| Key Ruling to Preserve Veterans Rights |
| TEAM COLLINS!! we has WON a major victory for veterans across the country this week. By winning his defamation appeal against Maxine Waters, he ensures that no one, especially civil servants, will be allowed to disparage veterans by falsely claiming that they were dishonorably discharged. Waters spent over $700,000 lying about Joe’s history of service in an attempt to secure her election. This momentous decision is now case law in California and will provide an iron defense for all veterans who suffer similar abuses. The ruling highlights that “Free speech is vital in America, but truth has a place in the public square as well. Reckless disregard for the truth can create liability for defamation. When you face powerful documentary evidence your accusation is false, when checking is easy, and when you skip the checking but keep accusing, a jury could conclude you have crossed the line.” Additionally, the court ruled, “the preliminary posture of the case required the court to accept Collins’s evidence as true. His evidence created a possible inference of Waters’ willful blindness, which is probative of actual malice. It was error to grant Waters’ anti-SLAPP motion.” During the hearing, the Appellate Justice John Wiley looked over his reading glasses and mockingly asked Attorney Tom Reichert, “Was the $25 fee the barrier to finding out the truth.” This was a reference to the fact that there are commercial online services charging nominal fees to check the discharge status of any veteran. The actions and absurd negligence that Waters engaged in clearly implies malice and an active attempt to severely damage Mr. Collins’s reputation. Maxine Waters bragged in the press about being awarded $53,000 in costs by the trial court, which the appellate court has now overturned on appeal. Her public arrogance about this was misplaced as she has now been awarded nothing, and the trial court is now instructed to Order her to pay Joe Collins’ costs for the appeal. This unanimous decision has codified protections for veterans and will ensure that people in power will be held accountable for lies or slander. Joe Collins III served this country in the U.S. Navy for almost 14 years, has completed a tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008 and has continued to serve his brothers and sisters and arms by this legal victory. |
