Comments by Conscience
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Posted on October 10 at 3:22 a.m.
This column is anti-pig! Barney, you're fired!!
Posted on August 8 at 8:07 a.m.
One of the best people in Santa Barbara, or anywhere.
On Philanthropist Mercedes Eichholz Talks About Life and Politics
Posted on July 31 at 8:22 a.m.
Thank you for this information. We enjoy the Fiesta every year, but we haven't seen much in the News-Press. They used to print a special section on Fiesta every year, but not this year.
Posted on June 28 at 1:39 p.m.
Cole strained his credibility by defending Wendy's actions for many years. After she fired him, he must feel a new lease on life.
Posted on June 28 at 1:15 p.m.
The people who know how to sell advertising aren't at the News-Press any longer. Wendy and Arthur don't know any better. They don't recognize just how bad their personnel now is.
Posted on May 15 at 8:33 a.m.
In your first paragraph, do you mean "Joe Cole either quit or was fired?"
Posted on May 10 at 1:37 p.m.
Your link currently goes to last week's story.
Posted on May 1 at 2:28 p.m.
Let us not forget that this behavior is not limited to Jerry Roberts. It has happened to other local people in the past, including Greg Parker (and Brian Cearnal). For a refresher, read the following excerpts from the Foley & Bezek law website on the Parker case. http://www.foleybezek.com/in.the.news/pa.... Then go back in the archives and check the NP's coverage of this case.
"Billionaire Wendy McCaw, Found to Have Engaged in 'Despicable Conduct' and Ordered to Pay $14.8 Million in Damages"
The conduct of Wendy McCaw, the owner of the Santa Barbara News-Press, in connection with her business dealings, including the News-Press was recently found to be "despicable" by Justice Eagleson...in an arbitration brought by Mrs. McCaw against her former employee, Greg Parker.
McCaw tried to avoid paying sums Parker earned under several contracts. Mr. Parker countered, claiming McCaw had breached several contracts and had engaged in fraudulent conduct.
Justice Eagleson found that McCaw's overall conduct was "oppressive, meaning despicable" and merited punitive damages. The award stated that there were many examples of her conduct that Justice Eagleson found despicable, and describes three: McCaw "stripped [the incentive compensation vehicle in which Parker had an interest] of its assets, and used part of [those assets] to support a line of credit needed to purchase the Santa Barbara News-Press." She also hired a PR firm "to place articles in her newspaper complimentary to herself and derogatory of Parker in an effort to create a community animus towards Parker." She then filed a complaint against Parker with the State Bar that was "completely without merit" "out of spite to harass and intimidate Parker."
The award shows it was based on credibility. It describes McCaw and her personal lawyer (and Santa Barbara News-Press former Publisher and current President) Joseph Cole as not being credible: "As far as McCaw's testimony is concerned she waffled, contradicted herself, was generally uncertain, suffered from unusual lack of recollection, was evasive and expressed denial of events even in the face of written evidence to the contrary. Put differently, she was a totally unconvincing witness." The award continued: "Cole was a completely compromised witness... [H]e was not able to testify forthrightly about the events in which he was directly involved and with respect to which he should have had much better recollection."
Parker, said: "Justice Eagleson's conclusion of 'despicable' pretty well sums Wendy McCaw's conduct in attempting to avoid paying me what I earned. The fact that she is now attempting to avoid compliance with the arbitration award is entirely consistent with her past behavior." In arbitration, an award of punitive damages is rare but the award against Mrs. McCaw speaks volumes about the legal and personal attacks launched against Mr. Parker in her case and through her newspaper."
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Posted on February 29 at 12:47 p.m.
Nick, we haven't seen much of your column lately. Where have you been?
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