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How long... will they keep going, and going, and going...

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 8:38 am America/Denver
by Cynthia
The quoted post below is by Bob Pickle on his Adventtalk forum speaking of his and Joy's latest motion to supplement an earlier reply that they had previously filed in court. He is also speaking of an email he sent, and the reply he received in answer to his inquiry about this from Attorney Simpson. He didn't quote his email, so here that is:
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Conferring on a motion
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:53:37 -0500
From:Bob <bob@
To:Greg Simpson....
CC:G. Arthur Joy

Counselors:

We are considering asking the court to grant leave to us to supplement our reply to Plaintiffs' response (Doc. 231) with (a) the five felony arrest warrants for the arrest of Tommy Shelton issued on February 25, 2010, and (b) the March 18, 2010, press release issued by the Fairfax County Police Department.

Would you oppose or not oppose such a motion?

Bob Pickle
For those who don't know what this is all about. The reply Pickle and Joy wanted to supplement and add to was filed as Doc 233 (filed 02/26/2010) and is titled "DEFENDANTS’ REPLY TO PLAINTIFFS’ RESPONSE TO DEFENDANTS’ OBJECTIONS TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S ORDERS". [caps theirs] To make a very long story short, basically what that is all about is them being upset and arguing about the Courts telling them NO once again in their apparently unending efforts (and also apparently unending list of motions and arguments filed in the dismissed lawsuit) all to get hold of and see Danny Shelton's private and personal bank records. They keep claiming it is their right to both possess DS's private records and to also reveal and even publish private information to others as they see fit. They erroneously call this their 1st amendment right to free speech, and claim that right has been violated, and that they have been unfairly deprived of their property. (ridiculous, I know...)

Anyway, here is what Pickle posted about this:
Bob Pickle
Defendants
Veteran Member
*****
Posts: 2186

Simpson may be stressed.
« on: April 02, 2010, 02:15:21 PM »

I wrote the lawyers on Monday, conferring with them on a motion we wanted to file. We wanted to file a motion to supplement our reply with two exhibits: the five felony arrest warrants for Tommy Shelton, and the police department press release about Tommy Shelton's arrest.

Here's the reply I got back from Simpson on Tuesday.
Quote from: Attorney Greg Simpson
Mr. Pickle-

We would oppose such a motion and we would seek sanctions against you for bringing it. The information is not relevant to any issue presently pending before the Court, and the rules of civil procedure do not authorize such a motion anyway.
We filed our motion yesterday morning.

I wonder if Simpson is going to file a motion for sanctions against us because we filed that motion. Can't see any legal basis for it, though.

But I think maybe Simpson is stressed, so maybe he could use our prayers. He always addresses his emails to me as "Bob." This one was "Mr. Pickle." Not as chummy or cordial.



3ABN filed their objection to Pickle and Joy's latest motion on April 15, 2010, just as they said they would, and here is that memorandum:
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS

...
________________________________________________________________________
PLAINTIFFS’ RESPONSE TO DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR
LEAVE TO FILE TWO SUPPLEMENTAL EXHIBITS

________________________________________________________________________


INTRODUCTION


Plaintiffs Three Angels Broadcasting Network, Inc. and Danny Lee Shelton
(“3ABN”) oppose the motion of the pro se defendants, Gailon Arthur Joy and Robert Pickle (“Pickle and Joy”), to file two supplemental exhibits consisting of (A) warrants for the arrest of Tommy Shelton, and (B) press release issued by Fairfax County Policy Department (Doc. 245). Their motion should be denied because the exhibits are irrelevant to any pending issue.

Pickle and Joy should be sanctioned for filing the exhibits as part of their motion, thus depriving this Court of the power to meaningfully decide whether these documents should be part of the district court record. As a Minnesota federal judge recently observed, “This is akin to lighting a cigar and then asking, ‘Is it okay if I smoke?’ It betrays a lack of respect for the rules of this Court ….” Hartford Fire Ins. Co. v. Clark, Case No. 03-CV-3190 (PJS/JJG) (Schiltz, J.). The Court should be aware that Pickle and Joy did the same thing in the First Circuit Court of Appeals by attaching these same exhibits to an unauthorized and uninvited “status report.” A motion to strike the exhibits and sanction Pickle and Joy is pending in that Court. The present motion should be denied, and sanctions imposed on Pickle and Joy including an order striking the exhibits, cautioning Pickle and Joy against filing unauthorized exhibits, and awarding Plaintiffs their reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred to write this brief.


