Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Rowdy Girl Rescue loses defamation lawsuit, sanctioned by Judge - Mary Cummins


UPDATE: 08/04/2017 Rowdy Girl just released a press release about the loss. They have to pay $159,000 to Defendants. Unfortunately that money will probably come from the sanctuary. That means people donating money to animals will be paying the sanction caused by the owners of the sanctuary filing a frivolous lawsuit.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rowdy-girl-sanctuary-responds-to-the-unfavorable-court-ruling-in-defamation-lawsuit-300499883.html?tc=eml_cleartime

I was told they may have a press conference tomorrow.

ORIGINAL: This case is identical to my case except in my case they forged their exhibits and perjured their statements on top of this. If the Judges are fair and rule according to law and evidence I will have the same result with my appeal. My appeal is based on the Citizen Participation Act and the Defamation Mitigation Act. On top of this the court lacked jurisdiction and all alleged statements are outside of the statute of limitations. On top of all of this I never defamed plaintiffs.

"A Harris County District Judge has ordered the owners of an Angleton animal sanctuary to pay nearly $29,000 in sanctions for filing a frivolous, harassing lawsuit against critics of the sanctuary who called the operation a "scam" on Facebook.

Renee King-Sonnen and her husband Tommy Sonnen, who run Rowdy Girl, described as a "vegan" farm animal sanctuary, were also ordered to pay nearly $29,000 in defendants' attorneys' fees. The couple had sued the critics in February for $1 million, accusing them conspiring for nearly two years to disparage the sanctuary's reputation.  (Tommy Sonnen is also a sanctuary board member).

The critics — which included former volunteers and donors who questioned the nonprofit sanctuary's finances — raised questions on a Facebook page called The Real Rowdy Girl Revealed.

The defendants, which include Dallas child psychiatrist and former sanctuary donor Sujatha Ramakrishna, successfully sought to have the lawsuit dismissed with prejudice under the Texas anti-SLAPP statute, which is meant to safeguard against meritless defamation lawsuits.

In his lengthy reply, the critics' attorney, Adam Milasincic wrote, "There is no doubt what this lawsuit is designed to achieve — stopping the public debate about Rowdy Girl, and silencing critics who raise questions about Rowdy Gir's less-than-stellar fundraising and animal-welfare records."

A presiding judge agreed, ordering the plaintiffs on July 26 to pay $28,750 in sanctions, noting that "The Court considered lesser sanctions, but determined that [the amount] is necessary to achieve the [anti-SLAPP's] deterrent purpose. The Court concludes that, absent the sanction awarded, there is a material risk that Plaintiffs will continue to bring similarly unsuitable claims in the future."

http://www.houstonpress.com/news/judge-sanctions-vegan-animal-sanctuary-for-frivolous-lawsuit-9659025


Mary Cummins vs  Randy Turner, Randall Turner, Randall E Turner, Randall Eugene Turner, attorney, lawyer, fort worth, texas, tarrant county, second court of appeals, 352-248169-10, 352nd District Court, Judge Bonnie Sudderth, Justice Bonnie Sudderth, Judge William Brigham, Justice William Brigham, 2015-002259-2, 2015-002259-3, 02-12-00285-CV, 02-16-00165-CV, county court 3, Judge Mike Hrabal, Mike Hrabal, Judge Jennifer Rymell, Jennifer Rymell, defamation, libel, slander, breach of contract, forgery, fraud, perjury, disbar, unethical, unprofessional, inappropriate