It has been a while since we heard about Prince George’s Senator Ulysses Currie (D-Dist. 25) who is currently under a federal microscope considering between his elected office and his off-session job with Shoppers Food Warehouse, specifically whether he was hired for his influence on some of the company’s projects. Remember, he did not disclose his position with the company on ethics forms. The Baltimore Sun’s blog says that Currie used his campaign account to pay his legal bills from Miles Stockbridge to the tune of nearly $42,000.
If the name Miles Stockbridge sounds familiar, that was the law firm of choice for former Salisbury Mayor Barrie P. Tilghman and soon to be former Salisbury police chief Allan Webster when they took on Salisbury News Publisher and Maryland Politics Today Eastern Shore Correspondent Joe Albero. Webster’s case was settled in 2008 with no money changing hands. Tilghman’s lawsuit against Albero was scoreboard in favor of Albero (read: she lost). Both sued for the non-normal amount of $9,999.00.
As far as Webster goes, the soon to be former part is due to him announcing his retiring effective this June. WMAR-TV (Channe l 2) says that a feud with current Mayor Jim Ireton had nothing to do with his decision. Last month, WBOC-TV (Channel 16) reported that Ireton asked for the chief’s resignation following several armed robberies and shootings in the city. Guess what the chief said. With Webster announcing his retirement, he withdrew his lawsuit against the city following receiving the first reprimands of his career; while at the same time, Ireton withdrew the four repreimands against the chief (hhhhmmmmmm….)
The case involving Salisbury News Editor and MarylandPT Lower Shore Insider Joe Albero and Salisbury Police Chief Allan Webster has been resolved with no money changing hands.
That means Webster v. Albero will not be decided as scheduled at the Worcester County Courthouse in Snow Hill.
Now here is what I think, Webster did not have a leg to stand on because he is a public official and as such, he is up to public scrutiny. Also, a judge ruled that while Albero was not protected under Maryland’s press shield law because he does not draw a salary from his site. However, Albero is afforded the right to protect his sources making Webster’s case a little bit harder to prove.
Let’s refer to this as a settlement where both sides can claim victory if nothing else to keep up a face in public. I believe however that Albero won, and I am not saying that because I know him and we contribute information to each other’s site. I am saying this base on common sense and the press. I would love for Governor Martin O’Malley to sue Chip Franklin for criticisms made. Stuff like this does not happen in big markets.
Attention Tonight Show writers!!!
If you are looking for material for a future episode, look to Maryland’s Eastern Shore. That’s where you will find the city of Salisbury, the Crossroads of Delmarva. In this fair city, you have a mayor and a police chief who is suing a local blogger who lives in Delmar, Delaware…but for all intents and purposes he is a Salisbury Tax Payer because he is a businessman in the city who owns property.
That blogger, is Joe Albero publishes Salisbury News and is MarylandPT’s Eastern Shore Insider. This is based on the fact that many times he has the photos and stories which I link to from time to time on this website. But I do keep in contact with others to find out what is going on. While I am on the subject, if there is anyone who follows Western Maryland Politics, I would love to talk to you on a regular basis, just kindly drop an email to me.
Now, before I get the oh so predictable comments about Albero that I know are being written as you are reading this, let me explain my position. I DO NOT RE-PUBLISH NOR CONDONE EVERYTHING ALBERO DOES. He has a vision for his blog and I have a vision for mine. Albero has told me he is not a journalist and I have acknowledged as such. The truth he is not a journalist, just like politicians are not politicians at first. In other words, he didn’t go to school nor apprenticed as a journalist. But the fact is several stories that Albero has published were not only accurate, but reported before any of the traditional media outlets in the Salisbury market pick-up on it. The tagline he says “You’ll either like us or hate us” is very much true from the cross section of comments that I receive.
For Albero to be sued by Tilghman and Webster is absolutely laughable, keep in mind I live in Central Maryland and I work in DC so this is like a reality based sitcom to me. I just can’t help but to notice the irony in this situation. Both Tilghman and Webster use the services of Miles and Stockbridge, both filed cases with Wicomico County (Webster’s case was transfered to Worcester County) and both are suing for only $9,999.00. According to Albero, it was to avoid a jury trial.
Also laughable was Tilghman telling The Daily Times that she knows that criticism, public discourse and debate are a part of the Democratic process and she welcomes them. If anyone has been following Salisbury politics, this is a drastic change from prior comments.