BACKGROUND

The history of this case is easy to explain up to the point when Plaintiffs asked
Judge Saylor to dismiss it because they felt they had achieved all of their non-monetary objectives, and it was clear that the defendants’ financial condition made them judgmentproof. But after Judge Saylor granted the motion, the litigation took a bad bounce. Pickle and Joy commenced a campaign to resurrect 3ABN’s claims against them by filing motion upon motion and appeal after appeal seeking to undo Judge Saylor’s order granting dismissal. If they had succeeded, their prize would have been exposure to a claim for damages. Their claim that they hope to use the forum of this litigation to prove the truth of their allegedly defamatory statements “beyond a reasonable doubt” is specious. Their best-case-outcome was a judgment of non-liability, not a finding that their statements were true.

In the 19 months from the inception of this case to its dismissal in November of
2008, there were 129 electronic court filings in this matter. But since then, Pickle and Joy have managed to keep this case alive for an additional 17 months and over 200 electronic court filings in this Court and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. They have literally doubled the size, and nearly doubled the length, of this litigation by their meritless, duplicative and seemingly endless motions, motions to reconsider, motions to supplement, objections to rulings of the Magistrate, and appeals when their motions are denied. Their efforts have achieved exactly nothing, unless the point was to waste an enormous amount of judicial and party resources and smear the reputations of everyone who comes into contact with them and this case.

The convoluted events that lead to the present motion can be summarized as
follows. In an early phase of this case, Pickle and Joy had served an out-of-district subpoena on MidCountry Bank, seeking Plaintiff Danny Shelton’s private financial information ostensibly to help them prove the truth of statements that 3ABN claimed were defamatory. The Minnesota court ordered the records be produced for in camera review directly to Magistrate Judge Hillman, in order for him to make the determination on relevancy and conditions of disclosure. Before anything was done with the records, Judge Saylor dismissed the case. Doc. 129). As part of his order, pursuant to a motion by Plaintiffs, Judge Saylor ordered return of Danny Shelton’s bank records. (Electronic Clerk’s Notes dated 10/20/2008). Pickle and Joy did not ask for a stay of the order, so on December 16, 2008, the records were turned over to 3ABN’s counsel and Pickle and Joy were electronically notified of that fact. (Doc. 160). Their contention that they did not realize that the MidCountry records had left the Court’s possession is disingenuous – their brief opposing the motion to dismiss argued that Plaintiffs had no standing to make the request and indicates quite clearly that they understood that Plaintiffs were seeking custody of the documents. (See Doc. 126 at p. 15). They received the electronic notice indicating that the records had been retrieved and signed for by counsel for the Plaintiffs. (Doc. 160).

A full year later, on December 9, 2009, professing surprise that Judge Saylor’s
order had been executed and that counsel for Plaintiffs now had the MidCountry records, Pickle and Joy filed a motion demanding that the MidCountry Bank records be forwarded to the First Circuit Court of Appeals as part of the district court record. (Doc. 204). Plaintiffs opposed the motion. (See Doc. 207). The question of what to do with the MidCountry records had been litigated and decided by Judge Saylor 14 months before. Both sides had made their arguments and Judge Saylor had ordered that the records be returned, which in the context of a motion to turn the records over to Plaintiffs meant that the records should be delivered to counsel for the Plaintiffs. Thus, Pickle and Joy collaterally attacked a prior order of Judge Saylor a year after it had been executed.

Judge Saylor referred the motion to Magistrate Judge Hillman on December 18,
2009, and subsequently recused himself because Pickle and Joy had filed a judicial misconduct complaint against him. Judge Hillman denied the motion without comment on January 29, 2010. Clearly, this was within his discretion given that the very same issue had been litigated and decided more than year before.

