Belt Drive Betty's Blog

Dealing with lawyers and lawsuits - fun and games - NOT!

Belt Drive 2 Joan Hansen, Lawsuit, Ray Sasseville, Sturgis Canada, Sturgis North 10:36 AM

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I recently posted a photo of Doc, my 2010 Ultra Classic with 9,800 miles on it, on Facebook, with the information that I am selling him in order to put a big chunk of money on the upcoming lawyers bills that I know will be arriving sooner than later.<br />
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A few people who although we are connected on Facebook, have not truly been following the story aka SAGA and took a few things out of context.<br />
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My goal here is to clear the air and update people on exactly where things stand.<br />
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For those who have not been following this misadventure, I am being sued by Sturgis North/Canada, Ray Sasseville and Joan Hansen for Libel, slander and defamation.<br />
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My reporting on Ray Sasseville and his history included links, screen shots and documents - you can read up on the history of the lawsuit here:<br />
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/community/bdb-defense-fund">http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/community/bdb-defense-fund</a><br />
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No matter that what I reported was already in public domain and all I had done was put everything together in one place, Ray and his group decided to sue myself along with 6 others.<br />
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The shotgun lawsuit, initiated just before Christmas, included the Mayor of Sicamous, the City of Sicamous, the Sicamous Chamber of Commerce, Steve Hammer, Bernie Aubin, Vince Lewis and myself.<br />
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My attorney calls it a nuisance suit.<br />
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Nothing about this lawsuit has been straight forward. <br />
Shortly after the suit was launched by lawyer Gerhard Pyper, Ray petitioned to self represent on behalf of himself and the company.  Joan however was still represented by Pyper. <br />
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In March we got an offer to settle from Gerhard Pyper.<br />
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The first six defendants took the offer they were given. Their offer was that if they didn't ask for costs, the plaintiffs would drop the suit. <br />
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The offer I was given was unacceptable.<br />
They basically wanted a $250,000 gag order on me and for me to remove any reference to them off my site, out of my newspaper and to monitor social media and ensure that no one in my circle said anything about them. If I didn't they'd claim the bond money.<br />
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As a reporter, I have done my job well. I reported facts, provided evidence and asked people to educate themselves.   Nothing I wrote was untrue, nor written with malice, therefore it is not slanderous, libellous or defamation. I am covered under fair comment and freedom of the press.<br />
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Still, I must get before a judge for those freedoms to be exercised.<br />
AND - that costs money and lots of it.<br />
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The latest developments in this case are that Gerhard Pyper, the lawyer for Joan Hansen was suspended and his law firm was closed down by the BC Law Society.  Ray is listed as self representing for himself and Sturgis North. Joan however is not represented by anyone at the moment.<br />
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Before I had a chance to send my counter offer to Ray, I got a second offer to settle from a new lawyer out of Kelowna named Greg Alfonsso.  That offer was for $1,000 cash and 30 four day passes that I could sell to offset my lawyers bills if I would market their event for them.  Again, in all good conscience I did not feel I could take this offer and so my lawyer had to rewrite my counter offer and sent it off to the new lawyer along with Ray and Joan.<br />
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To date there has been no response from any of the parties to my counter offer.<br />
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On top of that, the consent to dismiss orders for the others have hit a road block. <br />
The only dismissal that has taken pace is that involving the Mayor and the City of Sicamous. <br />
The other four parties paperwork was apparently never filed by Gerhard Pyper's office.<br />
It took the BC Law Society this much time to determine this.  So now the other 4 parties will have to incur more costs to see if the original consents can be found, and if so can they be filed. <br />
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If not, then they too will face the challenge of getting the other parties to communicate and again it will cost them more money.<br />
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I myself, have recently sworn out an affidavit for my lawyer to use to have my case moved from Surrey to Salmon Arm/Vernon.  My lawyer will need to go to Surrey and petition the court to transfer the case. That means a minimum of a full day out of his office on top of the preparations for that hearing and the paperwork that will come out of that hearing. <br />
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He told me to prepare for $7-$10K for that portion of the bill. <br />
The next step will cost far less as it will involve a hearing before a judge in Salmon Arm/Vernon where in we will petition the court to ask Ray and company, to post a bond for costs.<br />
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Then, if they do that we proceed to examinations for discovery, then to trial. If they don't post a bond, then the judge will examinee the case and potentially throw it out. At least that is my understanding on how this is supposed to work.  Each step of the way will cost a different amount of money and time.  I have been told to prepare for an over all bill of $50K from this date forward, so that I am ready for the long haul if this does go that way.<br />
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So that's where the legal end of things stand...now to deal with the money portion.<br />
