www.justiceforchandra.com

[benn]

[benn]

[EmmaPeel]

Condit's lawsuit filings offer surprises
Defamation actions force former lawmaker to speak.
By Michael Doyle
Bee Washington Bureau
(Published Sunday, June 29, 2003, 4:50 AM)

WASHINGTON -- Former Rep. Gary Condit is selectively breaking his silence, at least in court.

Now a private citizen since his forced departure from Congress, Condit, D-Ceres, has diligently avoided the public spotlight that once tracked him. But as he and his wife, Carolyn, pursue three high-dollar defamation lawsuits, they must go on the record once more.

Sometimes, they're saying some pretty surprising things.

"I have never ridden a motorcycle in Washington, D.C.," Condit declared. "I have never visited a Middle Eastern embassy in Washington, D.C., or any other location."

Condit's riding and socializing history matter because of the things said about him by author Dominick Dunne, the target of an $11 million defamation suit. That lawsuit has entered a key phase, as a federal judge weighs whether to dismiss it or let it proceed.

Condit says his reputation was blackened by the stories that Dunne spun out in television and radio interviews and at Hollywood dinner parties, where the conversation turned to the 2001 disappearance of one-time intern Chandra Levy. A 77-year-old columnist for Vanity Fair magazine and former Hollywood producer, Dunne recounted several theories about Levy's disappearance.

At one point, Dunne said that Condit was a known motorcycle aficionado and then speculated that Levy had ridden off on the back of a motorcycle. At other times, Dunne passed on a secondhand yarn involving Levy's supposed kidnapping by a Middle Eastern sex ring.

Dunne further passed along suggestions that Levy's body was dumped into the Atlantic Ocean after Condit supposedly told compatriots he was weary of her.

Condit dismisses Dunne's conjectures as injurious and absurd.

"I have never informed any individual that Chandra Levy was 'driving me crazy,' that 'she knew things about [me] and had threatened to go public,' that I had made 'promises to her that [I couldn't] keep,' that 'she was a clinger' or that 'I couldn't get rid of her,' " Condit declared in an affidavit responding to Dunne's comments.

In May 2002, Levy's remains were discovered in Washington's Rock Creek Park.

"If [Dunne's] outrageous and intentional misconduct is [permitted], then the line between legitimate reportage and reckless gossip under the guise of legitimate reportage will become irreparably blurred to the potential detriment of many reputations," Condit's attorney, L. Lin Wood, stated in a recent court filing.

A fundamental legal question now is whether Dunne's stories were best understood by listeners as raw opinion or unfiltered fact. If opinion, Dunne is probably protected; if fact, Condit could have a case. A statement of fact can be verified or, alternatively, proven false.

That means, in part, that Condit now is assessing the supposed factual assertions within Dunne's yarns. In his May affidavit, Condit addressed some of Dunne's more eye-catching speculations.

"I have no knowledge whatsoever of, or personal involvement whatsoever with, a Middle Eastern prostitution ring, or any woman being allegedly provided for the nocturnal pleasures of high-ranking people in the Middle East or at any Middle Eastern embassy," Condit stated.

Dunne, in turn, essentially is arguing that his audiences on "Larry King Live" and the Laura Ingraham radio show and at several dinner parties knew enough to take what he said with a grain of salt. After all, Dunne's own lawyers say, consider the source.

"[Dunne is] a columnist with a well-known, very personal, pro-victim point of view, a celebrated raconteur who is invited to recount the sometimes fantastic things that happen to him," Dunne's lawyers say in their most recent court filing.

Dunne's attorney, Laura Handman, went on to say that "everyone and his uncle had offered multiple theories about what happened" to Levy and that Dunne's accounts were simply "theories, two of hundreds being offered by the more or less uninformed."

Handman is asking U.S. District Judge Peter Leisure either to dismiss Condit's lawsuit or summarily rule on Dunne's behalf. It's up to the 74-year-old Leisure, an appointee of President Reagan, to decide whether Dunne's statements were assertions of fact or expressions of opinion.

[benn]

[rd]

well, that was sort of crazy anyway, he didn't have his Harley in DC, but that was shades of the Haitian gay biker gangs or whatever. I think half the people that posted on Chandra were on some kind of drugs.

rd

[jane]

Oh brother - I hope Carolyn and her despicable husband didn't get much dough.
_________________
"There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known."
Christ

[rd]

I hope CC leaves Gary now.

rd

[rd]

from ModBee (fair use)

Carolyn Condit settles lawsuit

Cadee, left, Carolyn and Chad Condit leave the federal courthouse in Fresno after Tuesday's lawsuit settlement.




By JERRY BIER
THE FRESNO BEE


Published: July 10, 2003, 07:53:26 AM PDT

FRESNO -- Carolyn Condit settled her $10 million libel lawsuit against the National Enquirer on Wednesday, but details of the settlement were not revealed.
"The matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties," said attorney Neville Johnson, one of the lawyers representing Condit.

The announcement followed a marathon closed-door negotiating session presided over by U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill that began shortly after 8:30 a.m. and concluded just before 4 p.m.

The case had been headed for trial Sept. 30.

A smiling Condit, the wife of former Rep. Gary Condit of Ceres, declined to comment as she left the federal courthouse, but she hugged Johnson and told him, "You did a good job. Thank you."

Thomas B. Kelly of Denver, the lead lawyer representing the National Enquirer, also declined to comment, but confirmed that the lawsuit was settled.

Neither Kelly nor Johnson would discuss details of the settlement, including financial amounts.

