Posted on 10/16/2006 7:01:04 PM PDT by Physicist
For Immediate Release
October 17, 2006
Philadelphia A special three judge panel of the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals will convene tomorrow to decide whether a Civil Rights suit may proceed against Governor Ed Rendell for his alleged role in the 1998 teamster beating of two Clinton protesters outside Philadelphias City Hall.
Rendell, Philadelphia mayor at the time, has since admitted in a deposition to personally inviting teamster boss John Morris and Local 115 members to attend the rally, despite knowing their propensity for using violence. Rendell acknowledged that he had specifically instructed the teamsters to drown-out Clinton Protesters.
Moments before the October 2, 1998 beating, Morris was caught by several news cameras marking one Clinton protester for attack by placing a Fedora over his head. The teamsters then charged the man, Don Adams, and his sisterknocking both to the ground before viciously assaulting them. Mr. Adams was treated at an area hospital for a concussion, lacerations, and several bruises.
According to a statement from Morris top deputy, Mr. Rendell later tried to console Morris about the negative publicity the teamsters had generated by promising no charges would be filed against him and by suggesting ways to have the victim, Mr. Adams, prosecuted.
In July, 1999, Mr. Adams stood trial after several teamster women alleged he had assaulted them prior to his own beating. Mr. Adams was found not guilty and the women have since recanted their stories.
Morris was never charged. He died in 2001. Five teamsters pled guilty to various assault and conspiracy charges and were given probation.
Three judges from outside the 3rd Circuits jurisdiction were recruited to hear the appeal after the appellees filed a motion asking the entire circuit to recuse itself due to the fact Rendells wife, Judge Marjorie Rendell, sits on the Circuit.
The case will be heard on Wednesday, October 18, at 1:30 p.m., in the Albert Branson Courtroom, 19th floor, Federal Court House, Philadelphia, PA.
For further information, contact Teri Adams, ###-###-####.
Thank you onyx! We surely need them.
I'm worried for you, but feel sort of confident too. Understand?
Got it. Your mixed feeling are appropriate in this instance. There is a ray of hope, however. : )
It is hard for me to believe that you guys are still going forward with this. I mean, the expenses must be high.
I was so shocked when Larry Klayman, representing you, became a jerk.
No matter what Tom Fitton at Judicial Watch says,Klayman ruined their practice forever. Good.
Good luck in the future and sure hope you both get some satisfaction out of this.
So proud of Physicist for keeping us posted on this.
YOU were there? Girl we hafta talk, lol!
Per, financially, the good folks at Free Republic, have helped us to pay the expenses of this case. We couldn't have continued without their generosity.
But we have paid dearly in countless, other untold ways.
i saw it on TV live-trust me I am living something live right now.If you are out there they make you pay.Gotta love the people who want them in power.Little do they know.
Prayers for your difficulties also.
You will never have to remind me, I lived in New Jersey at the time and it was one of the sickest things I remember seeing on the news. I can't say I am the least bit sad that the scumbag Johnny Morris is rotting in Hell.
Thank you for your support. We've been at this a LONG time.
You will prevail, there is just too much evidence. I still can't believe that Johnny Morris said that you and Don attacked him ( I can't say that I feel sorry that he died.)
Panel weighs reviving lawsuit against Rendell
By Joseph A. Slobodzian
Inquirer Staff Writer
Gov. Rendell has not been Mayor Rendell since 1999, and legendary Teamsters boss John "Johnny" Morris has been dead four years.
But yesterday the content of two conversations between the men eight years ago continued to fuel a civil-rights lawsuit filed by Cheltenham siblings who contend that their free-speech rights were violated when they were beaten by Teamsters for heckling President Bill Clinton at an Oct. 2, 1998, appearance in Center City.
At issue before a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit yesterday was whether a federal judge properly dismissed the suit by Don and Teri Adams.
Don Adams, 46, and sister Teri, 47, contend that members of Teamsters Local 115 ended their anti-Clinton demonstration with a beating because Rendell had earlier called Morris, asked for a union presence at Clinton's appearance, and said the Teamsters should "drown out" anti-Clinton protesters.
