Though I was not named as a

party in this suit, I have now been dragged into the

fray. I am most certain other citizens who have made

their opinions known in the newspaper may also be dragged

in as well.

On Saturday morning a

process server was at my door, delivering to me a package

of legal documents from Mr. Webb's law firm. Included in

these documents was a notice that I will be required to

give a deposition regarding the suit. I am not sure what

Mr. Webb believes I know, but I will be forced to miss

time on my job to be interrogated by a member of Mr.

Webb's law firm.

The one document delivered

demanding that I produce copies of a laundry list of

"documents" pertaining to a long list of issues

and individuals. The document list includes over 40 items

including my personal e-mails, correspondence, diaries,

notes and even transcripts of my telephone conversations

- anything at all to do with the issues or persons

named in the document.

Sadly, I don't have a

diary. My life is not very exciting, and it seems foolish

to have a book full of blank pages. I have never kept a

"scrap book" either, but if I did, I was

ordered to surrender a copy of it. I have no videotapes

or audiotapes, no motion pictures or charts. It seems I

really don't have much of anything named in the legal

demands. If I would have known that these things were so

important, I surely would have gone out of my way to

better document everything I do each day.

I was asked for copies of

the "Brown Letters," presumably the very

letters that have appeared in this newspaper in the past.

I never kept copies of any of Steve Brown's letters, but

I do have an old copy of the "Scarlet Letter,"

but I guess that won't suffice. Perhaps, Mr. Webb, you

can purchase back issues of The Citizen which contain

those letters, for a small fee.

As a citizen of Peachtree

City, I have made many requests of Betsy Tyler, our

public information specialist, and Nancy Faulkner, our

city clerk. I have asked for all sorts of public

information in the past, information which I am entitled

to receive. Mr. Webb has included in his demands on me

that I surrender copies of any correspondence I have had

with Ms. Tyler or Ms. Faulkner.

Let me make this perfectly

clear: I have the right to request information from these

two city employees, I have the right to review the

information I receive, and I have the right to tell

anyone who asks about those requests to take a hike. It

is my business, Mr. Webb, and will remain as such.

I see this all as an

attempt to silence people like myself, people who have

vocally criticized our city officials in the press. Bury

us under a mountain of legal demands, attempt to force us

to give up our private correspondence, make us believe

that if we continue to remain vocal our lives will be

made difficult. I won't be intimidated, and in fact will

work even harder to learn the truth and to share those

facts with other citizens of Peachtree City.

I put this question to you,

Mr. Webb, do you question the accuracy of anything I have

written in the past? If you do, please tell me where I

was in error. I believe everything I have written was

based in fact.

Several things were named

in the legal paperwork that puzzled me. Fantasy Fitness,

a topic that I have heard vaguely about, and a topic

which dates back to the 1980s (before my time in

Peachtree City) is mentioned. Fayette County Superior

Court Judge Johnny Caldwell is named as well.

I have heard of the judge,

but don't know why he would be mentioned in this request.

I would kindly ask that you shed some light on this, Mr.

Webb, and explain why a topic from the 1980s and Judge

Caldwell are mentioned in the legal demand. How do they

relate to the suit you have filed?

Georgia Utilities is

mentioned as well. For those of you who don't know, this

is the former name of the occasionally leaky,

taxpayer-owned, multimillion dollar sewer system in

Peachtree City. I was a vocal opponent when we spent

millions of taxpayer dollars to buy this system several

years ago, but don't see how it is part of the suit Mr.

Webb has filed.

Ladies and gentlemen, don't

live under the assumption that you have the right to

speak your mind or the right to privacy when it comes to

your personal correspondence. I am learning that those

rights may not exist.

Before you dare to be vocal

and have an opinion, before you dare to stand up and ask

why, before you dare to believe you have the right to

free speech, think twice. You may be forced to answer for

it. I wonder, do we live in Peachtree City or are we

residents of "Animal Farm"?

I sincerely hope that the

court action regarding this law suit will clear the air,

and that the facts about all the issues are made public

knowledge. Aren't we all just after the truth?

Steve Fodor

Peachtree City