About the Plame/Wilson Legal Fund...

[Sammy Pepys]

I found the docs on the site for the fund, and the Final graph reads as follows:

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

Wherefore, the Plaintiffs request that the Court enter a judgement including, but not limited to:

A) Compensatory damages for violations of the United States Constitution and laws of the District of Columbia in an amount that is fair, just and reasonable;

B. Exemplary and punitive damages;

C. Attorney's fees and costs; and

D. All other appropriate relief as may be just and proper.

According to the legal fund site, the reason for the solicitations is as follows:

To help Ambassador Joseph Wilson and Valerie Plame Wilson pay for the substantial legal costs associated with the illegal leaking of Mrs. Wilson’s classified CIA status. This includes:

* Counseling them for their potential witness testimony during the upcoming trial of Scooter Libby; and

* Helping them to prepare for a civil suit that would uncover the truth surrounding the leak, ensure all relevant public officials are held accountable for actions depriving the Wilsons of their privacy and constitutional rights, and serve as a deterrent to similar crimes being committed in the future.

I wish the Wilsons the best but folks, save your money. They're looking for monetary damages here. I think the reason they're soliciting is that cases like these simply don't get very far. While I don't pretend to know the financial situation of the WIlsons, I doubt they're hurting for the money required to get this thing going. Take what you would've donated and give it to a foodbank.

Edited to fix tags.

[grasswire]

1. link?

thanks

[Sammy Pepys]

2. links

Wilson Legal Fund page:
http://www.wilsonsupport.org /

You can find the court docs there.

[H2O Man]

3. Really?

What background information do you have on this type of case that allows you to say they "simply don't get very far"?

[Sammy Pepys]

13. It's a Bivens action

They're not easy to win. The court will probably counter that Cheney has immunity by virtue of being Vice President. It took a Supreme Court decision to move a civil suit forward against a President the last time. The cards are stakced against the Wilsons from the start.

[H2O Man]

15. Well I hope

that DUers listen to Mr. Chemerinsky, and compare what he says with your analysis, and then decide if this is something they want to support or not.

[Sammy Pepys]

17. Hey, whoever wants to donate....

...that's their business. I just don't see the point. There are lots of other folks out there involved in legal tanglements that literally are going broke fighting them. I doubt this is going to put the Wilsons in the poor house.

I haven't heard if they're going to give any settlement money to charity...will they, should they win?

[Sydnie]

22. see post #20

It appears they have said what they will do with any "gains" they are awarded quite plainly.

[Saturday]

4. I have heard they will be donating any....

"winnings". Why not help them now? I plan to contribute. Libby had a fund raiser, why not Plame/Wilson?

[Sydnie]

5. Don't all civil cases result in monetary reparations?

I can't ever remember a case where the plaintiff was seeking a slap on the wrist or a public apology as a punitive outcome.

Sheesh!

We will allow them to wear the bullseye for a whole country (in search of truth and accountability) but we can't find it important enough to skip a Starbucks for the cause? All we can give them is lip service for support?

If you don't want to donate, don't donate. Making the argument for others not to donate ... not so cool.

edited - typo

[H2O Man]

Right.

People who are wondering about the case should watch Erwin Chemerinsky tonight on Countdown. He is from the Duke University School of Law, and is widely recognized as an authority on Constitutional law. He will be explaining why this case is important to the citizens of this country.

Watch it, and then decide who knows more about these cases.

[EFerrari]

12. Good suggestion as always, H2O Man. n/t

[Sammy Pepys]

14. Well of course he thinks it's important...

He's on the Wilsons legal team.

[H2O Man]

18. I am confident

that people who watch him will recognize he is on the case because he thinks it is important. Of course, there will be people who favor your insight rather than his.

[AngryAmish]

24. Should be talking to a civil rights/tort lawyer

That is what the case sounds in.

[oasis]

6. This thread did get (1) recommend so far which indicates at least 2

DUers are against the Wilson's taking on the Bush regime.

[Sydnie]

8. I am not sure they are against the action per say

just putting their money where their mouth is. See the difference?

[Sammy Pepys]

16. I'm not against them taking action...

I'm against them soliciting for money to do it.

[oasis]

19. Their fight is our fight. The least we can do is show support.

I was no fan of Dixie Chicks but I bought their CD to boost their sales because they took a stand.

Hillary's latest book, ect.

[mmonk]

7. Sorry but I gave.

They haven't won anything yet and those responsible have not been held accountable. It will all disappear like all the other things from our bought mainstream media without this suit. No need to refuse to help.

[AndyA]

9. I think they need all the help they can get.

They are standing up to the most corrupt administration in the history of this country. You know that big money will be spent on the other side, I say we stand behind the Wilson's and show them they have support.

[dogday]

10. Civil Suit = Monetary Damages

or something as substantial as to be sued for.

[EFerrari]

11. I am so happy to spend the cost of a good meal showing support

for the Wilsons.

I hope they get a ton of donations, big, small or tiny. Because they have more guts between them than the whole so called progressive Congressional leadership combined.