She called a press conference to rail against the shore blogs, before myself let alone Albero started our respective blogs. Albero was submitting pictures to former candidate for Wicomico County Executive Charles Jannace (R) when he had a blog at the time. She also labeled a group of Salisbury citizens “The Dirty Dozen” when she got frustrated with a group of citizens who disagreed with her and City Council President Mike Dunn. Tilghman in yesterday’s article basically libeled herself in my opinion. And it is my OPINION, I don’t want any lawsuits filed in Wicomico County.
I do want point out that Tilghman went to Wilmington, DE to speak with the owners of WICO (1320AM) over the Bill Reddish interview with current City Council President. An incident in which Reddish has apologized for at his very next opportunity. Yet, Tilghman citing the interview and his OPINIONS issued that edict to avoid his show at all cost. Now former WICO host John Robinson has a point in that it should have been dropped at the apology.
Now onto Chief Webster. I know that I do not have a favorable opinion of the poliec chief in my home county of Prince George’s, but the one thing I can say is that at least Melvin High wears the uniform. I have a favorable opinion of former Police Commissioner for Baltimore City Ed Norris and now former DC Police Chief Charles Ramsey. Those two men wore the uniform. Not only does Albero’s pictures show Webster not wearing a uniform, but I also have a source that says he never seen him in uniform either. Oh, and he does not like Webster as a chief either….
Tilghman and Webster would not last in a city bigger than Salisbury for one simple reason. If they sued everyone who has an opinion against them they would be broke, especially if they live where I do. People will have an opinion about you whether good or bad. I know I have let dissenters comments on this blog many times. And I invite dissenters to this day. Just be ready when I counter and give me time to make sure I got the notice.
There was a Supreme Court case that I thought was dramatically executed well in “The People v.s. Larry Flynt.” The case was Flynt versus Jerry Falwell. I hate using this example but the situation is right because Falwell was suing Flynt for defamation of character. Flynt published that Falwell done more to his mom than hug her. The question to Falwell was “Do you believe anyone would believe that you had sex with your mother?” Falwell said no. Flynt won the defamation suit, but was ordered to pay Falwell for inflicting emotional distress. That decision was later over thrown by the Supreme Court.
Attention Tilghman and Webster, YOU ARE PUBLIC OFFICIALS! People are going to say stuff about you whether it’s true or not! That’s the nature of the business I’m sorry to say. This my be an over simplistic editorial and opinion, but this story is completely hilarious, considering The Daily Show makes fun of Bush on a daily basis among other politicos.
I also can’t help but point out the irony, in that Tilghman and Webster both have the same law firm and was asking for the same amount. It looks like a conspired effort. Remember, I said it LOOKS like, I didn’t say it was. Remember, no lawsuits makes Burns a happy guy.
P. Kenneth Burns is the Editor and Writer of Maryland Politics Today. He can be reached at kennyburns@marylandpolitics.us.
Joe Albero (left) publishes the Salisbury News blog and has earned the title of MarylanPT’s Eastern Shore Insider, at least for the lower shore.Outside of this blog, he has earned the title of cancer. That’s a bit harsh, but in normal terms, he has pissed off Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman, former City Council members Mike Dunn and Lynn Cathcart, current City Council Vice President Gary Comegys and his wife and Salisbury Police Cheif Allan Webster.
Webster and Tilghman have sent letters in February of this year asking Albero to shut up. Webster’s lawyer, Richard De Tar, asking Albero to stop saying that Webster is stalking Albero. Tilghman’s Lawyer, asking Albero to stop saying that the Mayor is dishonest, among other things. Both letters came from Law Offices of Miles and Stockbridge.
Webster actually carried out his threat, only he might have gotten a real lawyer because the one representing the Chief as quoted in The Daily Times is not named Richard.
Webster has filed suit against Albero towards the end of May, seeking the “untraditional” dollar amount of $9,999.00. I’m surprised he didn’t add on an additional 99 cents on the sum being asked.
The lawyer’s name representing Webster is named Jesse Hammock, who tells the Times that everything that needs to be said publicly is “properly said in the suit papers.” Webster said that he decided the suit is the best way to fight Albero after discussing it with his attorneys.
I caught up with Albero this afternoon, who tells me that he has yet to receive any papers to his home base in Delmar, DE. He believes that Webster is a guinea pig for Tilghman, if she decides to sue him. He also tells me that this is not the first time that Webster had sued someone in civil court. In 2003, Webster had filed a civil suit against former City Councilwoman Rachel Polk. That case was dismissed with prejudice.
Albero told WMDT (Channel 47) that if it’s a frivolous lawsuit, he would not only counter sue Webster, but the city as well.
The Trial Date has been set for October 5 for in the afternoon.
