MEDIA NOTICE AND STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more info: Jill M. Waite January 11, 2003 Cell phone (612) 432-5065
PUBLIC AND MEDIA MISLED BY UNAUTHORIZED USE OF �FEDERAL MEDIATION NOW� NAME Federal Mediation Now, a grassroots coalition, has educated the community about federal mediation since September 2002. The coalition gained great credibility by holding community meetings, going door-to-door with petitions and seeking information about police issues that are important to community members. In an apparent attempt to dilute the credibility and reputation of the coalition, Zachary Metoyer incorporated under that name on December 23, 2002 and issued a letter using the name �Federal Mediation Now� name to solicit signatures on a petition. That petition asked that the so-called �Ministerial Alliance Team� be added to the community negotiating team. Metoyer is not now and has never been a member of the coalition, nor has he sought or obtained permission to use our service mark, which includes our name. A "cease and desist" letter was mailed to Metoyer today, instructing him to stop infringing on our service mark by using the Federal Mediation Now name. Metoyer�s timing and use of the Federal Mediation Now name is interesting. After the CNT refused to cave in to pressure to add Olson�s picks to the team, Metoyer met with Olson and issued a letter identifying himself as the �President/CEO� of Federal Mediation Now. That letter accompanied the petition. The position Metoyer took is directly contrary to the coalition�s actual position. Department of Justice protocol does not allow the City to select the community team. The coalition has always lobbied against City involvement in community team selection. We oppose allowing Olson to stack the deck with his selections and thereby determine the outcome of mediation. What good is a sham process? All communications are issued by Federal Mediation Now�s Executive Committee. Because of Metoyer�s unauthorized use of our name, the media is asked to contact attorney Jill Clark at 763/417-9102 or attorney Jill Waite at 612/432-5065 for confirmation that announced positions are those of the coalition Federal Mediation Now. Shawn Lewis, Field Neighborhood -- _______________________________________________ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup Meet Singles http://corp.mail.com/lavalife _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