[GardeningGal]

20. You forgot to include what they plan to do if they win

Maybe you didn't know since you didn't link to the site, but it states clearly what they will do with the money if they win:

"Should the civil action result in a payment to Joe and/or Valerie Wilson that is in excess of all costs associated with their legal activities, the equivalent of all monies contributed to the Trust will be returned to the Trust. All Trust money will then be distributed by the trustees to a charitable organization(s) that works to protect government whistleblowers’ First Amendment rights and helps to defend them from retaliatory action."

http://www.wilsonsupport.org /

[Sydnie]

21. thank you for posting that

That's a gamble worth taking, IMHO.

[serryjw]

26. Absolutely,

I don't have much, but even a symbolic gesture of support is important. They have been wronged and the deserve their day in court. EVEN if they don't win ( which would have to be political) I'd love Cheney and Rove to have to take the stand under oath.

[Sammy Pepys]

23. I linked in a subsequent post.

And I'm not talking about the money donated, I'm talking about the money won from the settlement. It sounds to me like they are only going to donate back the amountthey received in the form of contributions. It does not sound like they will do this with any reward money they receive.

[Sydnie]

25. why should they do it with the rest of the money?

Donating the amount they received in donation should be enough. Should they not receive anything from the case at all? You would begrudge them the satisfaction of being paid for their disgraceful treatment? Why?

[Sammy Pepys]

29. My point is this:

1) The Wilsons are probably not people in financial need;
2) The Wilsons are the plaintiffs and initiated this case on their own;
3) If successful, it's reasonable to conclude that they could receive a hefty monetary settlement.

This thread is not begrudge them for going forward AT ALL (previous comments about the success rate of such suits aside). However, given the reasons enumerated above, I don't think it's unreasonable to wonder any money should be given to the Wilsons persuing this. Let 'em use their own money.

[GardeningGal]

28. Oh, I see

They've had their lives turned upside down because of the actions of those they are suing, but if they win then they should give all the money away because they set up a website for contributions to help them with the case.

Yeah, right....makes sense to me.

[Sammy Pepys]

30. My "charity" response...

...was to those who seem to be confusing the donations collected with the reward.

Hell, I hope they win and get a lot of $$$ and I want them to keep it. But they should put their own money forward to do it.

[Sydnie]

33. It's not a reward ... it's DAMAGES

The reward will be entirely OURS ... perhaps some truth will finally be revealed and more voters will wake up from the discussion of the case alone.

I don't see them riding off into the sunset with "ill gotten gains" if they win. I see them being paid with funds taken from these evil people who have hijacked our government and our country for the damages done to their careers, their lives and their reputations.

If they are to get any reward, it will be in the history books, as those that truly spoke truth to power.

[Sammy Pepys]

35. I just don't see it as being very productive....

...sorry. We've got Congressional races coming up in less than 4 months.

[Yoda Yada]

34. Such a VERY IMPORTANT point to remember.

The Bush machine is already revving up for their massive smear campaign accusing the Wilsons of being in it for the money. Don't let conversations get reframed in this way. State the reason for the lawsuit clearly .....AND.....get ahead of the Republican talking point and state (EVERY TIME) how the money will be used to "protect government wihistleblowers' rights and defend them from retalitory action."

Do not let them spin this issue into something else.

1) KNOW the reason for the lawsuit.

2) KNOW hot the money will be used for the good of ALL Americans who want to protect their First Amendment rights.

[Catherine Vincent]

27. I think most who will donate are doing it to show their support.

That's how it was for Libby, Clinton etc. The only person that probably did need donations for defense was that Linda Tripp traitor.

[sallyseven]

31. I just sent my contribution and I hope they beat the hell

out of bush and his toy boys.

[Chimichurri]

32. Speak for yourself. We complain all the time that we are never heard

yet here are 2 people attempting to garner some justice for what's been going on. I will support them and their fight which keeps this egregious act of treason in the media and these thugs scrambling.

How do you suppose they have all this money you seem to think they have? He was an ambassador and she a civil servant working for the CIA. I'm sure they are comfortable financially but in no way equipped to go against the government of the United States and the crime syndicate occupying our White House. This cabal have the capacity to tap phones, check bank accounts, read email and who have the financial means beyond what we can even imagine.
What the Wilsons are up against are vultures who have endless capital, corporate media minions to muddy the waters, unprecedented governmental powers to do as they please and deep connections. Truly a formidable struggle lies ahead not just for the Wilsons but for our country.

How sad some of us fail to see the heroes shedding some very much needed sunlight on the atrocities we whine about here every single day.

I hope the Wilsons squeeze these criminals for every single penny they have. Honestly that's the only thing Cheney and his henchmen truly care about.

[Kerry fan]

36. Great post.

I can't imagine, after the past 6 years, why anyone would not want to support the Wilsons, in any way they can.

I am not wealthy, but they will get a donation from me. I feel donating to and supporting the Wilsons in this is just as important as donating to your favorite candidate, possibly even more so.

IMO, Their doing this is more than most politicians have done for this country in a long, long time.