ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996 TAG: 9605110002
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DANVILLE
SOURCE: Associated Press
George Landrith, a Charlottesville lawyer seeking the 5th District Republican nomination to run for Congress, lost a defamation lawsuit last spring that may figure in his campaign.
A Page County jury said Landrith defamed a high school secretary by writing a letter accusing her of violating his client's privacy rights in viewing his school records.
The jury ordered Landrith to pay the woman $2,000 in damages. The forewoman added a handwritten note to the verdict form, saying, ``We also believe an apology should be extended to [the secretary] for the wording of the letter.''
Although Jennifer Adams received the money, she never heard from Landrith, her attorney said.
Landrith, who's in a nomination battle with Del. Frank Ruff of Clarksville, has warned supporters that Ruff might talk about the lawsuit at the 5th District GOP convention May18.
In a May 4 memo to campaign leaders, Ruff's campaign manager outlined details of the lawsuit. The memo included questions that voters might ask, including: ``Why didn't he apologize to Jennifer Adams for putting her through this ordeal? Why didn't he check to see if his accusations were true before he called her a criminal?''
Landrith didn't the verdict because he ``could not afford over $10,000 in personal legal fees to continue the appeal,'' according to his campaign staff. The statement also said Adams asked for $200,000 but was awarded only $2,000.
Landrith was hired in 1993 by a Shenandoah man, Robert Hockman, to look into whether Adams had viewed his school records.
Luray lawyer Robert Donlan, who represented Adams, said Hockman and Adams were neighbors whose friendship went sour.
In 1994, Hockman was indicted by a Page County grand jury for making a bomb threat and threatening a witness involving a fake bomb placed on Adams' front porch. He was convicted of the charges.
The incident happened two months after Hockman had asked Landrith to write a letter to Page County school officials complaining that Adams had looked at his records. Landrith's Nov. 16, 1993, letter said Adams was ``guilty of unethical and illegal conduct and that disciplinary action should be taken against her,'' according to Adams' lawsuit. Donlan said she never viewed Hockman's records.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines KEYWORDS: 2DAby CNB