Donation protected
Many people have asked the status of the frivolous defamation, conspiracy case against My Wife and I, due to posts published by members in the FB group Seymour Residents Uncensored. Mr. Neal has slandered, libeled us with false allegations, fictional stories, in this frivolous lawsuit.
I want to preface this context by letting you know, I have never asked or begged anyone, for help in my 64 years. I have worked 2 jobs, sometimes 3 to make ends meet. Even when at my lowest, after combat in Iraq, I left the Marines, didn't talk to anyone about issues I struggled with after combat. I survived alone, even went homeless, but I never asked for help.
My life was changed 17 years ago, and now I live a different life completely trying to help others when I can, following Gods and Man's Laws. We live a peaceful life on our small farm, in this small town. I have a mortgage, pay my bills, and taxes.
This fight is something I cannot do alone, I’m in it because others posted things I am being blamed for in this lawsuit. I can't fight a millionaire opportunist with as much resources and powerful friends as Mr. Neal has backing him. Which is why I wrote this call for help.
We founded the group Seymour Residents Uncensored, for discussions of current events in our community Seymour, Missouri, and to promote local businesses. A way to help the community, letting people post opinions, discuss them, and different topics without censorship by governments, or officials.
After Mr. Neal decided to close his business, we were sued by Mr. William Neal for posts other people made in our group, he said were defamatory towards him and his restaurant, some reviews, some opinions, some interactions with ex-employees and customers. He never asked us to remove them, and just reported a legitimate review of food by Eryka Carr.
We posted nothing defamatory, yet we are being harassed with the legal system, because we wouldn’t obey Mr. Neal's demands. Mr. Neal had a choice to refute the allegations of others, and express his side. Mr. Neal was a member of the group. He refused to answer the assault allegation, nor did he ask us to take down anything. He demanded I meet with him for him to show me videos, I told him I did not have an interest in the discussion nor the videos. I told him he could post in the group. He wasn’t satisfied, so he fabricated a story, alleging my wife and I were part of a conspiracy against him. He said we were colluding with Hucklebuck’s owners, their employees, Neals ex-employees, to cause him harm. Bizarre fantasy, no basis in fact, he made preposterous claims against us and others.
He and his attorney have a long history of suing people, companies, 10 years of lawsuits. Approximately 14 separate cases in Missouri in the past, more in other states, 4 lawsuits now, 8 people being sued this year alone. The defamation lawsuits are an attempt to steal poor people’s property, just like the old robber barons and at the same time stifle discussion of his businesses. Most people cannot afford to hire attorneys, so they are shut up with threats of lawsuits.
This is a story of David and Goliath, a Marine injured in combat, living on fixed budget, working part time, to pay bills, against a millionaire opportunist. He owned businesses such as a mail order-bride service, a tile company, an exotic tile company, internet beef distributor, cattleman, a meat processing plant, and many others. He also owns millions of dollars in real estate property in Missouri. Below some of the businesses he owned that I could find.
Mr. Neal has the support of bankers, politicians, newspapers, and other influential people. So far, we have no one supporting us, have no support from the media, and know very few people personally in Missouri. We can only appeal to the public by telling the truth, to help resist this oppression and attack on free speech.
Mr. Neal had the case moved from 15 minutes away in Webster County, to 1 hour away in Dallas County. We objected, made the judge aware that I had medical & health issues and would also create difficulties for witnesses. The judge stated he had no discretion in the issue, even though the attorney for plaintiff gave no reason for the move, such as extreme Bias, as required by law. Just a matter of right, moving it from a county with 45,000 people to 17,000.
This cruel and inhumane punishment with the long drives will cause doctor, and hospital visits due to medical issues. This change of venue gets the case away from people who know Mr. Neal, witnessed his interactions, and prevents our community where it all took place, from being jurors. Mr. Neal got a pass for horrendous behavior with ex-employees, customers, Witnesses. Now have further to travel because of the unjustified change of venue so far away.
Our only part in this conundrum, was providing a group for people to write opinions, promote their businesses, discuss local issues, group think local events without government officials or anyone else censoring content. The right to discuss topics in a factual, civil manner, without profanity. or bullying is our right under the constitution, the 1st amendment, and given to us by God.
Mr. Neal was in the group until he made threats, saying he would ruin me, destroy me, if I didn’t meet with him at his restaurant and work with him. I refused respectfully.
This case should have been thrown out of court, but this frivolous case has been allowed to proceed. Even though administrators are protected by law from what other people post or publish under 47 US Code § 230, the Communications Decency Act of 1996, and the SLAPP act.
We pray for the communities help against this rich, powerful, tycoon, with friends in high places. We are setting up a GoFundMe to pay for legal and other costs.
Please help in any way you can, be it financially, or with evidence, such as snapshots of deleted information from Kobe Club Seymour FB pages, Mr. Neals comments to customers on google, yelp reviews. We have a lot of evidence, but anything could possibly help. Any screenshots of evidence, or testimony could help please send it to us.
As Americans we need to stop letting rich, powerful people, oligarchs, or politicians, tyrannize us by using the court system or their position as a tool of harassment, torture, and suppression. This case is about free speech, we should be able to state an opinion, review, or redress people, businesses, governments with our grievances without reprisals by abusing our legal systems. In this case a rich powerful profiteer trying to stop anyone from saying anything he doesn’t like, such as talking about his treatment of customers, employees, or the quality of food he sells.
We need to come together as a community, to stop this abuse of the courts. Help in this fight for freedom of speech in any way you can, it’s the American spirit and constitution under attack.
Sincerely,
John Henson
Organizer
John Henson
Organizer
Seymour, MO