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Ingram Loses to Weidner in Federal Court

By US~Observer Staff

Eugene, Oregon - March l5, 2006 - 1998, Oregon Reform Party candidate for Governor Roger Weidner appeared with 25 supporters in the Federal Courtroom of Judge Michael Hogan in Eugene, Oregon. Those present included decorated Marine Corp Colonel Ken Ruesser, political activists Jesse Lott, Wilbur Gaston, Larry Jackson, Yavonne Heinrich, author and historian Des Griffen, business operator Dale Haskins and Lapine, Oregon ranch owner Patricia Wishon.

Weidner, along with Christmas Valley, Oregon property owner Ole Turnbow and the US~Observer had been sued by Lucinda Gunther for Libel, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Duress and Abuse of Process. Gunther was represented by Eugene, Oregon attorney Claud Ingram. The lawsuit followed after the US~Observer published a press release regarding allegations of how Ingram had Gunther allegedly falsely testified in a 2003, lawsuit in Deschutes County, Oregon stating that Turnbow had warranted there were no defects with the gas station she was leasing from him. Turnbow reportedly had made no such representation. Turnbow has a l00 percent service connected hearing disability and because of that hearing disability, and the fact that he had to represent himself (his first attorney quit after Turnbow ran out of money) he was unable to understand or hear the allegedegly perjured statements of Gunther and Jerry Aplin. Gunther eventually obtained a $280,000.00 judgment against Turnbow. With that judgment Ingram had the Lake County Sheriff’s Office physically remove Turnbow from his home of 25 years in Christmas Valley, Oregon.

At trial Weidner had all the supporters stay standing until after the judge entered the courtroom. Weidner had filed notice with the court that he was appearing by Special Appearance, challenging the court to declare that the court is a court of “constitutional due process.”

When Weidner first spoke he said, “I am here by Special Appearance until informed by this court that I am appearing in an Art. III court of constitutional due process.” Judge Hogan sat silent watching Weidner intently as he spoke. Weidner continued, “In the name of We The People of the State of Oregon (as Weidner spoke he turned and pointed to his supporters present), I am hereby declaring this court and all courts in the State of Oregon courts of constitutional due process.” The judge and all present then listened intently while Weidner summarized the unprecedented abuse he has been subjected to by the Oregon judicial system for exposing the wide-spread corruption occurring in Oregon’s courts. Weidner continued, “The rights of the people to “equal protection” and “due process” is hereby restored. The on-going abuse of the citizens of this state in having their children, lands and other property taken in sham judicial proceedings, where the outcome is a forgone conclusion (the victim always losing), is over.

Neither Judge Hogan nor Ingram said a word in response to what Weidner had stated. The Judge then told Ingram he could call his first witness. Ingram called Gunther as a witness. She testified she was the mother of three who rented a gas station in Christmas Valley from Ole Turnbow and after operating it for a period of time found the tanks were leaking and contacted attorney Claud Ingram to initiate a lawsuit.

She said that after the US~Observer was circulated in Christmas Valley, carrying the story detailing the alleged fraud of herself, Ingram and witness Jerry Aplin in taking a $280,000.00 judgment against Turnbow, she could not go anywhere without being questioned and it caused her stress that made it difficult for her to sleep and she had been under a doctors care for stress.

Weidner then began to cross examine her about the times she had met with Turnbow and the content of her conversations with Turnbow. Gunther became instantly defensive and argumentative with Weidner. Weidner repeatedly asked her to listen to and just answer his questions. Weidner asked her if it wasn’t a fact that she quit paying rent to Turnbow after 3 months, but continued to live on the property for 7 months. Even though the statement was true she would not directly answer the question. Weidner then asked her if it wasn’t true that she never complained to Turnbow about the pipes leaking before she filed suit against him. Again she refused to directly answer the question, acting as if the statement was true. She even became defensive and argumentative with Judge Hogan who told her to stop talking and listen to what he was saying.

When Gunther finished testifying, Ingram said he was resting his case. Weidner then stood and told the judge he was moving to dismiss the complaint because there had been no credible evidence offered to support the claims. Judge Hogan stated he was suspending the trial while he took the motions under advisement. Ingram, Gunther and another individual quickly left the courtroom while Weidner and his supporters commented on the fact that Ingram was unable to put on any evidence to support his claims. Susan Detlefson, producer of the TV program Mother Interrupted tried to interview Ingram and Gunther in the parking lot but they intentionally evaded her attempt to conduct the interview.

Attorney Claud Ingram has filed many frivolous lawsuits and it appears as though his days of creating victims out of innocent people are coming to an end.

Ingram Loses Gunther Trial

On March 28, 2006 Federal Judge Michael Hogan ruled against Lucinda Gunther’s claims she had brought against Roger Weidner and Ole Turnbow. Gunther, who was represented by Eugene Attorney Claud Ingram “failed to offer evidence to support the essential elements of her claims” according to Hogan.

Ingram had sued on the torts of Libel, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and Wrongful use of Civil Proceedings. In his conclusion Hogan stated, “Accordingly, defendant Weidner’s oral motion at the conclusion of plaintiff’s case to dismiss those claims is granted and this case is dismissed.”

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