"In the
months and years ahead, those who would consider suing us to silence our
voice should take fair warning from this decision: your frivolous claims will
not go unpunished" (italics added).
—Christopher Ott, executive director of the homosexual group Action
Wisconsin
A rally for Attorney James Donohoo will be
held tonight, Wednesday, February 22. The event will begin at 7:00 PM at
Grace Community Church, 8400 West Beloit Road, West Allis, Wisconsin. Mr.
Donohoo has been ordered by a Milwaukee County circuit court judge to pay
Action Wisconsin, a homosexual political organization, over $87,000!
Attorneys for Action Wisconsin have also filed a bar complaint against Mr.
Donohoo, thus putting his right to practice law in Wisconsin in jeopardy.
Meanwhile, the liberal mainstream press, along with the "gay
media," have been having a field day dragging the name of James
Donohoo through the mud, calling into question his integrity and his legal
judgment. In this, they have taken their cue from Judge Patricia McMahon,
who has publicly excoriated Mr. Donohoo in the most scathing and vitriolic
of terms after mishandling, misrepresenting, and misjudging a lawsuit
filed by Donohoo.
The bare facts of this troubling tale are
as follows:
On October 9-10, 2003, Wisconsin Christians
United held an event aptly named the International Conference on
Homo-Fascism. The purpose of the conference was to have Christian leaders
report on threats to Christian liberty in their home countries by those
supporting the homosexual agenda. Speakers were on-hand from America,
England, and South Africa. The ministry of WCU, which was founded in 1993
by Pastor Ralph Ovadal, has since been brought into the ministry of
Ovadal's church, Pilgrims Covenant Church. All speakers at the conference
were known to reject and denounce any and all violence against
homosexuals, and it was stressed at the conference that Christians should
share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all people, including homosexuals.
After the conference, Action Wisconsin
requested and was given recorded copies of all conference presentations.
On December 8, 2003, AW issued a press release which made the claim that
speakers at the WCU conference had called for the murder of
"gays." Further, AW called for an investigation of the
conference and a state senator who had attended it! As evidence to support
their baseless claim, AW quoted out of context some metaphoric comments by
Pastor Grant Storms. In his message, Storms, a lively Billy-Sunday-type
preacher, encouraged Christians not to give up, no matter the odds against
them. He preached from the biblical account of Jonathan and his
armor-bearer's victory over the Philistines. Out of that sermon, Action
Wisconsin knowingly excerpted a few sentences which they then used to
claim that Storms was not only urging the murder of homosexuals but also
acting that crime out before his audience!
After twice asking AW in writing for a
public retraction of their slander, James Donohoo filed a lawsuit against
the organization on behalf of Pastor Storms. AW was represented by
attorneys Tamara Packard, an AW board member, and Lester Pines, described
in a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial as "a
well-wired Democrat" (February 18, 2006). Both are with the
Madison, Wisconsin law firm Cullen, Weston, Pines & Bach.
On June 28, 2005, Judge McMahon ruled
against Grant Storms, thus ignoring overwhelming evidence that AW has
acted recklessly and knowingly in publicly slandering the reputation
of the Louisiana pastor. Further, she virtually invited Action Wisconsin's
attorneys to file a request for fees and costs based on the claim that
Donohoo has pursued a "frivolous" lawsuit! Consequently, Pines
and Co. did just that. Not surprisingly, Judge McMahon swiftly granted
their request, again taking the opportunity to berate Atty. Donohoo. Less
than a week later, apparently to pre-empt the opportunity for Mr. Donohoo
to ask for a stay of the judgment pending appeal or even make arrangements
for payment, AW's attorneys without warning garnished Donohoo's personal
and business bank accounts.
To further punish the man who had the
audacity to come to the defense of one of New Sodom's intended targets,
Action Wisconsin, et al. has also filed a bar complaint against
James Donohoo, who is now fighting the frivolous lawsuit claim and the bar
complaint made against him. And the key word is fighting because
Mr. Donohoo has vowed not to be intimidated by this obvious attempt to
make an example of him to other Christians who would stand up against the
heavy-handed—yes, homo-fascist—tactics of New Sodom.
"This was a false, slanderous, and
malicious misrepresentation made by Action Wisconsin’s spokesmen and
exploited by other pro-homosexual groups. I do not consider this to have
been a 'frivolous' lawsuit, but a righteous and just defense of a
Christian pastor speaking the truth of God’s Word. As James Donohoo’s
pastor, I am happy to stand with him against Action Wisconsin’s obvious
attempt to silence their opponents by making an example of Jim. This
attack upon a member of our congregation only strengthens our resolve to
defend what the Word of God declares concerning homosexuality and the
homosexual agenda."
—Pastor Ted Groves, Grace Community Church,
West Allis, Wisconsin
"By their smear of Pastor Storms and
their attempted destruction of Jim Donohoo's reputation, finances, and
livelihood, Action Wisconsin and their friends are hoping to intimidate
all who oppose their agenda. By standing up to them, James Donohoo has
sent the message that Christians will not submit to such bullying and will
fight back. In light of the battle Jim has put up, I have no doubt that AW
will think twice before they so recklessly slander a Christian pastor next
time. Further, those Christians who hear this story will be motivated to
stand that much more firmly against New Sodom's advances after being
reminded that Christian liberty is at stake."
—Pastor Ralph Ovadal, Pilgrims Covenant Church, Monroe, Wisconsin
"I have reviewed the case of Storms
v. Action Wisconsin; and as a licensed attorney myself, I will state
with no reservation whatsoever that the case James Donohoo presented was
not frivolous. Indeed, the facts and law should have dictated a decision
against Action Wisconsin.
—Associate Pastor Tige Smith, Grace Community Church,
West Allis, Wisconsin
For more information, call Pastor
Ted Groves at (414-771-3020) or James Donohoo at (414-258-5989).
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