The Quad City Times which has quite an extensive readership in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois did an article on the Seafarers Action against me today. I have place the article on the Seamen's Justice Center web page at:
http://seafarersrankandfile.typepad.com/seajustice
I finally found an attorney that is willing to give me some guidance at an hourly rate of $200 dollars. That means I can afford him for 2 1/2 hours with the present funds I have in my Defense Fund. The Total collected so far is $550 dollars of which I have expended so far, 50 dollars. This amount was from the generous donations of a Retired Radio Officer and an SIU seaman and his mother.
Again, I ask everyone who has an interest in Justice to give what you can, if you can. If you can't , I understand. I realize the monetary pressures that we all feel today, especially when living on a fixed income.
My goal is to come up with $5,000 dollars(its a lofty goal, but if I do then I can successfully defend against this S.L.A.P.P. suit. The lawyer that I counseled with believes that the case is without merit. A union cannot be defamed and the things I printed on the web for informational purposes are protected by the first amendment , so says the Supreme Court of the United States.
In order for them to prevail they are going to have to prove malice toward ? who? I do not know that question yet as their pleadings are so vague as to be unanswerable. Until they identify the officer who they think has been defamed their suit has no buttons, so to speak. Of course there will be a counterclaim!!
Perhaps the SIU will publish the link to this blog, since Jordan Biscardo and John Sacco both visited the site today trying to crack into my computer.
