It was gratifying to hear the excitement in people’s voices as they congratulated us on the recent dismissal of the lawsuit brought by Valerie Stamey against Ravalli County officials and Bitterroot Star publisher Michael Howell. Clearly, justice was served.
Unfortunately, however, the prior lawsuit in which Stamey sued the Bitterroot Star for around $8 million for alleged libel is still pending, slowly, slowly wending its way toward a jury trial. Along the way there are numerous legal procedures, all of them costly. The Bitterroot Star is represented by one of the very best attorneys in Montana, and that doesn’t come cheap. Currently the Bitterroot Star owes about $45,000 in legal fees on these two cases.
We would really appreciate any contribution you can make to help us fight this lawsuit. You can make a tax-deductible donation to the Bitterroot Free Press Foundation to help pay legal fees in this lawsuit. There’s still time to make your donation before the end of the year.
Send to: Bitterroot Free Press Foundation, P.O. Box 8, Stevensville MT 59870.
Thank you for any help you can give.
Michael & Victoria Howell, Publishers