Posted on 09/21/2005 3:40:07 PM PDT by 68 grunt
Sept 27, 2005
P.O.W. NETWORK APPEALS FOR HELP-UPDATE 1
(Please forward)
Last week we made an appeal for financial assistance to help us defend a baseless lawsuit brought by a World War II veteran, whose dubious record we made public.
As we said in that appeal, "P.O.W. Network intends aggressively to defend this case . . . but we cannot ourselves carry the financial burden of defending this case and also asserting whatever claims we may have against the man who sued us."
Accordingly, we said that we needed $15,000 by yesterday (Monday, September 26th) in order to sign a retainer agreement with a Washington, D.C., libel defense lawyer.
We are pleased to report that we just barely reached that goal this morning, the retainer agreement has been signed, and defense counsel are now on the job--assisted (pro bono) by Professor Henry Mark Holzer.
We are represented by Joseph A. Artabane, senior partner of the firm of Artabane Belden, 818 18th Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20006-3523. ( www.lawyers.com/artabane).
Contributions so far, from about one hundred people, have ranged from modest sums like $25.00 to, in a few cases, as much as $1,000-and we are equally touched and grateful for all of them, especially to those who made supportive statements about the service POW Network has provided for the past sixteen years.
Because of the nature of litigation, and the attendant need for ongoing legal fees, our fund raising will have to continue. In aid of that, any contributors who wish to be apprised of developments as they occur need only provide us with their email address, and we will send regular updates.
Remember, all contributions to P.O.W. NETWORK are tax deductible. If at the end of the case there are any contributions left over, contributors will have a choice: either leave their unspent contribution with POW as a donation, or receive back a pro rata amount of what they contributed.
Contributions may be snail mailed to Waukee State Bank, 45 N. Warrior Lane, P.O. Box 66, Waukee, IA 50263. ATTN: Kathy Asher. Note on the check please put "P.O.W. NETWORK Legal Defense Fund Account # 10029692." The routing number for wire transfers is 1st Routing Number 075912479, then 073922490, destination account 10029692.
The defense fund account is controlled by the bank and administered by a former Ranger who has no official connection to POW Network. All fees and expenses of the litigation, and nothing else, will be paid out of that account and disbursed by the administrator.
We are in this fight to the end, and during it, and when it's over, POW Network will continue to identify and expose the Fake Warriors who falsify their military service.
Thank you for your current, and ongoing, support.
Sincerely,
Mary and Chuck Schantag
P.O.W. Network
bump
BTTT!!!!!!!
And here is an article about them. Caveat emptor; I hain't read it yet ;@
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/articles/article.html?id=8618
Hey snippy, did ya get this update?
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
BUMP!
BUMP!!!
UPDATE bump/ping.
December 19, 2005
Re: Coppinger v. Charles Schantag, Mary Schantag and POW Network
UPDATE 4
Dear Mary and Chuck:
Mr. Coppinger’s lawyer has answered your motion to dismiss his amended complaint with essentially three arguments:
1. The Maryland SLAPP statute does not apply to him because your posting does not deal with a “government-related” matter. This contention can easily be handled.
2. POW Network did have sufficient contacts with the State of Maryland to warrant his suing you there. Yet he has not produced adequate proof of what is a mere assertion.
3. As to the statute of limitations, Mr. Coppinger’s lawyer continues to claim that his client did not know of your posting until shortly before he sued—within the statute of limitations
I will continue to keep you informed.
Sincerely, /s/ Henry Mark Holzer
Hiya Jim, thought there might be a slight interest in some koinkydinkal stuff, Maryland and suites and all.
December 28, 2005
Re: Coppinger v. Charles Schantag, Mary Schantag and POW Network
UPDATE 5
Dear Mary and Chuck:
As you know, Mr. Coppinger died suddenly on December 19th.
By itself, that fact is sufficient to terminate the case against both of you and POW Network because, as Washington counsel has informed you, under Maryland law a defamation/”false light” case, being personal to the plaintiff, “abates” (automatically terminates) upon his death.
In light of his client’s death, Mr. Coppinger’s counsel has filed with the court a discontinuance of the case. Although he has filed it unilaterally “without prejudice,” which means that technically it could be filed again, there is no longer a plaintiff.
You are also aware that together with the discontinuance, Mr. Coppinger’s counsel filed with the court some nineteen pages which, in his opinion, exonerate his client. The documents speak for themselves, and readers can form their own judgments as to whether or not they accomplish that.
Sincerely,
/s/ Henry Mark Holzer
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