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Ours is a community newspaper that does a lot of charity work and as such, it does not generate huge money, basically it covers its costs and modest wages for myself and my staff. Without fundraising, the business would be at jeopardy.  So I had started tee shirt campaigns, donation drives, sold a company bike - a Johnny Pag, some art that was donated to me via an online auction and Blair Weber organized a Poker Run to help me.<br />
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At the end of May, on the Defence Fund Poker Run, I was involved in a mishap where my bike ended up getting totalled.<br />
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I lost control in a washout on a gravel road and another rider hit me from behind before I had gone down. Had that other rider not hit me, I would have only had to replace the front fender and lived with a battle scarred fairing.  As it was though, the bike was written off and the RCMP consequently charged the other rider with following too close.  The bike I bought to replace my Street glide with was purchased at Edmonton Harley-Davidson.  With what insurance gave me for my bike, some personal savings and $1,800 of the money from the poker run I was able to get another work vehicle.<br />
(As a moto journalist, my motorcycle is a workhorse not a pleasure machine.) <br />
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I had no choice, if I wanted to keep the newspaper running, my source of income, not to mention my employees paid,  I had to use some of that money. I have managed to keep paying the lawyer because I was working and so eventually the $1,800 raised did go on the lawyers bill, but funny thing, those bills just keep coming. <br />
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Had I been able to put all of that defence run money on the bill at the time, I'd be about $1,800 closer to having him paid up towards this newest bill. As it stands, I owe him about $500 right now, since I was able to, yesterday, make a payment to him from the sale of SOA art in an online auction we held last month.<br />
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Because of the latest twists and turns of this lawsuit, I have an anticipated $7-$10K bill coming to get the venue changed from Surrey to Salmon Arm.<br />
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I also have a business loan and my motorcycle is but one piece of the collateral for that loan.<br />
My banker has agreed that if I sell the bike, they will take 50% towards my loan and allow me the other 50% to pay my lawyer.<br />
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If this court case gets dropped, by some miracle, then I will just continue paying the lawyer monthly until he is paid off and use the remaining money towards another bike. <br />
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Nothing about this lawsuit has been straight forward nor does it remotely resemble normal practices according to my attorney. <br />
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I need to take some stress off of my brain so that I can focus and concentrate on doing the work my team and I do in and for the riding community.<br />
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If I can't put my focus on Belt Drive Betty Media and all of the support tools we offer the community then I and my employees will not have wages to live on.<br />
This doesn't just affect me or my small staff, it affects the entire community that uses our events calendars, our newspaper and web sites as sources of information.<br />
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I am not asking for a hand out but a hand up.<br />
I am willing to sell everything I own to defend myself if that's what it takes to see this thing through.<br />
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I am selling items like tee shirts, like so many businesses do, but instead of that money funding my business, like it does for other businesses, the tee shirt sales are helping to fund my lawsuit.<br />
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If you know anyone looking for a great bike with extended warranty, please put them in touch with me via bdbetty @ gmail.com  - fix the spaces.<br />
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If you are interested in purchasing a tee shirt to support the cause please visit: <a href="http://teespring.com/beltdrivebetty">http://teespring.com/beltdrivebetty</a><br />
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I hope this clears things up for those who seem to be confused about this lawsuit, and what I am preparing for and why I am doing what I am doing.  I want to do the work I do, pay my bills, eat decently and enjoy life just like every other working stiff out there.  I want to be able to sleep at night without worrying about how I am going to come up with the money for the lawyer, a bill I know is coming sooner than later.<br />
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That's all!  By selling my bike, I can take the pressure off of the looming lawyer's bill and focus on the business and community. <br />
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By the way we have some great prizes up for grabs in our Capture the Gear Fail Photo Contest.<br />
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You could win a pair of boots and a helmet from <a href="http://www.kimpex.com/en-ca/home" target="_blank">Kimpex</a> - a value of $300 for your first place photo and for the second place photo you could win a pair of <a href="https://www.dragginjeans.net/" target="_blank">Draggin Jeans</a>! <br />
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Visit Our <a href="http://beltdrivebetty.com/community/contests/capture-the-gear-fail-contest/" target="_blank">Contest Page</a> to find out more!<br />
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If you are blessed to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.<br />
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Belt Drive Betty,<br />
Editor & Rider<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><i>Disclaimer:</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The Belt Drive Betty Blog makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site & will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.</span><br />
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Dealing with lawyers and lawsuits - fun and games - NOT!

