Finally folks! Perhaps the Sun News published in Hamburg, NY will get what they sow. Elizabeth Reszka has decided to move ahead with her lawsuit after the Sun News printed a letter proclaiming that Elizabeth was sending money to candidates in Hamburg in an improper fashion. The letter in question could be construed as Elizabeth committing felony violations of election law.
I have spoken to her husband Peter Reszka and if I understand this correctly, it is believed that a person named Mike Sullivan sent the letters. After some investigatory work by the Reszka’s, it is believed that no such person ever sent a letter to the Sun News and the Reska’s believe that the letter was fabricated by a Sun News employee.
A lawsuit was filed months ago in NYS Supreme Court and the Reszka’s finally have had the Sun News served the papers of the law suit. A court date is expected to be put on the docket for later this month or soon their after. Elizabeth is suing for 2 million dollars in damages. Peter Reszka was a candidate for the Hamburg Highway Superintendent position 4 years ago.
I believe it was at this time that a series of nasty fictitious letters were printed against the Republican candidates and their families by the Sun News. Elizabeth has had some serious health problems and the stress of the publication of the malicious letter hasn’t helped her in her recovery. Peter is a long time employee of the Erie County Water Authority, a member of the Hamburg Planning Board, and a member of the Hamburg Republican Committee.
Recently, as most of you know, Matt Chandler accused me of being a Timothy McVeigh supporter in an article printed by the Sun News. As such, I may very well be called as a witness in this case to show that this isn’t an isolated incident by the Sun News. I am also looking into filing my own lawsuit against the Sun news. These people must be held to the highest standards of journalism since they are a printed newspaper with investigatory staff and thousands of residents as customers.
I support Elizabeth and Peter in their lawsuit against the Sun News and I hope they are successful. I know for a fact that many people have tried to discuss the practices of the Sun News with the new ownership with no changes ever being made. Now the Sun News ownership may get hit in the wallet very hard.
Here is a copy of the letter written to the Sun News that is in question:
Dan Meyer is on the Character Council of Hamburg along with the Assistant Principal of a girls’ school in Hamburg ( figure it out yet ?) who expelled my daughter. She also called the cops on my wife and me for good measure. Dan Meyer printed a letter from the school’s president that accused my blog of being erroneous and untrue but when I tried to respond and defend myself he ran me around with some lame excuses about new ownership and touchy subject blah, blah, blah. The same week he was telling me this, his paper ran a letter twice accusing an Eden School Board member of lying and another letter that accused the Shrine Circus of hiring rapists, murderers and convicts as employees. But my defending my integrity against a disingenuous, politically connected nun was too touchy for print ! Goes around comes around I guess is how that song goes. See you in court folks.
This is an opinion letter and not a Sun article. There is no basis for a lawsuit, there’s precedent for that. She’s wasting her money.
I would agree with you qabflo if the word “funnelled” wasn’t in the letter. Funneling political money is illegal. She was accused of committing a crime without proof and that is libel. the Sun News should have edited that out of the letter and they didn’t. To bad for them now.
the phone book lists at least 2 Michael Sullivans. Where did they get the impression that it was not a real person. Also, this is a letter to the editor, not an editorial.
Barb, my understanding of the situation is that if Mike Sullivan actually is real he will also be sued. the Sun News printed a letter that accuses someone of a crime and that is libel. I’m also under the impression that the Reszka’s asked the Sun News to retract the letter and they refused. The Reszka’s, like everyone else, deserve to have the Sun News print the truth and not just rumors.
I can understand the Sun News printing something that turned out to be false but when confronted with the truth they are required to retract their statements. They refused to retract their statement that I support Timothy McVeigh, even though I presented them with the whole story showing the exact opposite. That makes them libel for defamation.
The Reszka’s deserve the same justice as I do and I hope they get it.
These Reszka’s are nuts
Opinions can be libelous also. Hiding behind free speech only goes so far. If damages can be proven, the case is closed.
I have been told, by a recent DA, that stories and comments posted in a blog or on a community message board are protected speech under the First Amendment to the US Constitution. That’s how Joe Illuzzer gets away with all his nasty diatribes. If it is printed in an actual newspaper then it isn’t necessarily protected speech but must rise to level of actually hurting someone or their reputation.
It’s all quite confusing. E-mails are considered the same as printed communication in a newspaper even though it’s through the post office, so therefor they are not protected speech.
peter Reszka and his wife are political figures and therefor this letter can be considered as hurting their political reputation. A defense to this lawsuit can and always will be if the accusations are true. The reszka’s donated money to various candidates over the years but did they “funnel” the money? Meaning did the candidates use the Reszka’s to get money into the candidates accounts by illegal means?
I highly doubt that since the average donation the reska’s made to candidates was around fifteen dollars at a shot.
http://www.elections.state.ny.us:808…saction_code=A
http://www.elections.state.ny.us:808…saction_code=A
I agree with the collective on the idea that if you have no proof of a crime and make alegations about a person weather politicaly or just for a spot on the front page you should be held accountable for lying about said person.
Does this mean that the sun lies to it audiance maybe so. I know I will not by the paper anymore for the reason of this. when a paper writes a page on an issue it should be careful how they hide behind the constitution.
The freedom of speech law says you have freedom of speech on how you feel about an issue and allows you to freely express one self but not to make up lies such as in this case.
The same would go if a person where to say that Len Lenihan of the democratic party gets dead peoples votes. Now we all know thats not true but it would be lie if a person says it and thats wrong. So sue the SOBs who says this about this women. Thank You
One thing I forgot and that is its only a lie when you cant back it up with proof so if Len Lenihan uses dead peoples votes than a person would have to have the proof that it happens. so true or not true you need the proof.
Sounds like Lenihan got ahold of Pordum’s list
Funnel is another verb for channel or pour. There is nothing libelous about it. If she has contributed money to any Republican candidate, which I am assuming she has, it then becomes fact. No case. Like I said, save your money lady.
No case. Lawsuits like these are threatened and sometimes filed against media outlets all the time. The Buffalo News faced a similar situation 2 years ago and both Channel 4 and Channel 2 also were faced with something like that involving a City of Buffalo resident.
Funnel this case into the trash can. It will be dismissed shortly.
RE: Daniel Meyer, Hamburg Sun, Hamburg, New York.
From someone else that has been on the receiving end of Mr. Meyer’s form of journalism. He apparently loves to hide behind his opinion as a defense to his slanderous tactics. He quotes sources that have previously provided him with information and continues to rely upon it despite that there is new information which contradicts the first. He chooses only to disclose that which supports his “opinion” and then peppers his editorial with adjectives and adverbs that give his articles punch. He is the most disgusting type of journalist, in my opinion, and even though his type may not be actionable, rest assured it will forever be attached to his reputation in the community. It will be the main reason he will never rise for the depths of writing for a little paper with no circulation. The Hamburg Sun is about one shade away from a Penny Saver. I feel like I need to apologize to the Penny Saver for comparing them to the Sun. Sorry.
There is no case. I’m sure all sorts of newspapers get threatened like this all the time. Reszka MAY have a case with this Mike Sullivan but that’s it. And that would be a hard case to argue.
Nothing to see here.
As far as The Hamburg Sun goes, I think they do a good job for what it is. The story about the girl from Eden killed in the plane crash in Clarence last month was very well done. I believe Meyer wrote that. I know the family’s neighbors across the street. The story made her mother and father and brother cry. Those poor people are so very sad.