A story in last Tuesdays Telegraph Herald, entitled Owners, opponents of Field of Dreams plan at odds again, reported on the Cease and Desist order I was handed by Denise Stillmans attorney. Ms. Stillman and I were both interviewed for this story and there are a few quotes that Id like to point out and comment on. STORY QUOTE: Stillman, reached by phone today, confirmed an attorney for Go the Distance Baseball sent Blanchard a letter, “putting him on notice that his actions are interfering with our business.” MY COMMENTS: In my opinion, I believe this should be read, I dont like that hes showing everyone whats really going on, which is clearly pretty damning when you look at the fact-based evidence on his page, so were going to try and bully him into submission. STORY QUOTE: She also declined to produce a copy of the letter, and would not elaborate as to how the Los Angeles-based film trailer editor’s postings have affected development of the 24-field youth sports complex. MY COMMENTS: Because God forbid that this Chicago developer truthfully elaborates on the details of the controversy that she herself has instigated because, in my opinion, it will further the destruction of her own reputation. Is there anything left of that at this point, by the way? STORY QUOTE: “We have no desire to litigate,” Stillman said today. “We came here to build a ballpark and not engage attorneys in every move.” MY COMMENTS: This is actually pretty hilarious! If you look at the record, youll see that thats ALL she HAS done off and on for the past three years; wield lawsuits, deal with lawsuits, and continue to threaten lawsuits while she speaks of pending financial support that never comes. In the meantime, not one shovel full of dirt has been turned to build the All-Star Ballpark Heaven development since the property was purchased in December 2012. In my opinion, what Denise Stillman has actually built instead is her own little fortress where she can bully people from on high, even while that fortress is sinking into the Field of Dreams dirt as we speak. STORY QUOTE: As for Blanchard, Stillman said lawyers became necessary when he ignored a personal request from her nearly a year ago to stop “his malicious behavior” on social media “to divide the community.” MY COMMENTS: In actuality, this was the exchange between the ASBH developer and myself at the Field of Dreams Movie Site on July 18, 2013. I was on my way to the parking lot after Ms. Stillman had come out to meet me for about 30 minutes. As I called my wife to return and pick me up, Ms. Stillman rode by on a Gator, driven by previous owner, Mr. Don Lansing. She asked if I planning to return the following day, to which I answered yes. She shook her head and informed me that I would be welcomed back to the Field of Dreams Movie Site only after I took down this Facebook page. None of the remarks she states were made at that time, verbally or in a written notice. In fact, the developer said to me on that day in person that she doesnt read my page. Then why was it so vitally important to tell me to take it down? A comment was made here recently that the ASBH developer should hold up a mirror in front of herself whenever she makes claims that someone else is causing trouble for her development. I, for one, firmly agree! For those without access, here is the full text from this past Tuesdays Telegraph Herald story: Owners, opponents of Field of Dreams plan at odds again By Thomas J. Barton, TH Staff Writer The head of a company planning a youth sports complex surrounding the Field of Dreams movie site has threatened additional legal action against opponents of the planned development. Denise Stillman, managing partner of Go the Distance Baseball, slammed David Blanchard before the Dyersville City Council last week for using his Save the Field of Dreams Facebook page to launch personal attacks against her and her company, attacks she argued were “slanderous and libelous.” Now, Blanchard has claimed on his site he received a cease and desist letter from an attorney representing the planned All-Star Ballpark Heaven youth baseball and softball complex. Blanchard, in his Facebook post, said the letter “contained a number of threats of legal action against me. So, the bullying continues.” Blanchard said the letter accuses him of “being threatening, false and deceptive,” an accusation he contends “is blatantly untrue.” He denied a request by the TH to produce a copy of the letter. “Everything that appears on the Facebook site is heavily researched, fact-based information and metered opinion … within the bounds of free-speech protections” afforded under the U.S. Constitution, he told the TH. Stillman, reached by phone today, confirmed an attorney for Go the Distance Baseball sent Blanchard a letter, “putting him on notice that his actions are interfering with our business.” She also declined to produce a copy of the letter, and would not elaborate as to how the Los Angeles-based film trailer editor’s postings have affected development of the 24-field youth sports complex. Stillman also would not comment on the financing of the complex, “due to the past actions of Mr. Blanchard.” Blanchard claims Stillman is using him as a scapegoat for the difficulty her company has had securing funding for the project. Despite having high-profile investors, developers delayed plans to open the facility this spring. Jeff Pape, part of a coalition of neighbors opposed to the development — the Residential and Agricultural Advisory Committee, LLC — also told council members last week Stillman’s attorney threatened to sue the group. Stillman said no such threat was made. RAAC attorney Susan Hess said a lawyer representing Go the Distance Baseball called her to accuse her clients of interfering with the company’s ability to secure financing for the ballpark. Hess said there is no merit to the allegation, and was unaware of intentions to pursue a lawsuit against her clients. Stillman and the neighbors negotiated an uneasy truce last year, agreeing in December to mutually drop lawsuits against each other. A separate lawsuit against the city of Dyersville challenging the rezoning of the Field of Dreams farmstead from agricultural to commercial still awaits a judge’s ruling. “We have no desire to litigate,” Stillman said today. “We came here to build a ballpark and not engage attorneys in every move.” As for Blanchard, Stillman said lawyers became necessary when he ignored a personal request from her nearly a year ago to stop “his malicious behavior” on social media “to divide the community.” Blanchard has said he only aims to protect and preserve the movie site and surrounding farmland. “I will continue to exercise my First Amendment rights … and intend to see this entire mess through to the end, and will not be curtailed by corporate bullying,” he said today.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 19:01:19 +0000
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