Jordan Neighborhood Back Story: When Jerry Moore Unsuccessfully Sought A Temporary Restraining Order Against Dan Rother

Flickr.com Image, "Humpty Dumpty Filing
For A Restraining Order Against Jack
And Jill."

This account was forwarded by Megan Goodmundson, and provides some useful background in the current controversies in the Jordan Neighborhood...

According to Goodmundson, Dan Rother was elected to the JACC board in October of 2007. Somewhere in the first quarter of 2008, Rother started asking some questions in regard to financial reports and documents. Rother didn't get what he thought was an adequate response from Jerry Moore, and that apparently made Rother even more determined to see the documents in question.

But His Finger May Have Been Loaded

As the months went on, and requests were ignored or met with "shallow excuses" (according to Goodmundson) Dan beame more insistent about having a right to any document, report, involve, contract or any other piece of business pertaining to JACC.

Goodmundson adds: "Neighbors had been battling to get financial supporting docs for approximately two years, including a letter from the attorney general that verified JACC is obligated to disclose, which Chair Ben Myers responded to (the) attorney general basically saying the atorney general was wrong and JACC would not disclose."

Dan sent his requests via email, via public mail, via phone conversations and voice messages and also voiced his requests at public meetings such as a July board meeting in which he told Jerry, in public, to stop putting him off and bring all the requested documents.

Now, (Goodmundson says) picture this: Meeting room, tables are arranged in horse shoe shape. Dan is standing on one side of the horseshoe, Jerry sitting on opposite side of the horse shoe. Dan is standing, leaning on the table, and pointing his finger at Jerry who is approximately 8 feet away. Dan says in a loud voice something to the effect of "I am demanding you give me the copies of everything I have requested or I am going to go over your head to get them."

Jerry Moore Responds With Paperwork...Sort Of

A few days later, Rother was served with a Temporary Restraining Order against Dan. The TRO accused Dan of harassment and physical threats. Jerry said he was stressed and frightened. A hearing was scheduled for approximately 5 or 6 weeks away. In the meantime, Rother could not attend any meetings or functions in which Jerry Moore will be, or could be expected to be. Rother couldn't email Jerry, call Jerry, certainly couldn't speak to Jerry in person.

Goodmundson says, "(Rother's) freedom of speech was stolen and his responsibilities to serve the community as an elected representative were inhibited. Dan had to hire an attorney for his defense and pay out of his own pocket."

Much Ado About Moore

On the fateful day of the court hearing, many witnesses were summoned for each side. After two days of testimony, and (according to Goodmundson) "much un-twisting of the distorted facts, much like we see in the newest Jill Clark file" the judge ruled firmly in favor of Dan Rother and denied the restraining order sought by Jerry Moore.

Goodmundson summarized it this way: Dan's freedoms are returned and Jerry's playbook is down one play. She then adds, "Have you ever filed a restraining order against one of YOUR bosses? I'm considering it as a strategy the next time my boss gives me an assignment with a deadline."

The Usual Caveat, With Caveat

This blog remains committed to printing info from all sides in this conflict, but some sides are a lot more open and communicative than others.