FL - Somer Thompson, 7, Orange Park, 19 Oct 2009 #34

[kmart73]

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/01/20/23855.htm


"JACKSONVILLE (CN) - A construction company claims a Gannett TV station defamed it by linking it to the case of a 7-year-old girl who was abducted and murdered. Vinson Design & Build claims First Coast News broadcast an Oct. 23, 2009 report that singled out Vinson as having worked on the young girl's home and having hired a registered sex offender."

I wasn't aware that this company had ever done work on Somer's home. Is this news to anyone else?

 

[dar107]

I am only aware of Vinson working on the Gano house hmm.

 

[zannah]

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/01/20/23855.htm


"JACKSONVILLE (CN) - A construction company claims a Gannett TV station defamed it by linking it to the case of a 7-year-old girl who was abducted and murdered. Vinson Design & Build claims First Coast News broadcast an Oct. 23, 2009 report that singled out Vinson as having worked on the young girl's home and having hired a registered sex offender."

I wasn't aware that this company had ever done work on Somer's home. Is this news to anyone else?

Nope. Just the Gano house. Sounds like reporter error to me.

 

[dar107]

Hi Norway, I see its just me and you. Do you think it is reporter error as well re vinson working on Somers house?

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I'm thinking reporter error, but you never know.

If that co. did work on Somer's house, that would be really interesting. IMO

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Snipped from article linked above:

Vinson accuses the defendants of "failing to report on any (other) sex offenders living/working in the area of Thompson's home ... [or] school," any other business that had "provided services to Somer Thompson and her family," or any other registered sex offenders living or working near Thompson's home. (Parentheses in complaint.)


BBM

May be more to this.

ETA: The way this complaint reads, the BBM part's wording is hinky...do we take that wording in the complaint to mean someone with Vinson's co worked in Somer's home???

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Ok, this has my head spinning and I'm the only one here. GREAT lol

The way the complaint reads, I swear this just may mean something. Anybody else read it that way?

Anybody???

crickets

Ok, I'll check back later and see if anybody has responded.

 

[zannah]

Ok, this has my head spinning and I'm the only one here. GREAT lol

The way the complaint reads, I swear this just may mean something. Anybody else read it that way?

Anybody???

crickets

Ok, I'll check back later and see if anybody has responded.

I understand what you're saying, and if that were the case, it would be huge. But since they're referring to a specific report on Oct 23, and all of that report refers to the vacant house on Gano, I really believe this is a case of someone unfamiliar with the case doing a bad job of reporting on the lawsuit. Story & video lawsuit refer to are here:

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/special/somer/news-article.aspx?storyid=147122&catid=338

 

[Noway]

Hi Norway, I see its just me and you. Do you think it is reporter error as well re vinson working on Somers house?

Sorry ... I leave my laptop running while I do other things ... so my light may be on but I'm not home.

I think it's just a case of bad reporting ... but I'm digging into the possibility anyway.


*If this was meant for a member named Norway, I apologize.*

 

[everyoneneedsavoice]

WOW...my first thought was media / reporting error; however, by reading the report it appears that they actually viewed the complaint since they referenced the phrase / wording that was included in parenthesis. Given that information, I am not sure what to think, but am leaning towards the information in the article being factual.

Isn't the complaint public information? If so, I sure hope someone gets a copy and posts it soon.

I would think, if the new article was incorrect, the stations where the news reporters, whom are also being sued, would be all over it; and release / report the errors and a rebuttal.

But...I would also think if it were true, that they worked at Somer's home, it would've been leaked by someone, before today.

Lastly...I am not surprised to see / hear that the owner initiated litigation as I'm sure his business has been harmed. I do however find it intriguing, at the least, that he is defending hiring an RSO, if that was indeed what happened.

 

[Noway]

Before I forget (AGAIN!) could one of mods use that mod magic and add Found Deceased to this thread? Thank you!

When searching for info, I narrow my search of the many Somer threads to include that phrase and it's not picking up this thread. TIA

 

[human]

I'm really confused. I understood that the property on Gano belongs to some woman from Jax. Is it Vinson Design and Build's property?

Very strange case. I'm surprised that he got an attorney to take it. He'll have to prove that he has lost monetarily from all of this. Pretty tough to do.

Plus the news station has first amendment rights. They didn't report anything maliciously. Perhaps that station didn't report on other RSO's, but other stations certainly did.

LE considers it a crime scene. It's unfortunate, but it happened.

 

[kmart73]

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/01/20/Gannett.pdf

Here is a link to the court document

 

[Noway]

WOW...my first thought was media / reporting error; however, by reading the report it appears that they actually viewed the complaint since they referenced the phrase / wording that was included in parenthesis. Given that information, I am not sure what to think, but am leaning towards the information in the article being factual.

Isn't the complaint public information? If so, I sure hope someone gets a copy and posts it soon.

I would think, if the new article was incorrect, the stations where the news reporters, whom are also being sued, would be all over it; and release / report the errors and a rebuttal.

But...I would also think if it were true, that they worked at Somer's home, it would've been leaked by someone, before today.

Lastly...I am not surprised to see / hear that the owner initiated litigation as I'm sure his business has been harmed. I do however find it intriguing, at the least, that he is defending hiring an RSO, if that was indeed what happened.

BBM

The RSO he hired is his brother, GCV.

http://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/flyer.do?personId=5693

Is that what you're not sure of? That he hired an RSO ... or that hiring an RSO is what he is defending?

ETA
Snipped From Kmart's link above:

Singling out the Plaintiff's business as having hired a registered sex offender whether or not there had been any substantiated allegations that Somer Thompson had been sexually molested.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Ok it does say the company was singled out as having worked on Somers home!

 

[Kimberlyd125]

This could be HUGE IMO

If this company worked on Somers home and a RSO worked for the company, that would show a direct connection between a RSO and Somer.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

How did we miss the article where they said Vinson's worked on Somers home? Now I am thinking we did read that in one and put it off to a reporters mistake.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

Noway, find that article. LOL

 

[dannyodie]

How did we miss the article where they said Vinson's worked on Somers home? Now I am thinking we did read that in one and put it off to a reporters mistake.

for some reason now that this pops back up I thought I remember hearing that too or something similar? seems like reports should be proof read and confirmed before its allowed out the door, I would think that in a case such as this that police review it before its allowed out the window? if thats the case how in the heck did that fly??

 

[Kimberlyd125]

How did we miss the article where they said Vinson's worked on Somers home? Now I am thinking we did read that in one and put it off to a reporters mistake.

I'm thinking the same thing.