I recently posted a photo of Doc, my 2010 Ultra Classic with 9,800 miles on it, on Facebook, with the information that I am selling him in...

Riding Smart, Riding Safe - what happens when we don't

Belt Drive 1 12:32 PM

A family in the UK has decided to release helmet camera footage from their son's crash with the hopes that they can prevent even one person from dying needlessly.<br />
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The video clearly shows that the rider's excessive speed and the auto drivers lack of judgement caused a young man to loose his life, a mother to grieve, a family bereft.<br />
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A majority of riders love to "race" the wind, most of us at times, like to push it a little harder than is wise to do.<br />
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A spring day, you haven't been out in a while, you are feeling full of zest for life and you make that one fatal decision, to wick on the throttle, just as you have on other odd occasions, only this time, you didn't get lucky. There are no heroic bench racing stories to tell. Its over, and your family and friends are left to deal with the aftermath.<br />
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This video poignantly shows a mother's pain and love. Her pride and her deep, profound sorrow.<br />
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I hope that sharing this helps prevent one mom from having to feel the way this one does.<br />
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R.I.P. David Holmes.  Thank you to his mother, Brenda Holmes for sharing his story with the rest of us.  I for one deeply appreciate it.<br />
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Remember our <a href="http://beltdrivebetty.com/community/contests/capture-the-gear-fail-contest" target="_blank">Spot the Gear Fail Photo Contest</a> for your chance to win:</h3>
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<br />First Place: A CKX Revolt Helmet and a Pair of Oxford Apache Boots from <a href="http://www.kimpex.com/en-ca/home" target="_blank">KIMPEX</a> </h4>
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Second Place -  a Pair of <a href="https://www.dragginjeans.net/" target="_blank">Draggin' Jeans</a> </h4>
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Please visit the contest page for the details on how to submit your photo.</div>
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We already have a couple of entries!</div>
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<b>I am looking forward to seeing your photos added to the gallery!</b></div>
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If you are blessed to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and please consider wearing all the gear!</div>
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Belt Drive Betty</div>
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Editor & Rider</div>
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Riding Smart, Riding Safe - what happens when we don't

A family in the UK has decided to release helmet camera footage from their son's crash with the hopes that they can prevent even one per...

A tough year almost behind me…

Belt Drive 0 Big Blue in Canada, Defense Fund, Draggin Jeans, Joan Hansen, Kimpex, Offence Fund, Ray Sasserville, Sturgis Canada, Sturgis North 4:40 PM

