I’ve received this email from Roger Tattersall’s attorney (known as a solicitor in England) with the request that I post it. I’m happy to do so. Please see in the letter where the legal fund is being setup. – Anthony
To:
All those who feel offended and/or threatened by the actions taken against innocent climate enthusiast Roger Tattersall aka ‘Tallbloke’ as a result of the unsought anonymous drop of data from the person or persons known as ‘FOIA’.
That data is clearly in the public interest by virtue of having relevance to the wisdom of certain global policy decisions relating to energy use, energy supply and possibly global rationing of energy sources and the direct or indirect taxation of every individual on the planet for the foreseeable future.
Roger has been publicly libelled and abused across the world to the detriment of his reputation and has suffered distress, inconvenience and damage to property. The worst such offender appears to have been a contributor at ‘Scienceblogs’.
His privacy has been invaded and he and his family have been intimidated.
It is possible that treatment of that nature could be meted out to any persons expressing sceptical views about the so called climate consensus.
A clear signal needs to be sent out that such treatment is an abuse of process and a negation of free speech and democratic freedoms.
It is proposed to investigate all options open to Roger for the obtaining of suitable redress within the law. In the event that legal actions are considered appropriate it will be necessary to appoint suitably experienced Counsel to represent his interests and in this matter Roger’s interests coincide with those of all of who find themselves unable to feebly acquiesce in the pressure that is being applied to prevent them from exercising their hard won freedoms.
To that end, an appeal fund is being launched in order to finance the necessary steps. Contributions can be made via Roger’s Paypal account as displayed on his site (http://tallbloke.wordpress.com/) and all funds received for that purpose are to be transferred to the Client Account of his solicitors Wilde & Company.
Any funds not eventually used for necessary legal expenses will be donated to a selection of climate sceptic organisations. Accounting procedures will be put in place in compliance with the requirements of the UK regulatory system governing the proper use of Client monies held by UK solicitors.
Stephen P R Wilde. LLB (Hons.), Solicitor.
Wilde & Co. Cheshire England
Scratch the surface of any loud-mouthed Warmenista such as Laden, and inevitably you find serial tendencies to lie and threaten those who disagree with them with physical harm, e.g.
“So, apparently it is OK for Tattersall and this band of thieves to unilaterally play vigilante and break into your computer or mine, but when authorities investigating a crime, with proper search warrant, show up to investigate his misdeeds, suddenly he’s an “Englishman” in his “Castle.” I don’t know whether to laugh of to go medieval on him.”
From the Urban Dictionary: The phrase “to go medieval on” means to become savagely violent without restraint, similar to how we imagine those in the savage, unrestrained medieval times would respond to someone who had done them wrong.”
So, in addition to an unprovoked, and libelous attack we also have an implied threat of violence on Laden’s part. Perhaps it is time for Laden himself to experience a knock on his door by police. That would indeed be at least the beginnings of justice.
Polistra
I am inclined to agree with you, blogging tends to bring out the best and worst in people and I think if we are all looking over our shoulders all the time it will hamper our ability to pass comment not hedged around with legal caveats. A contribition to ensuring Tall Bloke has access to even better equipment to help him to his work is one thing, unlockimg a pandoras box is another.
It would be interesting to know the precise details of any likely lawsuit however, as only Tall Bloke can know just how badly defamed/libelled etc he was and legal action might turn out to be the only way he can react..
tonyb
FYI to those without a “£” sign on their keyboard, the shortcut for inserting it is : Hold “Alt” and enter “0163”. ALT + 0163. Or at least type GBP as opposed to lb. 🙂
Made a small donation too. Goodluck Tallbloke!
Have just read the comments upthread by Stephen Wilde and Tallbloke and will make a contribution. It would be good to know the precise nature of any action as I still have reservations along the lines expressed by Polistra and don’t want to open a pandoras boc that will impact on those bloggers who sometimes say more than they intend to in a heated moment.
tonyb
£20 from me.
Happy Christmas, sue his ass!
I think this assault on Tallbloke will prove to be a very poorly considered action, once the dust settles. It may very well have awakened the “sleeping giant” that is public discontent with climate-alarmism. My financial contribution(s) to the action will soon be forthcoming.
“And Caesar’s spirit, raging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice
Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war,
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.”
Godspeed Mr Tattersall!
Donation made!
My modest donation is on its way.
Whilst swiflly scanning this so impressive list of supportes I did not notice anyone speculating about a possible relationship between this Greg creature and the late unlamented Bin.
