Post by Gentle Giant News on Jan 17, 2007 1:54:27 GMT -5
This message is copied from older message board
www.gentlegiantnews.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=56&sid=37f1eab5dd2d1697488632a3b1e96ef9
USER NAME: MARC
Original message posted on: AUGUST 28, 2006
As most of you know, GG lost their suit against me, Barb, and Renee. They were forced to pay the legal fees for all 3 of us by the courts because the courts found their lawsuit to have been a misuse of the legal system and an attempt to stifle free speech, under the CA SLAPP statute. What most of you do not know is that I am counter suing them. By definition, a SLAPP suit is in effect a malicious law suit. And the law allows those who are sued maliciously to counter sue
My counter suit was filed June 14th, and named in it were the Wards, Gentle Giants Rescue, the Lawyer that represented them, and the law firm he worked for. So far we have been able to serve only the lawyer and his firm, on June 16th. The Wards (and therefore GG) have been ducking service ever since. They are refusing to answer their phone or intercom. This is their mature, adult, professional, response to being sued, they are trying to hide their heads in the sand.
I guess this shouldn't surprise me, given what all I have seen and heard about (and from) them. But I have to say it did surprise me. I didn't think they would respond in such an unprofessional manner. It's as if they think this is just going to go away if they pretend it doesn't exist.
They seem to think so highly of themselves, and tend to belittle everyone else in rescue. However when we were faced with being sued by them, we stood up and fought for our rights. We did not hide behind our locked gates hoping they would just go away. We did what we felt was the right thing to do, for us, and for everyone who has or will be threatened with a lawsuit by the Wards. For some of us, doing this was risky. We could have simply gotten the suit thrown out on a technicality, since we were not under the jurisdiction of that court. But we felt it was better to fight them on the issues. So we risked facing their bully tactics lawsuit.
How people behave under pressure can tell you a lot about them. I am proud of how we responded when we were under pressure. We remained professional and objective, and we stuck to the facts and the law. We stood up for what we felt was right. And we prevailed. Seems the Wards can't even stand up for themselves, let alone for an idea like doing the right thing.
Please people, do not let them frighten you with their saber rattling and their threats. The law is there to protect you, and it will. Just because they do not like something, does not make it illegal or give them the right to sue you. And the more they try to use the courts to bully people, like they did with us, and the local newspaper before us, the more it will cost them. You have rights, they can not take away your dog just because they do not like what you are doing. Nor can they sue you for speaking out. The only way they will be stopped is if people stand up to them, just like any school yard bully. The more people speak out about their experiences with GG and the Wards, and file complaints with Norco Animal Control, the sooner they will be shut down and dogs will find their way to safe responsible REAL rescues.
_________________
Marc Sayer
Journalist, Photographer, Dog Trainer
Board member - Western States Great Dane Rescue Association
Director of Operations & Training - Deaf Dane Rescue Inc.
Oakridge, OR USA
gracieland.org
www.gentlegiantnews.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=56&sid=37f1eab5dd2d1697488632a3b1e96ef9
USER NAME: MARC
Original message posted on: AUGUST 28, 2006
As most of you know, GG lost their suit against me, Barb, and Renee. They were forced to pay the legal fees for all 3 of us by the courts because the courts found their lawsuit to have been a misuse of the legal system and an attempt to stifle free speech, under the CA SLAPP statute. What most of you do not know is that I am counter suing them. By definition, a SLAPP suit is in effect a malicious law suit. And the law allows those who are sued maliciously to counter sue
My counter suit was filed June 14th, and named in it were the Wards, Gentle Giants Rescue, the Lawyer that represented them, and the law firm he worked for. So far we have been able to serve only the lawyer and his firm, on June 16th. The Wards (and therefore GG) have been ducking service ever since. They are refusing to answer their phone or intercom. This is their mature, adult, professional, response to being sued, they are trying to hide their heads in the sand.
I guess this shouldn't surprise me, given what all I have seen and heard about (and from) them. But I have to say it did surprise me. I didn't think they would respond in such an unprofessional manner. It's as if they think this is just going to go away if they pretend it doesn't exist.
They seem to think so highly of themselves, and tend to belittle everyone else in rescue. However when we were faced with being sued by them, we stood up and fought for our rights. We did not hide behind our locked gates hoping they would just go away. We did what we felt was the right thing to do, for us, and for everyone who has or will be threatened with a lawsuit by the Wards. For some of us, doing this was risky. We could have simply gotten the suit thrown out on a technicality, since we were not under the jurisdiction of that court. But we felt it was better to fight them on the issues. So we risked facing their bully tactics lawsuit.
How people behave under pressure can tell you a lot about them. I am proud of how we responded when we were under pressure. We remained professional and objective, and we stuck to the facts and the law. We stood up for what we felt was right. And we prevailed. Seems the Wards can't even stand up for themselves, let alone for an idea like doing the right thing.
Please people, do not let them frighten you with their saber rattling and their threats. The law is there to protect you, and it will. Just because they do not like something, does not make it illegal or give them the right to sue you. And the more they try to use the courts to bully people, like they did with us, and the local newspaper before us, the more it will cost them. You have rights, they can not take away your dog just because they do not like what you are doing. Nor can they sue you for speaking out. The only way they will be stopped is if people stand up to them, just like any school yard bully. The more people speak out about their experiences with GG and the Wards, and file complaints with Norco Animal Control, the sooner they will be shut down and dogs will find their way to safe responsible REAL rescues.
_________________
Marc Sayer
Journalist, Photographer, Dog Trainer
Board member - Western States Great Dane Rescue Association
Director of Operations & Training - Deaf Dane Rescue Inc.
Oakridge, OR USA
gracieland.org
