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Free Republic LLC filed a Notice of Claim with the City of Fresno
Press Release Charles L. Doerksen, Attorney at Law | 09/22/03 | Jim Robinson

Posted on 09/22/2003 5:52:05 PM PDT by Jim Robinson

CHARLES L. DOERKSEN
ATTORNEY AT LAW
________________

ROWELL BUILDING
2100 Tulare Street, Suite 410
Fresno, California 93721
Telephone 559 233 3434
Facsimile 559 233 3939
E-mail doerksen@lightspeed.net

 

September 22, 2003

 

PRESS RELEASE

At 9:10 a.m. today, Free Republic LLC filed a Notice of Claim with the City of Fresno, arising from the Human Relations Commission’s news release of September 12, 2003, labeling it a "hate group." A copy of the Notice of Claim, without exhibits, is attached hereto.

The Notice of Claim, which is a legally required first step in filing a lawsuit against a public entity, puts the City of Fresno on notice that Free Republic LLC intends to file a lawsuit for defamation against (1) the City of Fresno, (2) the Human Relations Commission, and (3) Debbie Reyes, Chair of the Human Relations Commission.

Questions regarding this matter may be directed to this office, and additionally, Mr. Doerksen, as well as representatives of Free Republic LLC, can be made available in front of City Hall at 4:00 p.m., today, September 22, 2003, to answer questions if interest in this is expressed.

 

NOTICE OF CLAIM
(Government Code § 900, et seq.)

This claim is being presented pursuant to Government Code Section 900, et seq., Miller v. Hoagland (1966) 247 Cal.App.2d 57, 61-62 (filing claim as prerequisite for defamation action against public entity and its employees), and all pertinent code sections, statutes and laws of the State of California.

A. NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE CLAIMANT:

B. NAME AND ADDRESS OF PERSON TO WHOM CLAIMANT DESIRES

NOTICES TO BE SENT:

C. DATE, PLACE AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES GIVING RISE TO THE

CLAIM:

Claimant is an independent, grass-roots, conservative organization. Its purpose is to root out political fraud and corruption, to roll back decades of governmental largesse, and to champion causes which further conservatism in the United States of America.

This claim arises from defamatory oral statements and/or more permanent publications made by and/or disseminated by the City of Fresno, by and through its Human Relations Commission, and certain public employees and/or agents of the City of Fresno acting in the course and scope of their employment and/or agency, the identities of which are currently unknown (hereinafter, collectively the "City of Fresno"). Claimant is informed and believes, and thereon alleges, that the Human Relations Commission for the City of Fresno is composed of up to 17 members appointed by the City Council and the Mayor, and has a budget for the 2003 fiscal year estimated at $193,100. Each Council member appoints two members while the Mayor appoints three members. The specific identities of such public employees/agents are currently unknown, but are expected to include, at a minimum, Debbie Reyes, Chair, Human Relations Commission for the City of Fresno.

On or about September 12, 2003, the City of Fresno disseminated a News Release entitled, "Human Relations Commission News Release," a true and correct copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and made a part hereof (hereinafter, the "Release"). The Release refers to claimant as "a hate group." In addition, the Release states: "This group has also planned a ‘Free Republic Hate Rally Picnic’ in District 6," and accuses claimant of making "threats of violence toward any minority groups that interfere with their rally or picnic." The Release constitutes a false and unprivileged fixed representation to the eye which exposes claimant to hatred, contempt, ridicule, or obloquy, causes it to be shunned or avoided, and has a tendency to injure claimant in its occupation, trade or business. In addition, the Release charges claimant with a crime in that it accuses claimant of making "threats of violence" towards minority groups.

Claimant is informed and believes, and thereon alleges, that the City of Fresno has made other false and unprivileged statements, either orally or by writing, printing, or other more permanent medium, which have exposed claimant to hatred, contempt, ridicule, or obloquy, and which have caused claimant to be shunned or avoided, and have injured it in its occupation, trade or business. (As used in this Notice of Claim, the term "Publication" shall hereinafter refer to the Release as well as to all other defamatory oral statements and/or more permanent publications made by and/or disseminated by the City of Fresno.)

D. CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES:

Defamation. The City of Fresno (previously defined to include the City of Fresno, and certain public employees and agents of the City of Fresno acting in the course and scope of their employment and/or agency, the identities of which are currently unknown), wrongly referred to claimant as "a hate group" and accused claimant of planning a "hate rally" and making "threats of violence toward any minority groups that interfere with their rally or picnic," notwithstanding the City of Fresno’s failure and inability to produce even a scintilla of competent evidentiary or legal support for such defamatory statements. True and correct copies of articles from The Fresno Bee, dated September 14 and 16, 2003, are attached hereto as Exhibit "B" and "C," respectively, and made a part hereof (hereinafter, the "Articles"). The Articles attribute statements to Mayor Autry that (1) there is no evidence that claimant is a hate group, (2) the Human Relations Commission is "using the City of Fresno as a tool to attack people without cause," (3) describing the Publications as "inflammatory, reckless, irresponsible and dangerous," and (4) explaining "the worst thing you can say is they’re a hate group." Furthermore, Debbie Reyes, Chair, Human Relations Commission for the City of Fresno, has admitted that her "proof" for making the Publications was not "solid." (See Fresno Bee article dated September 16, 2003.)

The Publications are false and unprivileged statements, either orally or by writing, printing, or other more permanent medium, which have exposed claimant to hatred, contempt, ridicule, or obloquy, and which have caused claimant to be shunned or avoided, and have injured it in its occupation, trade or business. As a result of the defamatory Publications, claimant is entitled to be compensated by the City of Fresno (and the responsible public employees/agents).

The Publications constitute defamation (i.e. libel and/or slander per se) based upon Civil Code Sections 45 and 46 (as well as other statutory and judicial authority):

    1. Libel. The California Legislature has defined libel as a "false and unprivileged publication by writing, printing, picture, effigy, or other fixed representation to the eye, which exposes any person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, or obloquy, or which causes him to be shunned or avoided, or which has a tendency to injure him in his occupation." (Cal. Civ. Code § 45.)

    2. Slander. The California Legislature has defined slander as "a false and unprivileged publication, orally uttered, and also communications by radio or any mechanical or other means which: (1) Charges any person with crime, or with having been indicted, convicted, or punished for crime; … (3) Tends directly to injure him in respect to his office, profession, trade or business, either by imputing to him general disqualification in those respects which the office or other occupation peculiarly requires, or by imputing something with reference to his office, profession, trade, or business that has a natural tendency to lessen its profits." (Cal. Civ. Code § 46.)

E. AMOUNT OF CLAIM:

Claimant seeks general damages for loss of reputation, shame and mortification. Claimant seeks special damages with respect to damages it has suffered to its business, trade, profession or occupation. Finally, claimant requests exemplary damages for the sake of example and by way of punishing the responsible public employees/agents for making the defamatory Publications with actual malice. Claimant is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that the public employees/agents possessed a state of mind arising from the ill will toward the claimant, and did not have a good faith belief in the truth of the defamatory Publications. Accordingly, the acts of public employees were made with actual malice, and were fraudulent and justify the imposition of punitive damages.

Claimant’s damages are currently unknown, but are anticipated to be well in excess of $1,000,000, but regardless, are in excess of the minimal jurisdictional limits of an unlimited civil case.

F. WITNESSES/PUBLIC EMPLOYEE(S) CAUSING INJURY:

At this time, claimant believes that the following persons, in addition to its members (including but not limited to Jim Robinson), would have knowledge regarding the events of this claim and/or participated in the acts and/or omissions which caused the injury to claimant:

Dated: September ___, 2003



TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Announcements; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: banglist; cityoffresno; claim; debbiereyes; freerepublic; fresno; fresnosuit; hategroup; hrc
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To: Jim Robinson
How the Republican party could learn from you. Go get them!
241 posted on 09/22/2003 7:24:46 PM PDT by A-teamMom
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To: Rodney King; Jim Robinson
LOL

BUT WHAT A WONDERFUL IDEA!

A lot better than Shrillery Antoinette de Fosterizer de Sad would do stalking and Fosterizing the rest of her life out of pure evil vengeance.
242 posted on 09/22/2003 7:25:26 PM PDT by Quix (DEFEAT her unroyal lowness, her hideous heinous Bwitch Shrillery Antoinette de Fosterizer de MarxNOW)
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To: viaveritasvita
"the name of Jesus Christ makes a lot of people screech like demons from hell."

Which reveals a great deal about the source of their nastiness and lack of tolerance for anything that obstructs their agenda.

243 posted on 09/22/2003 7:25:58 PM PDT by sweetliberty ("Having the right to do a thing is not at all the same thing as being right in doing it.")
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To: sweetliberty
There is a guy I work with that has been spreading around that I am in a cult because of my association with FR.

Oh no!! Are you in any danger of losing your job??? Can you appeal to higher-ups for "retraction and apology??"

244 posted on 09/22/2003 7:26:49 PM PDT by viaveritasvita
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To: StriperSniper
Yeah, tarring and feathering should be sufficient.

