JonMon lawsuit

[moechus.livejournal.com]

I have offered my help to a couple of people involved and earlier this evening I attended a meeting with a few people. I thought I should make my offer public to anyone who is involved. Feel free to contact me. In particular, if you got one of those obnoxious letters offering to settle, I would be happy to write a response to his lawyer (where I think the response should go, because I suspect his lawyer is unaware of these letters and they are highly improper).

By the way, I am a lawyer.

Comments

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this.

Mostly, though, I think what we need is a headcount. As I can attest, because despite being named multiple times in the suit I have yet to receive a letter, Jonmon is extremely inconsistent with who he's sending these letters to.

So, check in, folks. If you got a letter, let us know here.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

You rock, sir.

[also-huey.livejournal.com]

"On information and belief, Jonmon is a big poopy-pants" ?

[infinitemorning.livejournal.com]

I'm currently waiting to see if this whole suit will be thrown out of court once Ron and whatever counsel he's able to find muster a response, but I may well take you up on that. I received a letter on Saturday, but do not believe for a second that anything I've said is remotely actionable. Thank you, either way, for stepping forward.

[lizzielizzie.livejournal.com]

What infinitemorning said. Every single word applies to me as well.

And yes, thank you so very very much for stepping forward! I have been very concerned about Ron getting proper counsel.

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

Ditto me except that I got my letter yesterday (and it's dated Monday May 6). Since I wasn't involved in the LJ thread, this one takes me to task for a mix I posted to Zenrunningorder.com over three years ago, which doesn't mention him by name, but does point to the article that sparked all this, and a comment pointing to that mix in one of the recent threads (my comment also doesn't mention him by name).

Thanks you moechus.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

If I understand correctly, he brought suit against a woman awhile back who did not respond. Though the suit did not involve asking for monetary damages, I think she somehow wound up having to pay several thousand dollars after failing to show. Whatever she did may well not have been actionable, but the failure to respond appears to have cost her, fyi. (And if I don't understand correctly, my apologies and someone please clarify?)

[moechus.livejournal.com]

On my drive home this evening, I found myself composing a possible response to the letters. It would go something like this:

Dear Sir,

I am writing on behalf of a number of recipients of letters from your client concerning his lawsuit against Ron Newman and unnamed others (N.B. I do not represent Mr. Newman). A copy of several is enclosed [with the recipients name blacked out] so that you can get an idea of their tone and content. I understand that he has written many similar letters.

Some of the recipients were indeed posters to the livejournal threads referenced in the complaint; some were not. It does not matter. As you can see, these letters are highly improper; they are attempts to gain through intimidation and threats what he should be attempting to gain through the proper legal process (though I am highly doubtful of his chances for success). I am therefore confident that Mr. Monsarrat is doing this on his own without legal advice and without the knowledge of his counsel. And I thought it best to bring your client's actions to your attention. I trust that you will see to it that your client writes no more such letters.If Mr. Monsarrat has legitimate claims, he is free to bring them in court; only be certain that they will be met with a vigorous and comprehensive defense.

Sincerely, etc.

[ron_newman]

This, of course, will need to go to both his North Carolina lawyer and his Boston lawyer. (Why he has two, I do not know.)

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

Nice!

One of the things I learned to appreciate from my mother, who was a lawyer and a law professor, was that when a crazy persons "threatens" legal action against you this is usually a blessing. You get a lawyer to go and be sane with their lawyer, and the whole thing is in the hands of professionals. And whenever they try to talk to you directly, you now have their lawyer to go to instead and you no longer have to deal with the crazy person. [It's no fun for your lawyer if the crazy person has found crazy council, but at least there's a ritualized framework for the interactions.]

I do hope that Monsarrat finds appropriate treatment before his damage drives him to violence against others or himself. In the mean time he's leaving a breadcrumb trail to the depths of his disorders. They might someday aid mental health professionals in helping him back from it.

If I get a mystery letter, I'll be sure to contact you. Thank you.

[contradictacat.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! The only way I knew I was named in the suit/received a letter was through the kindness of my friends, since I'm currently living in China.

[myselftheliar.livejournal.com]

I received a letter and am fairly concerned, as I have been receiving phonecalls from an "blocked" number for days now. I am unsure what I should be doing.

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

You're doing what you should be doing. Don't respond to JonMon, and wait.

If your fear gets the better of you, take moechus up on his advice, and have a lawyer, possibly even moechus send a letter to *his* lawyer. It's highly distasteful to deal with this turd directly under ordinary circumstances. In these circumstances, it's most proper to let the legal process handle it.

[gingicat]

And for those who have not met you, I would like to say that you are one of the kindest and most competent people I have ever met, and I am glad you've stepped forward.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Yes, he is. He helped beowabbit and I find an accident lawyer when we were hit by a drunk driver recently. Plus, he's just a very good person in general.

[cnoocy]

I have received a letter.

[jikamens.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[molyflogs.livejournal.com]

Is JonMon mentally ill? this crazy lawsuit mess has some red flags that make me wonder. I know he's creepy. He was quite leery and emitted a strong creepy vibe when I crossed paths with him a couple years ago, but it occurs to me that he might be just straight up ill.

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's just my anxiety disorder acting up again, but I'm uneasy with the idea that somebody who behaves badly enough must therefore be mentally ill. Sure, Jonmon has shown all along that he is not wise or sensible. He's shown all along that he doesn't respect people's boundaries. There's a difference between not seeing a boundary, and trying to slide past it. He's not making completely wild attacks on whoever happens to be standing next to him--he's making deliberate attacks on people he believes to be vulnerable. That's not crazy, it's just mean.

[jmwolman.livejournal.com]

moechus, I have been contacted as well and I would be happy to coordinate with you. That said, please refrain from discussing strategy in a non-privileged forum.
ron_newman, funny thing about that North Carolina lawyer--according to the docket, as of this morning, he still has not moved to appear pro hac vice. If you have retained counsel, you may want to let your lawyer know.

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

I recognize your handsome mug from PopeHat. Welcome to the elljays, as they say, and thanks for following up.

[genesayssitdown.livejournal.com]

i have received a letter now.

[ron_newman]

Hardcopy? Sent to you or to your mother?

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

My letter just showed up at my job. .

[countlibras.livejournal.com]

I don't have a letter, thankfully, but I just wanted to say thank you anyway.

[halleyscomet.livejournal.com]

I received a letter on the 7th, over a post I made the day before, on the 6th.

[spatch]

I received one of the letters.

[bluesauce.livejournal.com]

I received an email, no letter as of yet.

[agharta75.livejournal.com]

I am now on the list, for a comment here:

http://davis-square.livejournal.com/3175488.html

Please let me know his lawyer's name, and add me to any private groups involved in this. I will be sending a letter to the lawyer with a cc to the Bar Association.

[kelkyag]

Per the document posted earlier, as of 30 April 2013, his local lawyer is:
David M. Click
BBO# 677043
Denner Pellegrino LLC
Four Longfellow Place, 35th Floor
Boston, MA 02144
617-277-2800
dclick@dennerpellegrino.com

His lead counsel is:
Mark W. Ishman
NC Bar #27908
Ishman Law Firm, P.C.
9660 Falls of Neuse Road
Suite 138-350
Raleigh, NC 27615
919-468-3266
mishman@ishmanlaw.com

[lawbard.livejournal.com]

I am licensed to practice law in Massachusetts, and I would like to offer my assistance in this case. Could the attorneys involved with coordinating representation please contact me via LJ message at their convenience?

[ron_newman]

I've sent you contact info for my lawyer in Cambridge.