"AND I HELPED!"
(just kidding)
Posted on 03/21/2008 4:53:50 PM PDT by TAdams8591
PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE FOR CONSTITUIONAL JUSTICE P.O. 306, Cheltenham, PA 19012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Don Adams
CLINTON PROTESTERS AND TEAMSTERS END TEN YEAR LEGAL BATTLE
Philadelphia, PA (March 21, 2008) -- One of the few remaining civil suits stemming from the Clinton-era Lewinsky scandal—involving the vicious beating of two anti-Clinton siblings by pro-Clinton Teamsters outside Philadelphia’s City Hall during a 1998 presidential visit—settled out of court today.
The victims, Don Adams and Teri Adams, signed an agreement after Teamsters Local 115 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters opted to pay an undisclosed sum in exchange for dropping the suit, which included counts of assault, defamation of character, and malicious prosecution against the unions. A May, 2008 trial had been set by the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
“Today, my sister and I are declaring victory for the First Amendment and freedom of speech,” said Mr. Adams. “Every American citizen has the right to protest the actions of any U. S. President, whether he, or she, be a Clinton or a Bush.”
The October 2, 1998 attack occurred as Mr. Adams marched with a sign calling Bill Clinton a “liar, pervert, national shame.” Two Teamsters snuck up behind him and ripped the sign out of his hand. When he and his sister turned around to retrieve it, they were encircled by a mob of Teamsters led by (then) Local 115 officer and IBT Vice President, John Morris.
Mr. Morris rammed a fedora over Mr. Adams’ face, blinding him to the onslaught of Teamsters who proceeded to jump and pummel both Adamses.
Mr. Adams suffered head injuries (including a mild concussion), lacerations, bruising, and a herniated (neck) disc. He was treated at an area hospital. Ms. Adams, who tried to protect her brother, was bruised but not seriously injured.
The attack was captured on videotape by local news stations and broadcast nationally at a time when (then) Mayor Ed Rendell was trying to attract both the 2000 Democratic and Republican National Conventions to the “City of Brotherly Love.”
Mr. Rendell’s spokesman, Kevin Feeley, caused a public uproar when he responded to the incident by saying, “they [the anti-Clinton protestors] chose to make their views known in the faces of Teamsters—that, generally, is not a good career choice.”
(more) Clinton Protesters Page 2
Mr. Rendell subsequently admitted to inviting the Teamsters to the pro-Clinton rally— instructing them to “drown out [anti-Clinton] protesters.”
For his part, Mr. Morris spoke on camera to Bill Baldini of Channel 10 News—accusing Mr. Adams of hitting two female Teamsters and of belonging to the mafia.
District Attorney Lynne Abraham, who refused to criminally charge Mr. Morris for signaling the attack, prosecuted Mr. Adams on a trumped-up private criminal complaint lodged by Teamster Heather Diocson—despite news video evidence and police testimony exculpating Mr. Adams.
At Adams’ arraignment in January, 1999, Teamster attorney, Norton Brainard, offered to have the criminal complaint against Mr. Adams withdrawn on the condition that Mr. Adams drop his criminal allegations against the Teamsters. Mr. Adams declined the deal and was put on trial in July, 1999. He was found not guilty of simple assault and other misdemeanors. Mr. Adams was the only individual to stand trial in the entire matter.
In October, 2000, the Adamses filed a Federal Civil Rights suit—not only naming the Teamsters—but also Mr. Rendell and Ms. Abraham. All counts against Ms. Abraham were eventually rejected by the court on grounds of prosecutorial immunity.
In August, 2003, Federal Judge William Yohn dismissed the Adamses’ Civil Rights claims with prejudice—throwing the case out of Federal Court. In his decision, Judge Yohn set aside all federal charges against Mr. Rendell. The state counts against Rendell and the Teamsters, however, stayed in tact. The Adamses quickly appealed Judge Yohn’s ruling to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals and cross-filed their claims in state court.
Because Mr. Rendell’s wife, Marjorie Rendell, sat on the 3rd Circuit bench, the Adamses’ attorney, Trey Mayfield, asked the entire 3rd Circuit to recuse itself. After a long delay, the appellate court appointed an outside panel of judges to hear the case. In 2006, the panel upheld Judge Yohn’s ruling.
The Adamses immediately moved to activate the case in Common Pleas Court, where the remaining civil counts against Mr. Rendell were dismissed in January, 2008. . Last year, Judge Yohn ordered the Adamses to pay the Teamsters $15,000.00 in legal costs arising from the Federal suit. The Adamses, again, appealed Judge Yohn’s decision to the 3rd Circuit. The issue was rendered moot by today’s settlement, whose terms are confidential.
# # #
We regret that despite a valiant effort, we were unable to hold the politicians involved in this injustice, namely PA Governor Ed Rendell (than Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell) and Philadelphia, District Attorney Lynne Abraham, accountable, though we did our utmost to do so.
To all those generous supporters and contributors to the Don Adams Defense Fund, we are deeply and forever grateful for your comfort, assistance and prayers. We could not have made such an extraordinary effort without you. Thank you dear friends, one and all! : )
Physicist, if you can please ping the list whenever you are able!
It’s been a long fight, good for you.
Gee, seems like yesterday.
tet.
Ping for good news! : )
Thank you. It does seem like yesterday.
Teamster thugs get away with this sort of thing regularly.
In this instance, five were prosecuted and placed on probation.
I hope you took them for everything they’re worth. I remember when this happened, and have been following the serial injustices done to you. I’m glad you got something for your trouble.
Some justice is better than none at all. I’m sure you’re glad it’s over. I hope you are at least somewhat compensated for all you went through.
"AND I HELPED!"
(just kidding)
Please ping our fellow Pennsylvanians.
Thank you very much for following it lo these many years.
Didn’t the Teamster’s national organization come in and physically remove Morris from the headquarters and kick him out of the leadership?
God bless you and Don.
Yes. It took some doing even after this incident, but this matter definitely helped in the removal of John Morris as head of local 115, and entirely from the union.
I remember when this happened, it was like FreeRepublic
put us right there, the first time and certainly not the last.
Thank you! We could sure use God’s blessing. Good to hear from you and a sincere thank you for all your support! : )
It was on FR, before we even got home, though at the time, I was not yet a member.
What happened to you and Don could have happened to any of us who protested the corrupt Clinton administration. I’ve encountered enough union bullying over these past ten years, but luckily not as bad as what you and Don experienced.
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