"How are we supposed to decide what drown out means?" asked Judge Louis F. Oberdorfer, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
"It's not for anybody in this room to decide what drown out means," replied the Adamses' attorney, Earl N. Mayfield 3d.
Mayfield argued that question should have been left to a jury to decide, not to U.S. District Judge William H. Yohn Jr., who dismissed the Adamses' lawsuit in August 2003.
Jane E. Istvan, a deputy city solicitor representing Rendell and the Teamsters union in the appeal, argued that Yohn made the right decision because the Adamses had not found any corroborating evidence to show the phrase drown out was a tacit agreement between Rendell and Morris to use force to silence anti-Clinton protesters.
Istvan added that, in that same telephone call, Rendell also told Morris he wanted the crowd greeting Clinton to be "extremely peaceful and extremely positive."
The judges held the case for further review and gave no indication when they might rule.
All three judges were specially named to hear the appeal after Mayfield asked the Third Circuit's own judges to recuse themselves because Rendell's wife, Marjorie O. Rendell, is a Third Circuit judge appointed by Clinton in 1997.
Clinton, then embroiled in the scandal involving his sexual contacts with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, was to be in Philadelphia on Oct. 2, 1998, for a Democratic fund-raiser hosted by Rendell at City Hall.
According to court documents, Rendell wanted to buoy the president's spirits and called 15 to 20 groups urging them to line Clinton's motorcade route with a strong show of support.
Among those Rendell called was Morris, then 72, the fiery, strong-willed secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 115.
At Clinton's visit, Local 115 members wearing "Teamsters for Clinton" T-shirts were on hand at City Hall, as were the Adamses and sign-carrying anti-Clinton protesters who chanted "Impeach Clinton now."
At one point, according to court documents, Don Adams and Morris exchanged words. Morris then put his own hat on Adams' head, and several Teamsters rushed forward and began beating him.
Teri Adams, a probation officer, jumped in to try to protect her brother. Both were injured, Don Adams more seriously, with a concussion and broken ribs.
Later that day, court records say, Rendell called Morris again to "console" the union leader and assure him "nothing is going to happen to these guys," referring to Teamsters videotaped attacking the Adamses.
Mayfield argued that Rendell knew of Local 115's history of violent confrontations, and that "drown them out" was code for using force.
Mayfield said Rendell's second call to Morris was further proof, because the mayor was guaranteeing Morris his members would not be prosecuted.
Istvan, however, told the judges that the second conversation was "one of consolation, not concealment," and that it would be improper to infer a conspiracy by the men to violate the Adamses' free-speech rights.
In any event, Istvan noted, five Local 115 members were charged with the assault, pleaded guilty in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, and were sentenced to probation.
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Contact staff writer Joseph A. Slobodzian at 215-854-2985 or jslobodzian@phillynews.com.
Pinging the list!
If you want on or off the Don Adams ping list, please let me know!
Thanks for the update.
Extra prayers for Don and Terri
You're more than welcome, Ter.
You & your brother have had a tremendous impact on my life by showing me what "courage" looks like.
So it is I who thanks you, Ter. ;^)
"Please see repy #45!...Because this hearing is of a more delicate nature than the others, we do not feel at liberty ourselves to discuss it in greater detail and hope you all understand."
Of course.
But I also find it ironic your tack is the exact opposite choice of any legal matter involving a Liberal-Socialists, too.
Know what I mean?
First thing the Liberal-Socialist does -- *guaranteed* -- following a hearing & regardless the delicacy of the matter, especially if/when a "gag order" has been issued?
Immediately seek out the microphones & cameras usually on the steps of the courthouse.
All in an obvious effort at swaying public opinion & thereby influence a judgment in their favor.
The shtick usually works too, that's the sad part.
"Some media was present from the Philadelphia Inquirer and Bulletin. We hope they cover the matter..."
Don't hold your breath.
If this ever receives any attention -- whatsoever -- it'll surely come after the election, when Rendell's {sp?} been reelected.
Talk about, "criminal".
~sigh~
... -BTTT-
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