Both sides said the agreement also applies to a $15 million complaint filed by Condit against the Enquirer's sister publication, Star Editorial Inc., and American Media Inc.

Less than three weeks ago, lawyers for Condit and the Enquirer battled in court over whether the publication should reveal sources that it relied on in stories that it published about her and 24-year-old Chandra Levy.

Levy's family in Modesto last heard from her May 1, 2001, by e-mail, and she was last seen the day before in Washington, where she had just completed an internship with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

After her disappearance, reports surfaced of a romantic link between her and then-Rep. Condit, and the case garnered national attention.

A man walking his dog came across Levy's remains on May 22, 2002, and her death has been ruled a homicide. No arrests have been made.

Carolyn Condit sued the Enquirer in February 2002, contending that the tabloid libeled her when it reported that she "verbally attacked" Levy during a telephone conversation days before Levy disappeared.

The lawsuit demanded an apology and a retraction in addition to "in excess of $10 million" in damages.

Johnson and his partner, Brian A. Rishwain, said in comments at the time that the Enquirer articles "strongly inferred" that Condit "physically attacked Chandra Levy, suggesting that Ms. Condit was physically responsible for Ms. Levy's disappearance."

The lawsuit cited an Aug. 7, 2001, article with the headline, "Cops: Condit's Wife Attacked Chandra," that reported in its lead paragraph: "Gary Condit's bitter wife flew into a rage and attacked Chandra Levy in a furious confrontation just days before the intern's disappearance, the Enquirer has learned exclusively."

Not only are the words libelous, the lawsuit claimed, but they imply a crime: assault and battery. The lawsuit charged that the statements "are libelous per se."

A spokesman for the tabloid said at the time that the article "was premised upon sources in a position to know the information published. The National Enquirer intends to vigorously defend in the matter."

Condit was accompanied to the settlement conference by her adult children, Chad and Cadee. Gary Condit, who was also expected to participate, did not attend.

Gary Condit has his own lawsuit pending, an $11 million defamation complaint in federal court in New York against columnist and raconteur Dominick Dunne.

Carolyn Condit, who had appeared gaunt at the time that her lawsuit was filed, seemed much healthier and happier Wednesday, at one point putting her arm around her daughter as they walked from the courthouse on a lunch break and smiling broadly when the day was over.

end quote

rd

[jane]

rd wrote, I hope CC leaves Gary now...

I think she should (because he's a rotter), I wish she would (so he couldn't help spend whatever money she'll get), but I know she won't. I believe Vince Flammini was telling the truth when he mentioned how she thinks Gary's adorable etc. and I don't think anything's changed since Seger quoted her doubting the 'rumours' of Gary's affairs. I don't think she'll ever leave him (although she apparently did for a time in - was it 1994?) She'll hang by the thumbs for him or whatever she thinks it takes.
_________________
"There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known."
Christ

[rd]

Any thoughts jane on why he wasn't in Fresno with CC, Cadee, and Chad when the settlement was announced as pictured above?

rd

[propria]

maybe she's already dumped him out of her life, rd ...

if nothing else, that could go a long way to explain why she seems to be looking 'healthier'. i can't say that i'm the least bit surprised to see this case settle ... the very last thing in the world ANY of the condit's want is for testimony relating to scary gary's behaviour to be entered into a court record where the media can get at it. i can assure you that she didn't get anywhere near any $10 million, either ... 'go away money' for that kind of claim would be about a million or so, at best. my guess is that carolyn sees that as a lot of money, but it's not nearly as much as it sounds like ... with a little bit of luck, she'll have just about enough for a year's worth of groceries once uncle sam takes his cut and her legal fees are paid up. it'll be interesting to see whether we see a retraction coming out of the national enquirer, or if they just take the opportunity to rehash the whole story with a half-hearted rewording of the claim of a verbal attack buried somewhere in the middle of it. if carolyn has a lick of sense, she settled away her demand for a retraction, just so this whole thing doesn't get dragged under our noses all over again, but the condit clan isn't real big on good sense, so i guess we'll have to keep an eye on the tabloids for a while.


nanci
_________________
the Truth has a name, and there is power in that Name!

[jane]

rd wrote, Any thoughts jane on why he wasn't in Fresno with CC, Cadee, and Chad when the settlement was announced as pictured above?

Do y'all really think it means they've split? I hope so, for her sake.

The article says she looks less gaunt and more healthy. Looking at the picture I see she has some blush on, but she doesn't look a whole lot more hale and hearty than before IMO.

Curious - looks like she & Chad are dressed like twins.
_________________
"There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known."
Christ

[rd]

well, I am pleased that NE attempted to get phone records and that the suit was settled shortly after that for some reason.

rd

[propria]

bingo, rd ...

you just nailed it right on the head ... they hit the panic button long before they even got to the 'keep this out of the public record' stage, didn't they?? it's enough to make a person wonder just what those records might show about the call at issue, not to mention what all else could be revealed by tracking condit's phone use during that time frame. now i'm beginning to wonder what will trigger the settlement of his case against dunne ... maybe a witness list with names of powerful middle-easterners who've played at some of his kinky parties, or something along those lines. one way or the other, i'll betcha dollars to donuts that gary's case won't go as far as testimony being made public record, either.


nanci
_________________
the Truth has a name, and there is power in that Name!

[rd]

I personally think so too, nanci, and I also agree with your analysis of just what they settled for. I would venture even lower than a million myself. And the money from raiding the PAC is running out for Chad and Cadee...

rd