Pickle and Joy then filed objections to Magistrate Judge Hillman’s order on
February 3, 2010. (Doc. 229). Pickle and Joy now seek to file two exhibits in further support of their objections to Magistrate Judge Hillman’s order denying their motion to forward the MidCountry Bank records to the First Circuit Court of Appeals. (See Doc. 245). The exhibits consist of arrest warrants issued in Virginia for Tommy Shelton and a press release from the police agency that issued the warrants. Plaintiffs oppose the motion to file these exhibits because they are not relevant to the pending motion.


LEGAL ARGUMENT


I. The Motion Should be Denied Because the Exhibits are Irrelevant.

The authority to present evidence in connection with motions derives from Fed. R. Civ. P. 43(c) (“When a motion relies on facts outside the record, the court may hear the matter on affidavits….”). But to be admissible, evidence must be relevant. Fed. R. Evid. 402. Evidence is relevant if it makes “the existence of fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.” Fed. R. Evid. 401. The arrest warrants and related press release involving Tommy Shelton do not meet this requirement because they do not make a fact which is “of consequence” more or less likely to be true.

The issue that the exhibits are supposed to relate to is whether Judge Hillman
abused his discretion when he denied Pickle and Joy’s motion to forward the MidCountry Bank records, which contained Danny Shelton’s private financial information, to the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Careful analysis of Pickle and Joy’s brief fails to reveal any explanation of why recently-issued arrest warrants for Tommy Shelton would make it more or less likely that the MidCountry Bank records should be made part of the district court record. The MidCountry Bank records were sought on the theory that they would help Pickle and Joy prove the truth of their allegations of financial improprieties, not because they related to Tommy Shelton’s alleged criminal conduct. Tommy Shelton’s conduct was not addressed in the Complaint, and was never part of the litigation as framed by the Plaintiffs.

To the extent that the arrest warrants are offered to prove the truth of the assertions within them, i.e., that Tommy Shelton is guilty of the charges, the warrants are rank hearsay and not admissible for that purpose. Fed. R. Evid. 802. They are non-hearsay evidence only of the fact that warrants were issued on February 25, 2010. So the narrow issue of relevancy comes down to this: Is it relevant to the motion regarding the MidCountry Bank records that Tommy Shelton had warrants issued for his arrest a few weeks ago? Pickle and Joy do not articulate why this fact would make it more or less likely that the MidCountry Bank records should become part of the appeal record.

Instead, Pickle and Joy say the exhibits refute a sentence in a brief submitted by the Plaintiffs which states that Defendants’ allegations against the Plaintiffs was “uncorroborated and unfounded.” (Doc. 246 at p. 2). Pickle and Joy say that the undersigned made this “outrageously fallacious assertion” in bad faith, and should be sanctioned. (Doc. 246 p. 2). This is pretty typical rhetoric for Pickle and Joy, believe it or not.

But setting aside the inflammatory adjectives, the sentence authored by the
undersigned that Pickle and Joy say merits this Court’s disapprobation and justifies the introduction of Tommy Shelton’s arrest warrants is simply this: “Pickle and Joy have long made uncorroborated, unfounded allegations against Danny Shelton and 3ABN, including claims that they covered up allegations of child molestation against a 3ABN employee, financial mismanagement, and other misconduct that framed the original basis for Plaintiffs’ lawsuit against them.” (Doc. 246 at p. 2).

This challenged statement appeared in a section labeled as “Legal Argument,” and accurately states Plaintiffs’ position throughout this litigation, as articulated in the Complaint and elsewhere. The statement is supported by the facts that are of record. First, Pickle and Joy admit in their brief that they have long made allegations of the type described. (Doc. 246 p. 1). As for the rest of the statement, it is a matter of record that Pickle and Joy refused to provide evidence in support of their contentions on the grounds of “journalistic privilege.” (Doc. 9 at ¶ 50). And finally, the fact that Tommy Shelton had arrest warrants issued in February of 2010 does not prove that the statement quoted above, made before the warrants were issued, was false. Even if the warrants were not hearsay and were thus considered “corroboration” of Pickle and Joy’s allegations, they do not corroborate Pickle and Joy’s allegations that 3ABN covered up previous accusations against Tommy Shelton. The warrants did not exist at the time Pickle and Joy made their allegations, nor did they exist when Plaintiffs wrote the sentence that Pickle and Joy contend makes the warrants relevant.