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Ever since I arrived home from Ireland last October, life has thrown me curve ball after curve ball that I had not anticipated.</div>
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I had to let go of the person laying out the paper and doing the books for the company. That was a tough thing to do with so much work on my plate after having been on the road for so long, not to mention the fact that we had an 8-year history.</div>
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Had I known the full ramifications of riding across Canada in support of our veterans, had I known it was going to cost me so much personally, or exactly what I was going to face, I sure would have done things differently – but, hindsight is always 20/20!</div>
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Then Ray Sasseville, Joan Hansen and Sturgis North sued me along with 6 other people.</div>
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They claimed slander, libel and defamation.</div>
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I was angry, incredulous and determined.</div>
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The ensuing 4 months, from December 21<span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">st</span>/22<span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">nd</span> when I was served until March 30<span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> or there about, were filled with; myself, a research assistant and a friend going through hundreds and thousands of emails, creating timelines, organizing all data and letters in a chronological time frame.  To say it was exhausting is putting it mildly.</div>
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Add to that sales of ads for the<a href="http://riderfriendly.ca/" target="_blank"> Rider Friendly Phone Book</a>, dealing with advertisers who broke their contract and held the book up for 5-6 weeks, and then a motorcycle crash, getting to know the IOMC and the ruckus that caused with folks in the US 1% circle and I feel like I have been under siege all year long.</div>
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The phone book being held up was costly in more ways than one as I had to air freight the books in.  It also upset riders who bought books and has caused me to return to going to layout in December and January and to print in February – that means changing marketing materials and book keeping but it also means that the book will go out to purchasers in a timely fashion and that the app and download version will also be up in a timely fashion.</div>
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My trip this summer was a muted one. I spent many nights on the couches, airbeds and in spare rooms of good friends and family in Alberta and BC. Without my friends and family, I could not have continued to do my job. You are too numerous to mention, but I hope you know how deeply I thank you for your support, friendship and love.</div>
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This whole Sturgis North lawsuit is a fiasco. NOTHING about this lawsuit is typical; first they issue a shotgun lawsuit where in they sue the City of Sicamous, the Sicamous Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor of Sicamous, Steve Hammer of Summer Stomp, Bernie Aubin of the Headpins, Vince Lewis and myself.</div>
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In late March, an offer to settle is given to the first 6 defendants, basically the offer said; “if you don’t charge for costs and we’ll go away”.  I too got an offer to settle but the offer to settle with me was much different. They wanted me to remove all reference to their names, in the newspaper and web sites, promise to never utter their names and post a $250K bond – oh and monitor social media to ensure no one in my circle said anything bad about them.</div>
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My attorney and I drafted a counter offer to settle that clearly laid out that all of the complaints – A- K, that were filed against me were non slanderous/libelous nor were they defaming.  We wanted to wait to send it until the other 6 cases were rubber stamped through the courts as dealt with.</div>
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Then Gerhard Pyper, the lawyer for Sturgis North, Ray Sasseville and Joan Hansen is suspended.  We waited and waited to see where the other 6 cases were in the court system.</div>
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While we were in this holding pattern, I got a second offer to settle via Ray’s new lawyer, Gregg Alfonso which stated that:</div>
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Dear Renee’,</div>
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                I would like to settle this dispute amicably with you and move forward, withdraw the lawsuit  and concentrate on the Motorcycling Community as a whole. Your past postings have been criticizing me for leaving a wave of destruction re creditors from past events. Even though it puzzles me why you went to such great extents to involve my family I have heard and understood the message. I take full responsibility on behalf of Sturgis North as its CEO re the past debts that are outstanding and will try my hardest to satisfy those debts albeit a little at a time. I apologize to all debtors and ask that they give me a chance to satisfy the debts which has been my intention all along. My only intention ever has been to put on an event for the Motorcycling community to be able to meet, share experience and enjoy great music and each others company. I chose to continue to put on the best festival possible in order to maintain our goal for the Motorcycling Community and pay down past debts on a timely basis as opposed to walking away and not attempting to take care of our obligations. I truly you believe you have the best interests of the creditors and Motorcycling community at heart and would like to see the creditors paid back therefore I am willing to offer the following.</div>
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<li>The letter of apology to the creditors for you to post if you wish not mentioning any blame on your part re your articles</li>
<li>I have set up a trust fund with my Lawyer Gregg Alfonso with Alfonso Law Corp to collect and pay to the creditors on a prorated basis at the end of the festival a percentage of our online ticket sales annually. This will ensure that monies are distributed each year regardless of what the festival makes because this is not based on profits. Your lawyer will be informed of the details </li>
<li>Obviously since this whole thing was about your interpretation of my character and the fact that you want the creditors paid I will need help to market my festival so the creditors will get paid back annually until paid upon agreed invoicing amounts. Thus you will achieve the main goal which was making me accointable and getting the creditors paid. </li>
<li>I am willing to pay you $1000 for advertisig on your weekly editions up to the festival</li>
<li>I am willing to give you 30 4 day all event passes for you to sell to some of your 75,000 readers who will purchase them from you once they see this has been setllrd and you can keep the monies $310 per 4 day event pass ticket which totals a tad over $9000 which when added with the advertising money will get you out of debt with your lawyer.</li>
