Humboldt Revolution

 From Verbena

Greetings!

While Maxxam/Pacific Lumber is selling off land (see the attached article

below- being wary of accuracy due to the news source) and continues to devastate the rest of what it calls “theirs”, PL lawyers (from Mitchell, Brisso, Delaney, and Vreize) are still litigating Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. In one such lawsuit, most or probably ALL of the activists have settled out of the case. I am still in it.

In 2002, during storms and a court-ordered stay against PL logging, people protested the cutting of an 160-acre area we called ‘Avalon’- mostly residual old growth Fir and Redwood forest in the Van Duzen/Grizzly Creek watershed. PL called the area to be logged ‘Texas’- indicative of its size and the liklihood that after it was cut it would be more like a desert than a forest…

So, folks hung pods (people sitting in hammock-like nets) with lines across the bridge, and hung from the bridge that led to Avalon. The pod people were suspended over the raging Grizzly Creek (December 2002).

(Remember when logging was seasonal so workers weren’t cutting in stormy weather? –not anymore). Anyway, 4 of us were arrested out near Avalon, and Maxxam/PL added us to a lawsuit that they began against treesitters from old Doug Firs treetops in the Mattole.

Like I said earlier, I am still on the lawsuit. I am to be in trial beginning Monday at 9:00am in the Bd. of Supes Chambers, 1st floor of the Eureka courthouse. I will be arguing for a continuance because I want/need to be at the Sundance in Phillipsville, and because PL weasled out of my deposing one of their main henchmen.

PLEASE, IF YOU’RE IN TOWN, COME TO COURT.

The Judge is a hotshot from out of county, so he may be impressed by a good support turnout. And if he doesn’t grant the continuance, a jury pool may be brought in and they need to see my support especially!!

Below is a message that Remedy sent. Remedy and 6 other treesitters from Freshwater on this lawsuit sued Eric Schatz (the violent treesitter extractor/evictor)and PL –for all kinds of nasty things. Remedy updates you below.

See you Monday (and maybe be with you praying for the Ancient Trees in Phillipsville). Please, in court, try to sit where the judge will know you’re on ‘my’ side, the side of the PEOPLE. Thanks.

If you are wondering later whether I am in full-fledged trial, you can email me or call (707) 618-9185 and type in your number. Let’s hope not for now.

IN DEFENSE OF THE EARTH AND HER PEOPLES, Verbena

From Remedy

I’m writing to give you a long-overdue update on the “Pacific Lumber v.

Remedy” lawsuit. A settlement was reached June 7 between PL and me.

Most of the other 30+ defendants have also settled the case, while other settlements are still pending. However, it appears there will be a trial against defendants who don’t wish to settle the case. Trial is scheduled to start June 19 in Eureka.

After more than three years of litigation with PL on a dramatically lopsided playing field, I am excited that its over. I feel great about the victories we had along the way, which include:

1. greater scrutiny on the treesit extractions themselves,

2. exposure of the unethical role of the police who once again used

their might to favor Pacific Lumber,

3. an end to the treesit extractions (temporary though it may be),

4. an end to harassment lawsuits filed by PL against their critics

(again, maybe temporary),

5. the unexpected fight PL got from activists whom they

underestimated to meet their challenge in court,

6. and the legal education that I would never have undertaken had I

not been sued by a giant corporation.

I want to offer my sincere thanks to all the people who have offered help and support during this long ordeal. I would have been unable to put up the fight I did without all the legal advice, words of encouragement and donated funds.

On to the next challenge!

Remedy