Clinton Protesters Win Ten Year Legal Battle With TeamstersÂ
Philadelphia, PA (RushPRNews) March 26, 2008 — One of the few remaining civil suits stemming from the Clinton-era Lewinsky scandal–involving the vicious beating of two anti-Clinton siblings by pro-Clinton Teamsters outside Philadelphia’s City Hall during a 1998 presidential visit–has come to a close.
The victims, Don Adams and Teri Adams, agreed to a settlement after Teamsters Local 115, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, opted to pay an undisclosed sum in exchange for the dropping of the suit, which included counts of assualt, defamation of character, and malicious prosecution against the unions. Union officials are expected to sign the agreement sometime this week. The terms of the settlement are being kept confidential.
“Today, my sister and I are declaring victory for the First Amendment and freedom of speech,” said Mr. Adams. “Every American citizen has the right to protest the action of any U. S. President, whether he, or she, be a Clinton or a Bush.”
The October 2, 1998 attack occurred as Mr. Adams marched with a sign calling Bill Clinton a “liar, pervert, national shame.” Two Teamsters snuck-up behind him and ripped the sign out of his hand. When he and his sister turned around to retrieve it, they were encircled by a mob of Teamsters led by (then) Local 115 officer, and IBT Vice President, John Morris.
Mr. Morris then rammed the fedora over Mr. Adamses’ face, blinding him to the onslaught of Teamsters who proceeded to jump and pummel both Adamses.
Mr. Adams suffered head injuries (including a mild concussion), lacerations, bruising, and a herniated (neck) disc. He was treated at an area hospital. Ms. Adams, who tried to protect her brother, was bruised but not seriously injured.
The attack was captured on videotape by local news stations and broadcast nationally at a time when (then) Mayor Ed Rendell was trying to attract both the 2000 Democratic and Republican National Conventions to the “City of Brotherly Love.”
Mr. Rendell’s spokesman, Kevin Feeley, caused a public uproar when he responded to the incident by saying, “they [the anti-Clinton protesters] chose to make their views known in the faces of Teamsters–that, generally, is not a good career choice.”
Mr. Rendell subsequently admitted to inviting the Teamsters to the pro-Clinton rally–instructing them to “drown-out” anti-Clinton protesters.
The 2000 civil suit, Adams, et al. v. Teamsters, Rendell, at al., was initially filed as a Federal Civil Rights case. In 2003, Federal Judge William yohn dismissed the Adamses’ Civil Right claims–setting aside the federal counts against Mr. Rendell.
After an unsuccessful appeal of Judge Yohn’s decision, the Adamses continued the suit in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, where a may, 2008 trial had been pending.
Mr. Morris, who was eventually removed from his union posts, died in 2002.
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For further information, contact: Don Adams, Philadelphia Committee for Constitutional Justice, 215.620.3055.
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