6/27/22, 12:36 PM
“FUTURE WRONGFUL ACTIONS”
“The Board of Directors of the Crooked River Ranch Club and Maintenance Association WILL NO LONGER BE OFFERING ADVERTISING SPACE TO RANCH MATTERS CRR in the Association’s newsletter. The Crooked River Ranch Telegraph.”
In a letter dated June 21, 2022, sent by the law firm HARKER & LEPORE, Ranch Matters was informed, that after about 5 years of advertising in the Association’s newsletter, they no longer want our business and have cancelled our advertising agreement.
Attorney Lepore’s Letter ATTACHED
BUT WHY?
Lepore explains: “Ranch Matters CRR has routinely posted derogatory comments regarding the Association, its Directors, and its employees. Ranch Matters CRR’s primary purpose is the disruption of Association business…”
Lepore’s letter further addressed our filing of the Assumed Business Name (ABN), “CROOKED RIVER RANCH TELEGRAPH, 6 years ago. On July 11, 2016, we registered the name with the State after investigating the Ranch policies restricting access to the their newsletter and other Ranch communication platforms. The name was available and legally issued by the Oregon Secretary of State.
We haven’t used the name, haven’t abused the name and certainly have done nothing “illegal.” Additionally, the Ranch Officials knew about this matter for years and did nothing until now.
According to Lepore: “Your registered assumed business name is intended to cause confusion as to the ownership of the Telegraph” and threatens us with legal Mumbo Jumbo.
Lepore signs off stating: “The Association demands that you immediately terminate this illegal assumed business name by filing the appropriate paperwork with the Secretary of State.”
We will not “terminate” the lawful ownership of the subject ABN or be intimidated by the Ranch sock pocket lawyer paid for by Association money to silence our news reporting.
FOR THE RECORD
We just filed our renewal notice with the Secretary of State.
OLD NEWS
As previously reported, certain current and former Ranch Officials have been engaged in an on-going effort to disrupt, discredit, obstruct and harass our news reporting.
They have filed malicious reports with various government entities triggering the involvement of the nationally known Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press (RCFP) in 2020.
On October 13, 2020, Portland attorney Duane Bosworth from the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine, wrote former Crooked River Ranch (CRR) President Carl Harbour on behalf of the RCFP.
Mr. Bosworth’s letter conveyed RCFP’s concerns about “obstruction and harassment” related to to Ranch Matters John Stevens and Dave Stangland’s journalism by the Ranch Board. He added: “From all known facts the Board has fostered, endorsed, or perhaps in the rare case, known of but turned a wholly blind eye to wrongful actions against my clients. Moreover, the Board has used government entities, including the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the DPSST, as part of a PATTERN TO ATTEMPT TO SILENCE RANCH MATTERS.”
“Clear testimony would also show that the Board has put my clients on what witnesses have identified as a “hit list.”
Bosworth’s letter ends stating: “In short, harassment and obstruction must immediately stop. Across the United States, RCFP has supported litigation filed to protect journalists. Again, all legal remedies will be considered if there are future wrongful actions.”
Attorney Bosworth’s Letter ATTACHED
