Hi Roy,
A couple of things:
1. When we first chatted, you said that you 'love Steve.' We all go back and forth on this case so I'm not commenting on the volte face - just wondering what occasioned it.
2. You ask why I don't get it re Thomas seeking settlement and accuse me elsewhere of bias. See, I am genuinely baffled that you won't accept the many reasons for which plaintiffs in libel cases seek settlement and can only conclude that this is because of your bias. In fact, today I was in the office preparatory to returning to work and, thinking that you were right, and my neurons were failing me, I spoke to one of the media law partners about this case and he came up with another three reasons besides the ones enumerated by the RDI on here. This is obviously just something we aren't going to agree on so I'll leave that, but let me ask you this: why do think the Ramseys agreed to settle? (Assuming that ST did solicit the settlement).
HAPPY FRIDAY, BTW:crazy:
Lawsuit Conclusion Letter
August 6, 2002
August 6, 2002
A Letter From Steve Thomas
The frivolous lawsuit filed by the Ramseys has concluded.
I am sorry for the delay in making a public statement until now, but the Ramsey announcement of a resolution in March was premature.
I am bound by the terms of the settlement not to discuss its conclusive points but I can tell you this: it was a thoughtful, deliberate decision. For the record, I was not the one who sought out a settlement in this case.
My absolute requirement for any resolution was the mandate that I would admit no wrongdoing whatsoever, nor would I personally pay a single dollar in settlement. And that is exactly what was achieved with this resolution. In fact, the book can continue to be published, advertised, quoted, and marketed. I will continue to speak on the case whenever I wish. I continue to stand resolutely by my book and the opinions I expressed in it. My beliefs have not changed.
The reality was this: I was well within my Constitutional rights to have stated my opinion regarding the events surrounding this murder. But this was a civil case. It was about money. Justice and "doing the right thing" do not always prevail in these cases, as we all know.
On the other hand, we would have enjoyed deposing and taking people in front of a jury, and discovering the truth. Unfortunately, financial constraints continued to prohibit this, as I was in no position to take on the Ramseys' wealth. In fact, I lost my house and savings during this struggle.
After almost 6 years, I can now look forward to a much brighter future. I continue to receive a warm welcome and tremendous support from police around the country. Although I miss police work, and have had invitations to re-join law enforcement, I have respectfully declined. I am taking my life in a new direction and am enjoying it with people I care about.
Again, I want to reiterate that I personally paid not one red cent, not one thin dime, not one single dollar to settle this suit. I tried to the very end to take a principled position in this tragic case, and I believe I have done so.