Christian Minister Bradlee Dean Seeks To Disqualify Leftist Judge

MINNEAPOLIS, July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bradlee Dean, minister and founder of You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International (YCR) is suing Rachel Maddow/MSNBC for defamation and false light and now, through YCR, has filed pleadings seeking the disqualification of Judge Joan Zeldon of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

"YCR and I chose to sue Rachel Maddow and MSNBC and now have voluntarily, for tactical reasons, chosen to drop the suit in DC Superior Court and bring the case to Federal Court. This was my legal strategy, not the Defendants' or the judge's. In an attempt to misrepresent the facts and control the public dialogue, liberal media like the Huffington Post have implied that this is a victory for Rachel Maddow. This is as absurd as convicting George Zimmerman after hearing NBC's doctored 911 call, which sought to smear him in the public domain and further the network's leftist ideology.  Our case will be tried in Federal Court, and Maddow/MSNBC will be held responsible for their hateful and malicious reporting," Dean added.

The case against Maddow/MSNBC, filed a year ago, was assigned to Judge Zeldon.  Maddow/MSNBC moved to dismiss the complaint, falsely claiming that the DC Anti-Slapp statute – which sets a very high legal threshold to prove defamation – shielded them from liability.  In Maddow's second broadcast attack on Dean, Maddow contended  that the Plaintiffs and Rep. Michele Bachmann, a supporter of YCR, were "bloodthirsty" and wanted to kill all gays and lesbians. This is patently false and this account has thus far been ignored by the liberal media, who have honed in on only Maddow's initial condemnation of Dean and his ministry. These later statements resulted in death threats to Dean.  Dean's account can be viewed here.

Recently, the Superior Court in Washington, D.C. held that the DC Anti-Slapp statute is not applicable to a complaint filed in this court. Dean/YCR filed a new case in  Federal Court and sought to voluntarily dismiss the case before Judge Zeldon. This was a tactical, strategic decision.  It became apparent that Judge Zeldon hoped to rule against Dean/YCR and in favor of Maddow/MSNBC and sought to punish the Plaintiffs by throwing a monkey wrench into the voluntary dismissal of the case. Judge Zeldon ruled that the case could not be dismissed unless Dean/YCR paid in excess of $24,000 in attorney's fees and costs to Maddow, claiming that the Defendant's attorneys should be compensated for their legal work.  Dean/YCR argued that the work performed in the Superior Court case was usable in the new Federal action and thus they should not be penalized.  Dean also argued that the claimed fees by Maddow/MSNBC were grossly inflated and fraudulent, as the Defendants frequently billed four lawyers for doing the job of one.

Judge Zeldon's order requires that the fee and cost award be paid within 30 days, or the case will be dismissed with prejudice – prohibiting the Federal court action from proceeding.  Judge Zeldon would have, once and for all, adjudicated the claims in favor of Maddow/MSNBC.

Despite the Plaintiffs contention that Maddow/MSNBC's fees and costs were fraudulent, Judge Zeldon stated in her order that Defendants' lawyers are "distinguished" and disparaged Dean/YCR and their counsel, Larry Klayman.  This and other biased statements in the order unmasked her prejudice. In response, Dean/YCR have filed pleadings to disqualify Judge Zeldon and have her order vacated (rendered void).  If necessary, Dean/YCR will also appeal Judge Zeldon's prejudicial fee and cost award and her threat to dismiss the case with prejudice if Dean and YCR do not pay up.

"This is a new turn of unanticipated events," says Bradlee Dean. "Judges are to enforce the law, not defend lawbreakers and then award them money. This generation is being taught that wrong is right and right is wrong. As a preacher, I am combating that ideology, and in my view, I have learned that this ideology is often taught and put into effect by a judicial system that aligns itself with corrupted attorneys and lawbreakers."

A copy of the pleadings filed to disqualify Judge Zeldon can be found at YCR's website.

SOURCE You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International