The issue before the Court, once again, is whether Tommy Shelton’s recent arrest warrants make it more or less probable that the MidCountry Bank records are part of the appeal record. Merely framing the issue correctly answers it: Of course not.


CONCLUSION


For the reasons stated herein, Plaintiffs request that the Court deny Pickle and
Joy’s motion to file supplemental exhibits. Plaintiffs also request that an appropriate sanction be imposed on Pickle and Joy for filing the exhibits prior to obtaining leave of the Court to do so, and for bringing this obviously frivolous motion. Plaintiffs submit that an appropriate sanction would include a strongly-worded caution to the Defendants against filing unauthorized exhibits, an order striking the exhibits, and an order to reimburse Plaintiffs for their attorneys’ fees incurred to draft this memorandum. The fees necessary to draft this memorandum will exceed $1,000.

Respectfully submitted,

Dated: April 15, 2010

...
Case 4:07-cv-40098-RWZ Document 249 Filed 04/15/10

Re: How long... will they keep going, and going, and going...

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:31 pm America/Denver
by Penny
1. They will keep going and going...because they are not accustomed to not getting their way. Despite all their wailings about concern for the ministry...their only concern is for themselves and making themselves look like the big bad guys to be feared. And they will scout out here and there and everywhere looking for something, anything that they can twist and use to mislead. And hope in the end to morph themselves into something they are not. I will not mention anything about the lack of success that they have had in their professional lives and when they cannot build themselves up by usual, proper and acceptable methods, then option #2 is to tear others down.

2. Anyone notice that they want to pin any and every alleged transgression relating to Tommy onto 3ABN and Danny? What about the pastor in Virgina who supposed had hard evidence? Why not go after him with all fury? If there is any truth to these allegations against Tommy - that Pickle so proudly states he sought the arrest warrants for - then why the lack of wrath against Glenn Dryden? [I'll answer myself...] Because they really could careless about any alleged victims or about anyone else who is a part of this story, the only goal is to smear 3ABN and Danny.

3. My casual observation is that over on the other site they are in a tizzy when no supporters of 3ABN come to post. They are quick to query where are the 3ABN supporters...because the conversation is cooling off. Then they call in Gailon to come in and huff and puff and hopefully stir up the 3ABN supporters into responding to his ridiculous statements. Gailon is best ignored over there.

4. Which brings me to a last point...Gailon states that he has never seen proof that one of the board members was baptized. Well, since when is he such a stickler for proof? He doesn't have proof of any pedophilia, but for him proof is not needed in that case. As long as you tell him or Pickle what they want to hear...that is proof enough!


-------------------------------
I proudly support the ministry of 3ABN.

Re: How long... will they keep going, and going, and going...

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 11:46 am America/Denver
by Cynthia
I agree with your observations even though #3 admittedly brought a blush.. It is best to answer here when necessary, but not always so easy to do, at least for me.

I really do think every one has limits though, even God, after letting all play out here in this world and allowing all to decide for themselves is going to, out of mercy to his own, step in and put a stop to all the sin and hate in this world and render justice for all.

It is my opinion that Danny and 3ABN have been more than patient, long suffering and merciful, for they could have imo been seeking sanctions long since against them, but haven't.

It also seems to me that Pickle and joy have pushed and pushed and pushed and the Courts although Just and fair have way less patience then our Father in heaven.

I expect that very soon they are going to put a stop to all the frivolous motions and foolish arguments and even their slander, and character defamation, which now even includes the courts themselves, and say, very decisively, "enough is enough".

