I am going to respond to one issue that you have raised: The "frivolous lawsuit."
Back, several years ago, before a lawsuit had ever been filed, there was a lot of talk going on among a nubmer of peple which included people not defendants in the current lawsuit.
There was an attitude of gleeful expectation that it would be to the advantage of the 3-ABN critics if 3-ABN would file a lawsuit. It was correctly pointed out that the defendants would enjoy some legal advantages is 3-ABN filed and they became defendants. There was great joy when the lawsuit was filed in the 1st Federal Court District as it was thought that would be a major advantage to the defendants.
There was talk of law students becomming involved in various aspects of the case that they could do and of well-known lawyers donating their free time.
I was approached and asked if I would like to join the lawsuit as a defendant. My answer was a very loud NO.
I will also say that many of the issues raised in the lawsuit cannot be resolved by any means other than litigation. Come now, can the issue of copyright be resolved in any other manner.
As you well know, even if you disagree, denominational policy is that the "church" is not to act (nor can it act) as a civil magistrate. Therefore, it agrees that civil lalwsuits may be appropriate for issues that can not be resolved in any other manner.
"Frivolous," hardly. Painful, yes to you and Gailon. I am sorry for the pain that is being caused to you and your family. But, the lawsuit is exactly what I suspect some prayed that God would cause to happen.
I repeat: I do not believe, as I review the record, and have talked to attorney friends of mine that the 3-ABN attornies have treated you as harshly as they could have. I do not see them going for "blood."
You need to reconsider your position as a defendant in this litigation.
No one has ever asked you to lie about anything. Don't raise that as an issue. You lose credibility by raising such.
Gregory Matthews
Mr. Gregory, your recollection is apparently flawed. Prior to service and from the end of Decmber up until service was rendered, I AM THE ONLY PERSON THAT ASSERTED DANNY LEE SHELTON WOULD FILE SUITE You did not agree.
The filing in Massachusetts did indeed prove to be a major advantage, including the defeat of the Motion to Impound. The only other option would have been Minnesotta. One would think that would have been a major advantage to a firm based in Minneapolis. But they elected my back yard in a court with a judge who is a sound constitutionalist. Are you suggesting it was not an advantage? Is your analysis somehow gone awry? Explain!!!
As to well known lawyers "donating their time" that is a serious mis-statement. We did work to make available counsel on both west and east coast to pursue various claims of OTHERS damaged by various actions of 3ABN, including Linda Sue Shelton, other 3ABNers, trust services staff and various others. Most have declined to pursue their claims, the good little church memebers or denominational employees that they be.
You were a player in convincing Linda not to pursue her claims. Seems you are big on Civil process to resolve certain issues until it crosses your personal philosophy or personal preservation concerns. BUT AT NO TIME DID I EVER SUGGEST YOU BECOME A DEFENDANT!!! Nor have I ever suggested I wanted to add you as a third party defendant, despite your role and the evidence you provided.
AT NO TIME DID I EVER SOLICIT ANY HELP FROM ANY ATTORNEY FOR OUR OWN CASE. In fact, I have unilaterally refused assistance from various counsel, including public citizens, for some very specific reasons. And you, of all the people, have been privy to and known exactly why!!!
None SDA law students would not be useful to this process at this point, although I do not recall suggesting I would bring any such group into the case, despite their ready availability.
As to the rest of your psychological pablum, lets clarify one thing, defendants do not select their status. We have not counterclaimed. We have simply defended. Nothing eleborate, yet.
As to the issue of copyright, well lets just say THAT IS FRIVOLOUS and you know very well why, unless your counsel are seriously challenged. If you wish to debate that here, I suspect we would be willing to enlighten your sudden ignorance on the issue. And we do have attorneys that have offered to deal with that issue at the proper time. We are still a ways from "dispositive motions" and discovery is still alive and well. It is the current focus and will be for a few months yet.
Gregory, it is very clear that you have your own agenda and has been clear since the beginning of the year: Preserve Gregory!!!. Just remember we have loads of evidence that conclusively demonstrates that you have conveniently buried your views on certain issues. If you would like me to share that, to demonstrate your amusing little revisionist effort, I shall be most happy to accomodate.
Let me also contradict your view on "civil magistrate". Conciliation has long been the preferred solution to controversy between the brethren. An eccliastical process would have been the far better process for preserving the rights of the parties and restoring the brotherhood. US Civil courts are adversarial, not conciliatory. Therefore, let me go on record to state emphatically I disagree with your non biblical premise. Copyright and any other controversy could easilly be resolved by the parties meeting together as a minimal start. And how many times did we offer to meet with the 3ABN board? Would you like us to publish the record?
Then electing a conciliation process would be the appropriate alternative dispute resolution. WE DID NOT CLOSE THAT DOOR, 3ABN DID, if your recollection is still intact. ANd again we proposed meeting directly with the brethren (the 3ABN Board). And again, actually several times, we were deemed "no-bodies" and not worthy of sitting at the same table. I seem to recall you would have been part of that process, assuming you would show up. So, they elected to sue "no-bodies" in a civil magistrate. Ignore due process, conciliation and elect adversarial law.
Mr Gregory, there was no good biblical or ecclesistical basis for what has gone on here and we have now way too much evidence to simply walk away and desert outr station, regardless of your philosophies.
In the subject case, it is exactly the issue of due process and the right to face ones accusers that 3ABN has repeatedly avoided. In case after case they have been fortunate to find spineless believers that would not face them down and stand for the rights of victims. They have consistently avoided due process. So, they chose a new battlefield. They can no longer avoid due process, something they are not use to. We have elected to meet them there, something you have taken great pains to avoid.
I trust you know what I think of deserters. That is right, deserters!!!
But don't you dare misrepresent by innuendo or otherwise the real history or you will be met head on!!! I would think you would know by now we take exception to factually challenged statements. When you move that direction you will be corrected.
As to your legal counsel, I have read your paranormal legal analysis and you can pass back the following message...ignorance is bliss but it is also ignored.
Tell her she needs a vacation from her paranoias!!! You have promoted her for going on two years now (yes, I remember the call promoting her availability) and my position remains the same...I do not get into bed with the enemy!!!
I do not desert my post!!! And I will not partner with non-believers.
Now, put your military training to good use and re-evaluate where you stand, before the sand erodes your wanton position.
Gailon Arthur Joy