As there have be no reports of police raids carried out on other premises/individuals that obtained the same information one has to assume that they were asked and helped voluntarily, why was not tallbloke given the same opportunity?
PS the BBC had info on these e-mails one month before anyone else back in early October 2009 (Paul Hudson)
to Polistra and Tonyb – you are of course, quite correct in such reservations. However, my comment would be that we do have to stand up for ourselves against such clearly unnecessary ‘force’ and moreover, as a community, we need to show those that are doing the ‘oppressing’ that we will not tolerate it.
Stephen Wilde confirms that the science issues are not to be introduced and it is the defamatory nature of Ladens attack that requires the ‘action’..
As regards ‘blogger’ v ‘blogger’ type suits and countersuits – I don’t see there is a likely knock on effect, unless people try and see it as a get rich scheme (?) – which of course it isn’t – except for the lawyers!
I don’t see Ladens comments as simple ‘comment’ but more of a nasty, vile ‘pushing’ of propaganda and obvious falsehoods (i.e. libel). His comments are in a completely different boat to one blogger simply name-calling another….Personally, in the context of the police raid – it would probably be far more accurate to report it as a politically correct attempt to gain further information about FOIA as it was simply Roger’s blog that the file drop was made on (indeed, one could argue Roger has provided vital ‘evidence’, without apparent restriction or other withholding and should be commended! – the fact his place was ‘raided’ is likely an exaggeration, but in the absence of the authorities having asked him for voluntary submission of his gear, using the term raid is also an insinuation of some kind of wrongdoing) – any other assumption would be without good reason – and any public promulgation of theivery or other assumptions must be considered libelous.
Very recently, my next door neighbour had the police banging on her door to speak to her teenage son at 3am in the morning. …outsiders would perhaps infer some wrongdoing – but in fact, they were searching for a missing girl and were simply desperate to speak all her friends!! In other words, the kid was providing Help and was completely innocent……surely, all here can see the parallels with Tallblokes situation? just sayin……..
Verity Jones says: (December 18, 2011 at 4:35 am)
The US has Guantanamo; the Brits have Bleaker … on the Falklands.
Luxury accommodation would be a tin shed, half-buried in the ground. Monotony broken by daytrips to Seal Bay to clean up the penguin droppings. TLD for the Falklands is .fk, describing how cold it gets. 🙂
“LazyTeenager;
Here is a bit of advice for Tallbloke. Don’t do this. You do not understand the consequences that follow from this
Is that a threat? ”
——–
No, I don’t think it is a threat David, just good advice.
In this very polarised climate ‘debate’, we surely don’t want a situation where people are sued for expressing different, even heated, opinions. Appealing for money to defend yourself against such action is one thing, raising it to sue someone else is another.
“Roger has been publicly libelled and abused across the world to the detriment of his reputation and has suffered distress, inconvenience and damage to property”
Well, whatever was written on Scienceblogs came AFTER the police raid and certainly did not contribute to the damage to his property. On the ‘scienceblogs’ site most of the comments are supportive of Tallbloke, it seems that free speech is permitted there (unlike at Tamino) and to me free speech is paramount. I don’t find anything on the scienceblog site that would be ‘actionable’; except perhaps from one of the commentators.
My contribution on its way, Tallbloke, (Paypal working well here in the UK). Just wish it could be more, a lot more, but all the very best wishes to you and your lady and thanks for having the courage to fight for truth and justice.
polistra says:
December 18, 2011 at 6:16 am
Seems to me that a libel case is misplaced effort and could backfire. The real conflict is not between bloggers with different opinions. The real conflict is between honest science (outside the Establishment) and corrupt science (within the Establishment).
Prosecuting a libel among bloggers could lead to a barrage of countersuits in all directions. Worst of all, it could end up setting a precedent that would shut down all dissent outside the fraternity of paid “journalists”.”
[and climatereason’s speciaous followup too]
Nonsense. This is precisely what is needed. Being a blogger doesn’t give you carte blanche to run your mouth in a public forum in a way that slanders or libels anybody, freedom of speech notwithstanding. Blogging, no different than publicly offered media, is accountable for the content and consequences of their postings. The courts have already weighed in on the difference between “conversation” and reportage in blogs, and while certainly not settled law, the desire of bloggers to be treated with the same degree of “respectibility” as established media (I know, I know…) demands that they share the legal accountibility – something every blogger needs to consider before they write. This is not a first amendment issue (for Yanks). Truth is always a defence, but for it to be one, truth must be at the heart of the post. The “other side” has become well versed in lawfare; so must the right side. As disagreeable as it is, every skeptic needs to understand that they are not dealing with an ideology that has <i.any moral footing, despite the rhetoric. The end goal is total capitulation, at any cost, including the cost of life. The fight is that serious.
