- Upcoming Events
-
July 22, 2003 - 7:00 PM
- Libertarian Discussion Group. Kalamazoo-St. Joseph Valley Libertarian Party (Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph Counties). Open to the public.
- Location: Denny's Restaurant, 3817 E Cork, Kalamazoo, Sprinkle and Cork at I-94.
- Contact: Gerald Phillips Phone: (269) 382-0927 E-mail: gaphillips@jasnetworks.net
-
July 23, 2003 - 6:30 PM
- LP of Oakland County General Membership Meeting. Public welcome. Meet for dinner at 6:30pm, business begins at 7:30pm.
- Location: Sila's Restaurant, 4033 W. 12 Mile Rd, Berkley. Sila's is 2 blocks east of Greenfield on Twelve Mile Road.
- Contact: Nathan Allen Phone: (248) 891-3003 E-mail: chair@LpocMi.org
-
July 23, 2003 - 7:00 PM
- SWLMC will hold the fifth in a series of six "Politics, Pizza and Pop" discussion meetings open to everyone. Chairman Bill Bradley of the Van Buren County Liberation Party will lead a discussion on the topic "Losing Our Rights and What We Can Do About It"
- Location: St. Joseph, Pizza Hut, 2049 Niles Road, St. Joseph
- Contact: Bill Bradley Phone: (269) 637-4525 E-mail: bbradley@cybersol.com
-
July 24, 2003 - 7:30 PM
- Libertarian Party of Washtenaw County - Ann Arbor City Election Caucus and Planning Session.
- Location: Cubs' A.C. Restaurant, 1950 S. Industrial Highway, Ann Arbor.
- Contact: James Hudler Phone: (734) 475-9792 E-mail: aguli@provide.net
-
July 31, 2003 - 7:00 PM
- The Southwest Michigan Liberty Council will hold the last in a series of six "Politics, Pizza and Pop" discussion meetings open to everyone. Chairman Bill Bradley of the Van Buren County Liberation Party will lead a discussion on the topic of "Losing Our Rights and What We Can Do About It." Additional meetings may be scheduled later if needed.
- Location: Lawrence: Van Buren Conference Center. 490 South Paw Paw Street, Lawrence
- Contact: Bill Bradley Phone: (269) 637-4525 E-mail: bbradley@cybersol.com
-
August 4, 2003 - 7:00 PM
- Kalamazoo-St. Joseph Valley Libertarian Party Meeting. Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph Counties. Open to the public.
- Location: T.G.I. Friday's Restaurant, 5650 W Main, Oshtemo at State Hwy 131 and W Main (Kalamazoo).
- Contact: Gerald Phillips Phone: (269) 382-0927 E-mail: gaphillips@jasnetworks.net
-
August 10, 2003 - 2:00 PM
- Libertarian Party of Michigan Executive Committee Meeting. All dues-paying members are welcome.
- Location: LaSeniorita Restaurant, 2706 Lake Lansing Rd in Lansing
- Contact: Bill Gelineau Phone: (616) 897-0488 E-mail: chair@michiganlp.org
-
August 14, 2003 - 7:00 PM
- Libertarian Party of West Michigan’s monthly membership meeting,
drinks and dinner at 6:30 PM, meeting begins at 7:00 PM
- Location: Club North (Banquet Room)1359 Plainfield Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
- Contact: Tom Horan Phone: (616) 887-2428 E-mail: tomh@lpwm.org
-
August 21, 2003 - 7:00 PM
- Van Buren Libertarian group has the month August to enjoy our families. The next meeting will be September 18th as scheduled. The third thursday of each month.
- Location: Bill Bradley
- Contact: Bill Bradley Phone: (269) 637-4525 E-mail: bbradley@cybersol.com
-
September 11, 2003 - 7:00 PM
- Libertarian Party of West Michigan’s monthly membership meeting,
drinks and dinner at 6:30 PM, meeting begins at 7:00 PM
- Location: Club North (Banquet Room)1359 Plainfield Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
- Contact: Tom Horan Phone: (616) 887-2428 E-mail: tomh@lpwm.org
- More
- For more events, see the online calendar at:
- http://www.michiganlp.org/lpmonline/events.php
- LPOC v. Pappageorge
by Leonard Schwartz
Judge Rules that Pappageorge's False Remarks Are
Nonactionable Political Hyperbole
At a televised Troy City Council candidate debate in
February, Christina Pappageorge used her two-minute closing
statement to attack incumbent Martin Howrylak for being a
member of the Libertarian Party. She said that Martin and
the Libertarian Party encourage children to use illicit
drugs. Because he had already given his closing statement,
Martin had no opportunity to respond.
The Libertarian Party of Oakland County filed a
defamation lawsuit against Pappageorge, who is married to a
Republican state representative. David Collver was the LPOC
lead attorney, assisted by Leonard Schwartz.
Pappageorge filed a motion to dismiss the LPOC lawsuit.
The motion gave five grounds, each of which is sufficient
for dismissal:
1. Her closing statement was truthful.
2. Even if false, her statement is protected by the
First Amendment.
3. Her statement did not concern LPOC and it is not a
proper plaintiff.
4. She did not make her statement with malice.
5. Her statement did not harm LPOC.
At the July 14 hearing on this motion, Judge Martone
agreed with Pappageorge only on the First Amendment issue.
He ruled that her false remarks were nonactionable political
hyperbole protected by the First Amendment. And he dismissed
the lawsuit.
Although LPOC lost, Dave Collver and I don't feel that
the many hours we spent on this case was a waste of our
time. The lawsuit had some favorable effects.
1. As soon as we filed the lawsuit, Pappageorge and her
running mate, Jeanne Stine, stop all negative campaigning
against Martin Howrylak.
2. The lawsuit generated newspaper articles about
Pappageorge's vicious personal attack on Martin Howrylak.
The articles correctly reported that the Libertarian Party
advocates the decriminalization of drugs, but doesn't
advocate that children, or anyone else, use illicit drugs.
This lessened the harm from Pappageorge's lies.
In retrospect, with 20/20 hindsight, could we have done
anything that would have increased our chances of winning
the case? Yes. The plaintiffs should have been not only
LPOC, but also two LPOC officers who had not been candidates
for partisan office in 2000 or 2002 and two members who were
candidates for partisan office in 2000 or 2002 and who sign
affidavits that they plan to be candidates for partisan
office in 2004. Judge Martone hinted that he might have
ruled differently regarding those persons.
There was no point in having Martin Howrylak as a
plaintiff. When deciding what lies are permissible political
hyperbole, courts are most generous to the defendant when
the plaintiff is a rival candidate.
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- Leadership Conference August 10
by Bill Gelineau
The August 10 meeting of the LEC will take place at
LaSeniorita Restaurant, 2706 Lake Lansing Rd in Lansing at 2
pm. All members are welcome. This site was chosen to work in
conjunction with our first Leadership Conference of the
year. The Leadership Conference to start at 10 am and run
until about 1. Lunch and beverages will be available off the
menu as you wish. There is no food or other charge
obligation. The LEC meeting will run approximately 2 to 4.
Details on the conference will be posted on the website, LPM
on-line, and communicated to local affiliates.
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