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                Ray Sasseville</div>
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I had some tough questions to ask myself. Clearly Ray blames me for why the riding community was not embracing his event. Clearly we had all heard before that a fund would be set up to pay vendors etc., but nothing seemed to materialize. Clearly Ray wants to hold me accountable for why people won’t get paid if I don’t take his deal. BUT - Could I promote someone who was suing me? Could I possibly want to tie my name to their event anymore than I already had with sponsorship in 2011 and 12? </div>
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In all good conscience, I could not and so, I chose to pass on this offer to settle and my lawyer sent in my first counter offer, albeit redrafted to the new attorney and geared towards the second offer to settle as opposed to the first.</div>
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To date I have not heard from the good folks at Sturgis North/Canada, Ray Sasseville and Joan Hansen regarding my counter offer.</div>
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I attended Sturgis Canada; I experienced the small attendance, the disorganization and some of the politics of the 2014 version of the event first hand.  I reported on the event in as professional and level headed manner as is possible and have left it to the attendees who were unhappy, the booking agent, Keith Sharp, the band manager Ted VanBoort, the hotelier who said he hadn’t been paid and the Royal Canadian Legion who say they don’t think they will get paid, to say their piece on Facebook, in the Merritt Herald and in my blog through screen captures.</div>
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Now I get a letter from my lawyer that states that the 6 other cases have NOT gone through the court the way they were supposed to and that only one of the consent to dismiss orders were ever filed. So in effect, the Sicamous Chamber of Commerce, Steve Hammer, Bernie Aubin and Vince Lewis along with myself, are all right back to where we were.</div>
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He has also advised me that we are pushing on to a change of venue application to get the case moved to Salmon Arm. This is going to be an expensive undertaking, getting the case moved.  It means my lawyer going to the courthouse in Surrey and meeting with a judge.</div>
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I am advised I will need to prepare for a $7-10K bill for that alone, not to mention the $2,100 I owe him at the moment.</div>
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I have been getting a lot of comments from people about countersuing the group, it may come to that, although I am advised there isn’t anything of any substance to attach to and that it could get costlier than the $50K it is slated to cost to see this thing through. </div>
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Besides, I am one in a long list of people who would be going after assets. Michael Smith has a $70,000 judgment and then there is the BC Securities hearing in October and the Arizona Lawsuit that has been going on for ages that will go to trial in 2015.  There really is nothing to gain in trying to counter sue – I would get a piece of paper saying I am owed and that paper would be worthless.</div>
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Folks, I need your help if I am going to succeed.  The time and focus this court case has taken away from the business side of what I do has been telling and has hurt me financially and reputation wise – people don’t like it when you miss deadlines.</div>
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So far this community, has helped me pay my lawyers bill and I am asking you to keep that support coming.  I have hired two sales people and with their help and perhaps the help of a few more, the business end of things will get righted shortly.</div>
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I need to keep my attention, as much as possible on the business; I need to get rid of some of the worry about paying the lawyer… I have to swallow my pride and ask…</div>
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Please consider donating to my <a href="http://teespring.com/beltdrivebetty" target="_blank">Defense Fund</a> or buying a tee shirt for my <a href="http://teespring.com/beltdrivebetty" target="_blank">Offence Fund</a>, which is what I now prefer to call it.</div>
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On top of all of those challenges I have had 6 friends pass away, and that was/is hard to deal with. My hubby going through an MS attack was another toughie I have had to endure.</div>
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But as in all things life, a ray of sunshine always presents itself…</div>
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I became a great aunty twice in the space of 10 days, I have a new great niece and a great nephew!</div>
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Those two wonderful occasions have brought new life to this very tired spirit, as did the friends and family who helped me to accomplish my sales and reporting trip.</div>
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To those who propped me up while I was struggling to deal with death after death, and frustration after frustration, there are no words to express my gratitude.</div>
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I am not sure what these various trials and tribulations are preparing me for, but man I am ready for the tides to turn. </div>
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Our Canada’s Most Rider Friendly Community Contest is shaping up nicely, our <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/community/contests/capture-the-gear-fail-contest" target="_blank">Spot the Gear Fail </a>contest has just kicked off and is offering great prizes from <a href="http://kimpex.com/" target="_blank">Kimpex</a> and <a href="http://dragginjeans.net/" target="_blank">Draggin Jeans</a> and we are getting ready to launch our newest Rider Survey!</div>
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Our 2015 Beat the PMS Blues Online Show N Shine is also beginning to take shape with <a href="http://bigblueincanada.com/" target="_blank">Big Blue</a> coming on board as a major sponsor and I have about a dozen advertising proposals to build.</div>
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I know that with the help of this community we are going to go on to bigger and better things and I promise you all this much, I will continue to pay forward every kindness and helping hand I get to all of the charities and the riding clubs who support them through free promotion and marketing…</div>
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To donate to my Defence Fund: CLICK HERE</div>
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To Buy an Offence Fund Tee Shirt: <a href="http://teespring.com/beltdrivebetty" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a></div>
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If you are blessed enough to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and please consider wearing good gear.</div>
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Belt Drive Betty</div>
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Editor & Rider</div>
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