WASHPO: Group sues SE D.C. neighborhood commissioner over libel

What do you think? Is this lawsuit valid or baseless?

Go HERE to read the full Washington Post article.

Excerpt:

By Christy Goodman

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 6, 2010; DZ19


The Peaceoholics organization recently filed a libel lawsuit against a Southeast Washington Advisory Neighborhood Commission member.


The civil suit was filed April 27 against Sandra Seegars, chairman of Ward 8's Advisory Neighborhood Commission, seven days after a highly contentious community meeting.


Members of Peaceoholics, an organization that aims to help at-risk youth, tried at the meeting to explain a new housing project in Congress Heights that many residents were unaware of until construction began.


After the meeting, Seegars "began maliciously distributing false, defamatory and disparaging messages about Plaintiff organization, the Peaceoholics," via e-mail and the Internet, the complaint reads.


"When people start attacking your reputation, you got to protect it. It is nothing personal. It is just principle," said Ronald Moten, one of the group's founders.


"It is hard to respond to something that is idiotic," Seegars said. "What I put out there is actually what happened at the meeting, and I'm doing what I'm supposed to do" as a neighborhood commissioner.

Excerpt:

Abraham and Moten said Seegars is wrongly calling the project a group home. Abraham said Peaceoholics will accept applications from older at-risk youths, who could eventually purchase their condo. The program will teach life skills and financial management.



It is not clear where the applicants would come from, Abraham and Moten said, but they must serve underprivileged District residents as part of their agreement with the city to get public funds.


"That is never going to be a group home, so we would never have a 16-year-old living there," Abraham said.


He said that until the certificate of occupancy is approved, he can only explain his intentions for the building.


The Peaceoholics complaint calls the project independent living housing for people 16 to 21.


"I think before you get money from the city, you should have a written plan," Seegars said.

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