Important story that should not be missed - the Charlotte Pritt Suit

[Sydnie]

http://www.woay.com/news.cfm?showarticle=E864F1D7-E317-4618-94627D8B21CFF767

Pritt's political lawsuit set for trial this week
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. (AP) - A lawsuit that alleges Republican commercials aired during the 1996 gubernatorial campaign were slanderous and libelous is expected to go to trial this week.

The trial comes nearly nine years after Democratic candidate Charlotte Pritt filed her case.

In preparing the case for trial, Fayette County Circuit Judge Paul Blake ruled with Pritt's lawyers that campaign commercials aired by her Democratic opponents in the 1992 and 1996 primary campaigns would not be viewed by jurors.
<snip>
She says the groups committed libel, slander and defamation by publishing false statements about her in ads that ran during the final weeks of her unsuccessful 1996 campaign against Republican Cecil Underwood.
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This could be a landmark case. We are always saying this one should sue or that one should sue .. Well, Charlotte is taking it literally and is sueing!

I know Charlotte. She was my teacher in high school. I can't explain just how much of an effect she had on all of us. She led by example.

She quit her teaching job the year after I graduated and came to continue her education at the same college I was attending. We continued our friendship there and she continued to inspire as an "equal".

She is an amazing progressive woman and made history by being the first woman ever to capture the nomination for govenor in WVa history.

Here's hoping that she wins this suit! The things they said about her in those ads were just horrible and should not be allowed to stand.

Go Charlotte Go!

edited to add -
Read about Charlotte here - http://www.digitas.harvard.edu/~perspy/old/issues/1996/may/stump.html

Read what they said about her here -- http://www.uexpress.com/coveringthecourts/index.html?uc_full_date=20020403

[Sydnie]

1. Can't sleep - giving this a kick! n/t

[Hubert Flottz]

2. I'll give it another kick...

Charlotte Pritt is a fine lady and a victim of DIRTY republican politics.(swiftboated) Underwood was a scumbag and so is the entire repig machine in WV. All they have to run on is big corporate money and dirty tricks.

[Disturbed]

3. Nine years.

Some didn't want this to go to the trial stage.

[Hubert Flottz]

4. This was where the Pubbies tested out their dirty tricks.

The coal barons own the media here.

[Genki]

5. It's why I can't get entirely behind Joe Manchin

I watched it unfold and the dirty tricks are hard to forget.

I spent some time w/ Charlotte this past summer and she is still one of the most kind, geniune and sincere people you could ever hope to meet. She has a work ethic that is out of this world.

Drew Pritt posted this as well:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=185x1933

[Hubert Flottz]

6. It turned me against Joe too!

He showed where he was really coming from back in that race. I voted for Charlotte Pritt. I went and heard Joe talk at his rally at Capitol High School back then, and I thought I was listening to a pro corporation repub. I trusted A James Manchin more than I trust Joey and I knew A James was a crook and a con/flim-flam man, but at least he didn't act all uppity like Joe does...

Joe's trying to make the state workers bow down when he walks into the room, is almost Bushlike! Making all the state people dress like rich people everyday, beats anything I ever heard of! I thought that Joe acted like an arrogant ass the first time I ever saw him in person. The more I find out about him the more I think I read him exactly right the first time. His using the mine disasters for photo shoots made me sick.

I never thought I'd say this, but I kind of miss Bob Wise!

I wish Charlotte Pritt would run again in 08, because I think she'd give Joe a REAL run for his money!

[Sydnie]

7. Well, it took a grass roots call for her to do it the first time

get moving! She lives what she believes and if she thought you all would get behind her, she just might give it another go!

[MountainLaurel]

10. Ditto, sort of

I was never really FOR Manchin to begin with, but his behavior and activities further soured my thoughts on him and his family.

[RazzleDazzle]

8. Sounds like a wonderful, inspirational woman

Thanks for sharing that. Keep us posted. This really is an important case. I'm not optimistic, but I'll remain hopeful.

[FreedomAngel82]

9. Please keep us updated

Maybe Kerry will sue the SBVT guys next.