salvation Army opposes all stem cell research or just embryonic stem cell research. I won't trust Reuters to tell the whole truth.
< / sarcasm >
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