Even though Larden changed the original opening paragraph to only imply TallBloke; he kept this part in
(emp mine) It seems that he is literally calling TB a criminal
ii) Potential malfeasance by the persons responsible for the obtaining of the Warrant in the form deemed appropriate (but actually wholly inappropriate) and for the heavy handed treatment of Tallbloke who would always have been prepared to assist voluntarily.
Not being a lawyer I will immediately proffer my opinion 🙂 I think this means that the police must have told a judge he is a suspect, or how else could they have obtained a warrant?
Isn’t the fact that Laden edited his posting, an admission he recognizes he was wrong in the original posting? If a person made an off-the-cuff comment in a verbal conversation, one could be excused for a lapse of judgment for that moment in time. Sometimes my mouth runneth-over. Just ask my wife, she keeps track of that…
But, with Laden, examining his pedigree, I would presume he can be held to a higher standard.
College educated with multiple advanced degrees, he is use to putting his thoughts onto paper (computer files now a-days). He has to think his argument thru and review his work. Also, he is experienced in the blogging world, where (supposedly) people of differing opinions banter back and forth for all to see. He had time to review his comment prior to posting it on the web, he had the opportunity to edit it prior to clicking on POST COMMENT
Now, one could possibly excuse a commenter like LazyTeenager for his/her sophomoric comments on this blog. By his/her own admission in his/her self chosen name, lazyTeenager, suggests a person of immaturity. Not knowing the caliber of the person called LazyTeenager, I can choose what level of respect I give to the comment at hand. But with Laden, he has an academic record, he has respect with his peers. His opinions carry the weight of his mature life experience and the diplomas he has on his wall. I believe he can be held to a higher standard than would a passing commenter on a blog. His words can damage another persons’ reputation, as opposed to someone like LazyTeenager.
-IMHO-
@Dave Burton
I´d never heard of this Laden guy before, but he lost his credibility with ´thieves’. Theft is taking property with the intent to permanently depriving the owner of it. Publishing copies of emails could be a breach of confidence, a breach of copyright, or a breach of the ´Misuse of computers’ legislation, but it can’t be theft.
Anyone who abuses the concept of theft in this way thereby forfeits credibility.
Do you have even the foggiest idea what was said?
TB December 14, 2011:
“An Englishman’s home is his castle they say. Not when six detectives from the Metropolitan Police, the Norfolk Constabulary and the Computer Crime division arrive on your doorstep with a warrant to search it though.”
Kev-in-UK says:
December 18, 2011 at 7:19 am
…”surely, all here can see the parallels with Tallblokes situation? just sayin……..”
Not really Kev – in the situation you describe there could well have been an element of urgency. If the police wanted a cooperative discussion with TB there are other ways than to turn up unannounced, mob handed and to search the premises. I second comments elsewhere about not trusting the police (and the system they are part of) one inch.
I also second the comments that TB and his legal team tread carefully. I note TB’s comment over taking his lady to lunch today. IMO TB should keep that in mind and be very wary of getting caught up in something that may develop in ways he didn’t anticipate. After a visit of the law in the manner described, IMO, his first priority should be self protection for him and his family.
slow to follow says:
December 18, 2011 at 8:09 am
my bad writing – the parallel I meant was with the ‘guilt’ assumed by any observers (and TB’s case journalistic ‘accounts’!), nothing else.
Calling someone a thief/criminal is not simply expressing an opinion. Recall that Tim Ball is being sued by Mann for making the old “State pen instead of Penn State” statement (as a joke no less), and Mann is suing him.
Nobody said it did. “Damage” need not be physical.
You haven’t been paying attention. There are many that are getting cut and some being reposted with edits that change their meaning (which is in and of itself an actionable offense in some countries).
Because you don’t understand what libel is. In the UK, the threshold is lower than the US, for sure, but even here calling out someone as a thief on a public forum without sufficient evidence would be actionable.
Mark
Kev – Thanks for clarifying.
It is, at the very least, an admission that he realized he may have libelled Tallbloke He may still not view this as “wrong,” however.
Mark