I hope and pray that when they do it causes some who have been blinded up till now, to open their eyes and see the light.

Re: How long... will they keep going, and going, and going...

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 4:08 pm America/Denver
by proffaberf451
My guess is Duane Clem will continue endlessly because he is afraid his current church and the parents of the youth he works with will be alerted to the possibility that there was a "former lifestyle." He has a vested interest in silencing anyone who may start digging around and asking questions.

As for the rest, they will go until the money runs out and they are faced with the real truth. Then they will just try to find other people to destroy. They have no interest in lifting people up, only tearing them down.

Re: How long... will they keep going, and going, and going...

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 6:15 am America/Denver
by Penny
I would think that if he is a youth pastor as he claims, the parents and church leaders of his church should be concerned about what he posts online and how he carries on online. If he were the youth leader of my church and I read his posts (despite how much good he may be doing with the youth in the church)...I certainly would be pressing my church governing board to remove him from a position of leadership or take my kids and go to another church.

proffaberf451 wrote:My guess is Duane Clem will continue endlessly because he is afraid his current church and the parents of the youth he works with will be alerted to the possibility that there was a "former lifestyle." He has a vested interest in silencing anyone who may start digging around and asking questions.

As for the rest, they will go until the money runs out and they are faced with the real truth. Then they will just try to find other people to destroy. They have no interest in lifting people up, only tearing them down.

Re: How long... will they keep going, and going, and going...

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 6:40 am America/Denver
by Penny
Synthian wrote:I agree with your observations even though #3 admittedly brought a blush.. It is best to answer here when necessary, but not always so easy to do, at least for me.
I know how you feel! They intentionally inflame and provoke. But it is abundantly clear, they are not interested in seeking truth, rather seeking anything that supports their position, anything to destroy or malign. Regardless of how many facts are presented, they will deeply discount anything/everything that doesn't fit into the picture of darkness that they have painted for themselves. "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still"
Synthian wrote:I really do think every one has limits though, even God, after letting all play out here in this world and allowing all to decide for themselves is going to, out of mercy to his own, step in and put a stop to all the sin and hate in this world and render justice for all.
It is a wonderful truth that God is still in control -- Romans 12:19
Synthian wrote:It is my opinion that Danny and 3ABN have been more than patient, long suffering and merciful, for they could have imo been seeking sanctions long since against them, but haven't.
You cannot reason with people like Pickle, Joy, Snoopy, Artiste and, mercy, Tinka. All attempts of communication or explanation with this group of individuals has been twisted and misinterpreted.

Synthian wrote:It also seems to me that Pickle and joy have pushed and pushed and pushed and the Courts although Just and fair have way less patience then our Father in heaven.

I expect that very soon they [the courts]are going to put a stop to all the frivolous motions and foolish arguments and even their slander, and character defamation, which now even includes the courts themselves, and say, very decisively, "enough is enough".

I hope and pray that when they do it causes some who have been blinded up till now, to open their eyes and see the light.
Ian, your hope springs eternal.

Re: How long... will they keep going, and going, and going...

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 6:48 am America/Denver
by Penny
Duane wrote over on the other site:
Well...it appears another nameless coward has resorted to suggesting I'm a homosexual. Some of you people over there really need to get a life.
It is so easy to accuse others to get a life...but what about himself getting a life :?: or Pickle :?: or Joy :?: Sounds like the pot is calling the kettle black :!:

Re: How long... will they keep going, and going, and going...

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 11:24 am America/Denver
by proffaberf451
I find the level of his anger and threats increases whenever his motivations or his involvement is questioned. He is very aggressive in keeping his name out of things everywhere, except when it comes to attacks on 3ABN, Danny Shelton, and Tommy Shelton, then he wants everyone to know who he is and that he won't be "pushed around."

