Judge tosses defamation suit vs. Mullica gadfly By ANDREW JOHNSON Staff Writer, The Press: It's over, and as usual Larry Angel had the last word. Township officials, some who have since retired, took the 60s-ish, verbose, animated, liberal-leaning and sunglass-clad lifeguard to court over the nasty things he says about them on his Web log. They lost. Angel won the last part of his defamation lawsuit Wednesday, when Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Carol E. Higbee dismissed the part of the suit involving former Mullica Mayor Robert Hagaman. That makes it a complete victory for the Mullica resident, ending the nearly 2-year-old lawsuit that never made it to trial. Two weeks ago, the same judge issued a summary judgment against four other current and former officials, saying they had no case. Joining Hagaman in the suit, alleging the gadfly made false and damaging accusations against them, were Township Clerk Kimberly Johnson, current Mayor Kathy Chasey, retired Clerk MaryLou Simon and current Committeewoman Janet Forman. Johnson declined comment Wednesday about the failed lawsuit. The others did not return phone calls. On his daily blog, gadfly01.blogspot.com, Angel calls Hagaman "The Mullah," Chasey "The Bag Lady," Johnson "The Christian Quisling Bigot," Simon "The Old Snake" and Forman "The Auto Insurance Fraud Queen of Atlantic County." There are other public figures who regularly take it on the chin on the site, including school board officials, police officers and members of President Bush's Cabinet. Angel says as many as 200 people click on his site each day. It is not unusual to see local politicians, such as Republican committee candidate Ernest Aponte, post their own entries on the site. Angel believes that his Web site and his right to lambaste public officials is the active embodiment of the First Amendment. He believes that the lawsuit was filed to silence free speech. "The whole thing has been an abuse of the court system," Angel said Tuesday, when he received early word that the lawsuit would be tossed. "This time they will be defendants," he said about a counter lawsuit he intends to explore against the five former plaintiffs. "We'll see how they defend their malicious prosecution in the court system." Linwood lawyer Paul D'Amato, who represented all five Mullica officials, said he was not concerned about a suit from Angel. "I don't think there is a basis for it," he said. "He won the day," D'Amato said. "Let him go back and do whatever." D'Amato did say that he had spoken to his clients and they were disappointed by the judge's decision. Hagaman told him the judge's ruling would dissuade would-be politicians from running for office, D'Amato said. Johnson and Simon also conveyed dismay, he said. "They truly question and wonder whether part of their job is to be verbally abused." D'Amato said the First Amendment gives "incredible protections." He wondered whether too much, in the case of public officials. "You lose all your rights," he said. "I seriously wonder whether the framers of the Constitution and Bill of Rights contemplated that in the year 2005, the (First Amendment) would provide protection for some of the statements Larry Angel made," the attorney said. The judge didn't see it D'Amato's way. Higbee said Angel made his alleged defamatory statements against Hagaman at a state Legislative hearing, and in that forum, his words were protected speech. She did not argue that they could be construed by themselves as defamatory. During a 2002 hearing, Angel objected to Hagaman's appointment to the Pinelands Commission. He answered yes to a legislator's question on whether he thought Hagaman was responsible for poisoning his dog and slashing his car tires. In the instance of calling Forman an "Auto Insurance Fraud Queen," Higbee ruled that Angel's insult did not stem from malice, but instead emerged out of certain established facts. Forman's husband owns a local towing company. Higbee cited a police investigation into the company's activities. "While there may have been no actual wrongdoing, plaintiff presents no proofs that would convince a jury that Mr. Angel 'knew' his statements were false," Higbee concluded. Lee Eggert, of Tuckerton, eyed the court's decision on Angel with curiosity. Eggert is involved in his own defamation lawsuit with Tuckerton Mayor Kevin Quinlan. Eggert allegedly alluded to Quinlan as a "thieving lawyer" on a publicly visible sign, during an ongoing dispute with the mayor. "My personal feeling here is that the mayor is trying to silence me," he said about Quinlan's lawsuit.

RESPONSE: Anyone familiar with the ultra right wing positions of paul THE CASTRATI damato will not be surprised by his comments that the First Amendment goes too far. As a member of the State Assembly the Castrati was one of only 10 who voted against a one year moratorium on the Death Penalty. As we in America face a Republican spear headed shredding of the Constitutional protections THE CASTRATI damato validates his credentials as a radical right wing Republican.

The dismay of lou THE OLD SNAKE simon who colluded in Republican insurance fraud by destroying executive minute tapes and when the defendant found his car windows smashed and tires stabbed and dog poisioned; THE OLD SNAKE simon said; “Larry, you got what you deserve,” is not surprising.

The dismay of kim THE QUIZLING CHRISTIAN BIGOT johnson whose push up bra fails to distract from her lack of maturity in other areas, does not surprise.

The dimay of bob THE MULLAH hagaman the unChristian minister who walks in the vally of hatred, bigotry and ugliness, is no surprise.

And I will take the kindly proffered advise of THE CASTRATI damato and go back to whatever I do....exposing the pompousness of those in power....and THE CASTRATI can go back to whatever it is he does; playing with swords, offering questionable legal advise, or wearing, or chasing skirts.