Suit Against Eli Home Opponent Dismissed
A Superior Court judge has dismissed the last of three lawsuits against Anaheim Hills residents who oppose an emergency shelter for abused women and children.
In his ruling, Judge Ronald L. Bauer said that resident Gene Secrest has a right under the 1st Amendment to voice his opinions about Eli Home and its operations.
Shelter officials filed the slander suit against Secrest in 1995, claiming he was damaging fund-raising efforts by publicly accusing them of mishandling donations. Neighbors Vickie Conway and Jeannie Averill also were sued by Eli Home for allegedly spreading information about the shelter’s prior financial troubles.
Other judges dismissed those suits, and an appeals court later ruled that the women were protected from civil suits aimed at controlling free speech. Eli Home officials were ordered to pay the attorney and court fees for both women.
Secrest said he is relieved by the dismissal but is still angry about the time he was forced to spend on the case. “It was a meritless intimidation tactic to try and keep us quiet,” he said.
--BY LESLIE EARNEST AND BONNIE HAYES
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