One can sympathize with the personal pain that Duane has experienced in his life, however, the Words and Actions of Christ evidence that you don't use your energy and time to destroy others. Regardless of the pain, the requirement to extend to others that which they didn't extend to you - love, charity, forgiveness, kindness, etc - is the true Christian life. His anger, attacks, threats, and efforts to publicly vilify and destroy Danny Shelton and Tommy Shelton is merely him, continuing the pain cycle. We are called as Christians to do all we can to end the cycle of pain for others. His words and actions continue to inflict pain into other peoples lives.
Penny wrote:I would think that if he is a youth pastor as he claims, the parents and church leaders of his church should be concerned about what he posts online and how he carries on online. If he were the youth leader of my church and I read his posts (despite how much good he may be doing with the youth in the church)...I certainly would be pressing my church governing board to remove him from a position of leadership or take my kids and go to another church.

Re: How long... will they keep going, and going, and going...

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 2:58 pm America/Denver
by Truth
Penny wrote:Duane wrote over on the other site:
Well...it appears another nameless coward has resorted to suggesting I'm a homosexual. Some of you people over there really need to get a life.
It is so easy to accuse others to get a life...but what about himself getting a life :?: or Pickle :?: or Joy :?: Sounds like the pot is calling the kettle black :!:
Penny, it is definitely evident that those who publish their vitriolic acid over on AT do need to get a life. What has been gratifying is that we know who nearly everyone is who posts over there, I think there is only 1 person we don't know yet but will in time. There is a core group and even though new names pop up occasionally, it is the old people using new names. Somehow they feel a need to morph into a new name. But it is easy to spot them.

They don't understand why the GC doesn't do something. I agree with that idea. The GC needs to put a stop to their hateful quest to end 3ABN.

Re: How long... will they keep going, and going, and going...

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 6:40 pm America/Denver
by uncovering truth
Well, that may or may not be Duane Clem's motivation, only he, God, and his closest confidants know for sure and can decide to support or refute his testimony. What really is interesting is this information from the filings in the court case:

Anniston Seventh-day Adventist Church (1986)
Anniston, AL
Supervisor: Doug Tillstra
Type of work: Bible instructor.
Means of termination: Accepted call to Birmingham, AL.

Larry Cansler (1986-87)
Birmingham, AL
Columbus, GA
Supervisor: Larry Cansler
Type of work: Bible instructor, Revelation Seminar presenter.
Means of termination: Accepted call to Gulf-States Conference.

Gulf States Conference (1987-90)
Montgomery, AL
Title: District Pastor
Supervisor: Jim Greek, Fred Rimer
Type of work: Typical pastoral duties.
Means of termination: Accepted call to Iowa-Missouri Conference.

Iowa-Missouri Conference (1990-97)
Des Moines, IA
Title: District Pastor
Supervisor: Carl Hartman, John Morrison, Dean Coridan
Type of work: Typical pastoral duties, church planter.
Means of termination: Accepted call to Cambodia.

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects (1996-97)
Berrien Springs, MI
Supervisor: Judy Aitken
Type of work: Was to train pastors in Cambodia.
Means of termination: Unable to get visa, unsafe for family due to coup.

Weimar Institute (1997-98)
20601 West Paoli Ln
PO Box 486
Weimar, CA 95736
Title: Professor, Recruiter, Bible teacher
Supervisor: Reinhold Tillstra, John Irvine, Dan, Wally, Marilyn Morgan
Type of work: College professor and recruiter, Academy Bible teacher, large press operation.
Means of termination: Accepted call to Eden Valley Institute.

Eden Valley Institute (1998-2001)
Loveland, CO
Title: Asst. Education Director/Education Director
Supervisor: Mike Wolford, Don Johnson, Wayne Atwood, Connie Roeske (?)
Type of work: Worked with World Missions Course, high school students, and admin., and in print shop.
Means of termination: Decided to leave.

This is part of the work history provide by Bob Pickle in one of the documents that were filed in the court case. Why is this interesting? Because Bob has attempted to be hired as a pastor in a number of conferences since leaving Eden Valley and he has been turned down by them all. He was refused ordination in his old home church and then came to Crookston. Does anyone know why he was not considered for any pastorships or why he was refused ordination? That is far more interesting and may explain why he is after Danny and Tommy with such a vengeance.