FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2017
Contact: Tom Rask
503.222.3531

Judge Orders Immediate Discovery in Rep. Wingard Lawsuit Against Oregon Family Council, Oregon Right to Life and Former State Senator Charles Starr

Court Decision Requires all Parties to Comply with Subpoenas

Portland, OR — A Multnomah County judge on Friday lifted the stay on discovery in a defamation lawsuit brought by former State Representative Matt Wingard against the Oregon Family Council, Oregon Right to Life and former State Senator Charles Starr.

In a short, two sentence statement Circuit Court Judge Adrienne C. Nelson denied the defendant’s motion to continue the stay on discovery while they appeal her October ruling. Judge Nelson’s earlier ruling found enough evidence of wrongdoing to allow Wingard’s lawsuit to proceed.

Wingard’s legal team has issued subpoenas and will begin conducting extensive discovery to develop his case and also to identify the person/persons behind anonymous and illegal mailers sent during his primary campaign for the Legislature in May, 2016.

Representative Wingard issued the following statement in reaction to the court decision:

For the second time, an Oregon court has ruled in my favor, moving my family one step closer to justice. I am determined to expose the unethical and illegal activities of these people who are betraying their donors and wrecking the once noble Oregon Republican Party. I have said from the very beginning that my relationship with Ms. Berrier was entirely consensual and that she lied about me. Her made-up accusations were dismissed by both the Department of Justice and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Department. The Oregon Family Council, Oregon Right to Life and Mr. Starr repeated these lies to the voters of House District 26 during the May 2016 primary race and I am determined to hold them accountable.”

Wingard is suing the Oregon Family Council, Oregon Right to Life, Charles Starr and others for defamation and violation of ORS 260.532 (False publication relating to candidate or measure). The case number is: 16CV18238

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