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In the MN court of appeals: Minnesota Battered Women's Act

January 19, 2004

William J. Hageman, Charles W. Hurd, Kyle Knutson, Jim Lovestar, Yves Nadeau, Pradeep Ramanathan, Barbara Starr, and Randy Starr, sponsored by the National Coalition of Free Men, Twin Cities Chapter; Jean M. Cody, Merrit R. Cody, Knute Gladen, Timothy Kinley, Charles R. Perrin, Theresa Ditter, and Dan Barrett, sponsored by R-KIDS of Minnesota; and Richard Doyle, sponsored by the Men.s Defense Association, in behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated

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On the appeal

Think of it. The State first pleaded ignorance on our claim that domestic violence is a problem shared by men and women. Then they pleaded it was not so. After we hit them with two thick bundles of scientific studies in disovery before the federal courts, they tried to justify the Minnesota Battered Women's Act as properly discriminatory. After we destroyed that contention in federal courts, and we figured out a way to keep up this fight in state courts, they finally gave up that idea of trying to justify the Act either in fact or in law, and now they are trying to tell the world that the Act is not discriminatory against men.

Before we sued them, they proudly spoke of the Minnesota Battered Women's Act as progressive and enlightened legislation. Now they are trying to tell the judiciary that there is no such Act!

They say we are chasing a phantom in the night, that we are paranoid, etc. That's progress, which you can see only by carrying on the fight patiently over the long term. You can defeat overwhelming odds if you take your time, never give up, and keep coming back at 'em.

From: Jack Graham

Subject: A few final touches

Gentlemen, I transmit herewith the final product which will be dispatched to our printer today by express mail, -- cover, tables, argument, and index to appendix. There have been a few final touches, mainly on page 29 of our argument, taking care of two garbled sentences. Our submission will be received by the Clerk of Appellate Courts on or before January 28, 2004. This piece cannot be posted on websites today, but you can start working on that task tomorrow, because once mailed, the piece is filed, and technically a matter of public record.
I am taking the liberty of sending this transmission to our fairy godmother Erin Pizzey so she can see what great progress we have made. Think of it. The State first pleaded ignorance on our claim that domestic violence is a problem shared by men and women. Then they pleaded it was not so. After we hit them with two thick bundles of scientific studies in disovery before the federal courts, they tried to justify the Minnesota Battered Women's Act as properly discriminatory. After we destroyed that contention in federal courts, and we figured out a way to keep up this fight in state courts, they finally gave up that idea of trying to justify the Act either in fact or in law, and now they are trying to tell the world that the Act is not discriminatory against men. Before we sued them, they proudly spoke of the Minnesota Battered Women's Act as progressive and enlightened legislation. Now they are trying to tell the judiciary that there is no such Act! So they say we are chasing a phantom in the night, that we are paranoid, etc. That's progress, which you can see only by carrying on the fight patiently over the long term. You can defeat overwhelming odds if you take your time, never give up, and keep coming back at 'em. Now we shall go for the kill, and end this injustice. -- J. R. G.