We can leave the shredders to deposed Iraqi's.
245 posted on 09/22/2003 7:27:51 PM PDT by Quix (DEFEAT her unroyal lowness, her hideous heinous Bwitch Shrillery Antoinette de Fosterizer de MarxNOW)
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To: MEG33
You are looking pretty peaked my friend. I think you need to be joined as a plaintiff, too.
246 posted on 09/22/2003 7:28:06 PM PDT by CholeraJoe (Wesley Clark:"I missed starting WW III in Kosovo. Give me another shot.")
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To: Jim Robinson; CarolAnn
AMEN!!!!!
247 posted on 09/22/2003 7:28:55 PM PDT by Humidston (Do not remove this tag under penalty of law)
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To: sweetliberty
Ouch! Some hateful people out there...
248 posted on 09/22/2003 7:28:56 PM PDT by Chad Fairbanks ("People never grow up, they just learn how to act in public." - Bryan White)
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To: Jim Robinson
Great
249 posted on 09/22/2003 7:28:57 PM PDT by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Rush agrees with me 98.5 % of the time.)
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To: Mama_Bear
WOW.

HIDEOUS HYPORATS!
250 posted on 09/22/2003 7:29:25 PM PDT by Quix (DEFEAT her unroyal lowness, her hideous heinous Bwitch Shrillery Antoinette de Fosterizer de MarxNOW)
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To: sweetliberty
Which reveals a great deal about the source of their nastiness and lack of tolerance for anything that obstructs their agenda.

Yes, whether they know it or not, their agenda is the agenda of their source. Useful idiots is an understatement of Biblical (and eternal) proportions!

251 posted on 09/22/2003 7:29:41 PM PDT by viaveritasvita
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To: Chad Fairbanks
And I'm not even in Fresno - so I know it wasn't anywhere near as bad as it was down there. I'm sorry to hear about what you had to deal with - but hopefully you were able to convincve them of the truth... Thanks, we were, I think. We have owned a business here for over thirty years and it's a fairly small town. Most people know the kind of people we are. We are more concerned about the people who don't know us and will just believe the headlines.

Everyone who is affiliated in any way with FR has been damaged, IMO. There absolutely must be consequences when a taxpayer funded commission becomes, as Fresno Mayor Autry put it, "politically intoxicated" and blatantly and publicly attacks groups who do not fall in line with their particular political position.

252 posted on 09/22/2003 7:29:48 PM PDT by Mama_Bear ( Lori)
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To: Jim Robinson
Atta boy, Jim. LOL. If we win this . . . can we skip the annoying fund raiser banners for at least ONE MONTH? Just kidding . . . hell, I'm a monthly donor anyway.
253 posted on 09/22/2003 7:30:09 PM PDT by geedee (Us pro-lifers would've made an exception for Pee Wee Clinton if we'd known.)
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To: viaveritasvita
"Are you in any danger of losing your job??? "

No. Nothing like that. He is just doing it to aggravate me. There are several people that I work with that think getting picked on is part of my job description. It isn't nice to bash the Clintons around those that worship them you know. I have a bit of a reputation in that regard.

254 posted on 09/22/2003 7:30:29 PM PDT by sweetliberty ("Having the right to do a thing is not at all the same thing as being right in doing it.")
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To: bigfootbob
Can You Hear Me Now?

Very appropriate. Some of the above named didn't bother to return my calls at the beginning of this.

255 posted on 09/22/2003 7:30:47 PM PDT by ladyinred (The left have blood on their hands.)
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To: Jim Robinson
Best of luck, JimRob. I'm proud of you for doing this. It proves, once again, that you are a man of character. All freepers were impuned by the behavior of the people in government positions in Fresno. It's nice to know that our leader will stand up for us. Thank you.
256 posted on 09/22/2003 7:32:04 PM PDT by basil
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To: Rodney King
"if you win 10 million bucks I suggest that you set up a program to pay for 5 people to freep Hillary 24/7 for the rest of her life."

ROTFL! That is so diabolically appealing!

257 posted on 09/22/2003 7:32:04 PM PDT by sweetliberty ("Having the right to do a thing is not at all the same thing as being right in doing it.")
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To: Alberta's Child; Trteamer; SJackson; MeeknMing; cpforlife.org; davidosborne
Excellent! I'm glad to hear that.

Thanks so much for pings, everyone.

258 posted on 09/22/2003 7:32:05 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul (The Tombot's motto is: "I'm opposed to whatever Arnold says, and most definitely against it")
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To: Mama_Bear
I agree 100%, Mama Bear...
259 posted on 09/22/2003 7:33:41 PM PDT by Chad Fairbanks ("People never grow up, they just learn how to act in public." - Bryan White)
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To: viaveritasvita
I know from experience that the name of Jesus Christ makes a lot of people screech like demons from hell.

Isn't that how vampires react?

260 posted on 09/22/2003 7:33:48 PM PDT by Overtaxed (Back in Kansas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 239 | View Replies]


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