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SCHMIDT DROPS DEFAMATION SUIT
Gannett News Service
March 22, 2012 Thursday
Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Miami Township, has dropped her $6.8 million
defamation lawsuit against long-time political opponent David
Krikorian, who ran against her in 2008 and again this year.
"It's time to move on," Schmidt's spokesman, Barrett J. Brunsman,
said of the congresswoman's decision to withdraw her defamation claim
against Krikorian, originally filed in June 2010 in Clermont County
Common Pleas Court.
Krikorian said he was surprised but happy to hear the case had been
dropped. "Anytime you can remove a $6.8 million pending lawsuit
against you, no matter how frivolous, it's a good thing," he said.
Schmidt filed the lawsuit after Krikorian claimed in the 2008 race
that she had taken "blood money" from the government of Turkey in
exchange for her opposition to efforts that would label as "genocide"
the killings of Armenians living in Turkey during World War I.
Schmidt also filed two complaints in May 2009 with the Ohio Elections
Commission, charging Krikorian with making false statements. The
commission ruled in her favor, reprimanding Krikorian for making
statements it determined were inaccurate.
The Schmidt-Krikorian legal tangle also spilled over into a
congressional ethics inquiry, because of questions about who was
paying Schmidt's attorneys' fees. The House ethics committee ruled
last summer that Schmidt had unknowingly received about $500,000 in
legal fees, paid on her behalf by the Turkish Coalition of America.
While clearing Schmidt of wrongdoing, the committee said the funds
represented an improper gift and instructed her to repay the funds.
Schmidt has since said the fees amounted to about $440,000.
Schmidt's defamation suit was proceeding, with the two parties filing
motions and girding for trial. At the same time, Schmidt and Krikorian
were headed for another political showdown in the 2012 House race.
But Krikorian, who ran as a Democrat, lost in the March 6 primary to
William R. Smith, a political unknown. And Schmidt was defeated in
the GOP race by Cincinnati doctor and Iraq war veteran Brad Wenstrup.
Schmidt's election loss raised questions about whether she will
repay her outstanding legal tab. Once she is out of office, she has
no obligation to comply with the House ethics committee's ruling. As
a lame-duck lawmaker, it will be harder for her to raise money for
her legal expense trust, an account she set up to repay the money.
Brunsman said he didn't know if the prospect of racking up more legal
bills prompted her decision to drop the defamation case. "I'm not
aware of whether that was a factor," he said.
Asked if this was the beginning of the end of the years-long legal
and political battle between Schmidt and Krikorian, Brunsman noted
that Schmidt still has the right to refile the case if she wants.
Gannett News Service
March 22, 2012 Thursday
Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Miami Township, has dropped her $6.8 million
defamation lawsuit against long-time political opponent David
Krikorian, who ran against her in 2008 and again this year.
"It's time to move on," Schmidt's spokesman, Barrett J. Brunsman,
said of the congresswoman's decision to withdraw her defamation claim
against Krikorian, originally filed in June 2010 in Clermont County
Common Pleas Court.
Krikorian said he was surprised but happy to hear the case had been
dropped. "Anytime you can remove a $6.8 million pending lawsuit
against you, no matter how frivolous, it's a good thing," he said.
Schmidt filed the lawsuit after Krikorian claimed in the 2008 race
that she had taken "blood money" from the government of Turkey in
exchange for her opposition to efforts that would label as "genocide"
the killings of Armenians living in Turkey during World War I.
Schmidt also filed two complaints in May 2009 with the Ohio Elections
Commission, charging Krikorian with making false statements. The
commission ruled in her favor, reprimanding Krikorian for making
statements it determined were inaccurate.
The Schmidt-Krikorian legal tangle also spilled over into a
congressional ethics inquiry, because of questions about who was
paying Schmidt's attorneys' fees. The House ethics committee ruled
last summer that Schmidt had unknowingly received about $500,000 in
legal fees, paid on her behalf by the Turkish Coalition of America.
While clearing Schmidt of wrongdoing, the committee said the funds
represented an improper gift and instructed her to repay the funds.
Schmidt has since said the fees amounted to about $440,000.
Schmidt's defamation suit was proceeding, with the two parties filing
motions and girding for trial. At the same time, Schmidt and Krikorian
were headed for another political showdown in the 2012 House race.
But Krikorian, who ran as a Democrat, lost in the March 6 primary to
William R. Smith, a political unknown. And Schmidt was defeated in
the GOP race by Cincinnati doctor and Iraq war veteran Brad Wenstrup.
Schmidt's election loss raised questions about whether she will
repay her outstanding legal tab. Once she is out of office, she has
no obligation to comply with the House ethics committee's ruling. As
a lame-duck lawmaker, it will be harder for her to raise money for
her legal expense trust, an account she set up to repay the money.
Brunsman said he didn't know if the prospect of racking up more legal
bills prompted her decision to drop the defamation case. "I'm not
aware of whether that was a factor," he said.
Asked if this was the beginning of the end of the years-long legal
and political battle between Schmidt and Krikorian, Brunsman noted
that Schmidt still has the right to refile the case if she wants.