Roswell Daily Record
Valley Meat to sue AG Gary King
Vol. 123, No. 6 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Valley Meat Co.’s lawyer notified Attorney General Gary King of the company’s intention to sue him and his associates for libel, slander, harassment, abuse of process and intentional acts of harm against the Roswell business. Attorney A. Blair Dunn sent notice to King’s risk management division of the company’s 30-day intent to sue the attorney general, his office, and certain employees “acting under the color of his elected office.” King has been an outspoken opponent of Valley Meat, a company that has fought
federal and state legal battles for the past two years while seeking to open as a horse slaughter facility. King has joined the Humane Society of the United States and other animal rights activist organizations in legally fighting against the practice, that is allowed in the U.S. He most recently filed an emergency state lawsuit in Santa Fe that will be heard Jan. 13, in an attempt to further block Valley Meat from opening for business. A judge has placed a temporary restraining order until the matter is heard. Dunn intends to file several claims against King, according to the notice.
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
January 7, 2014
www.rdrnews.com
“Based upon press releases, letters, communications, pleadings and other relevant documents created under Mr. King’s authority as well as oral public statements and actions,” Dunn informed King his clients intend to bring claims against him for libel, slander, “prima facie tort,” civil conspiracy, harassment and malicious abuse of process. In New Mexico, someone can sue another party for “prima facie tort,” claiming the party intended to cause injury. The state supreme court has previously ruled that party should be liable for that injury if the conduct is generally culpable and not justifiable under the circum-
stances. The attorney general’s office did not return a request for comment by the Record Monday. Valley Meat intends to seek damages in the suit. “Mr. King’s conduct in this regard is ongoing and on top of damages for the harm perpetrated under these torts, we will be seeking equitable relief,” Dunn wrote in the letter. King has used the issue to rally his supporters in his bid to run for governor in 2014, asking for donations based on his efforts to fight against the horse slaughter. “As governor, I will oppose every attempt to introduce commercial horse slaughter-
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houses in New Mexico. Please help my campaign today,” King posted on his Facebook page Dec. 20. King is using public funds to pay for the lawsuits his office continues to file against Valley Meat. According to his spokesman, Phil Sisneros, King believes stopping horse slaughter plants is a priority of the attorney general’s office. “These actions fit squarely within the attorney general’s office statutory obligations, whatever the costs,” Sisneros said last week. According to Dunn, once Valley Meat clears its legal hurdles, the attorney general’s office, HSUS and every other entity that has inter-
fered with the business is liable under the law for damages. “At the end of the day, when Valley gets to the end of this ... everybody that’s interfered with their lawful business is liable under the law for those damages that they caused,” Dunn said. “That doesn’t count the defamatory and other ‘unnice’ things the attorney general and his special interest group friends have done. Just from an interference position, he’s exposed the state to liability. “Ultimately, that’s the only way that Valley recovers the last two years of time they’ve lost,” Dunn said.
City Councilor Art Sandoval seeks re-election JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Mark Wilson Photo
Cecilia Rico and son Elian hold candles during a Sunday evening prayer vigil for the victim of an attempted murder that transpired Saturday morning. Twenty-five neighbors, friends and family members of the victim gathered at 6 p.m. near the scene of the crime on the 900 block of Pecan Drive to pray for the wounded woman's recovery and for a reduction in violent crime in Roswell. “This hit hard and it hurts. It's awful,” neighbor Angelica Rodriguez said during the vigil. “Anybody could have been the victim.” Attendees of the vigil also offered prayers for Kenneth Whiteside, the suspect charged in the attack.
Details emerge on attempted murder case JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
More details have been released in the affidavit of criminal complaint on the attempted murder, aggravated burglary and crimi-
nal sexual penetration that took place at the 900 block of Pecan Drive, Saturday. The woman ran to neighbors to get help, around 6:30 a.m., but she was so badly beaten the couple did not recognize
her. She was described as being covered in blood, with slice marks on her neck. Her bottom teeth were broken out and her jaw swollen where it may have broken. The officer, who stopped
a white Buick with temporary Texas tags for driving erratically and not using indicators in the 800 block of North Greenwood See ATTACK, Page A3
City Councilor Art Sandoval in Ward 3 will seek his fourth and final term by filing for re-election today, he said Monday. “I would like to thank the community allowing me the time to serve this community, and hopefully they give me the opportunity to do this one more time,” Sandoval said. Sandoval intends to seek re-election for his fourth term this year. He was re-elected in 2010 to his third term. He currently serves as chairman of the fire committee, and is a member of the finance and sanitation committees. If re-elected, Sandoval said he would like to continue seeking compensation for fire department employees. “I can put it on the table, but it’s going to take ‘we’ as a group,” Sandoval said. During his time as chairman of the fire committee, Sandoval said he has worked with others to help the department work to achieve a new Insurance Service Office Class 2 rating that insurance companies use to develop premium rates for homes and businesses. “This is huge for our community and for economic growth,” Sandoval said. “It’s a statement for me how hard our fire department has been working to achieve this particular rating.” The fire department has also added bays to Station 2, and received a state appropriation of $450,000 to remodel a truck base at Station 1 through Infrastructure Capital Outlay funds. Sandoval would like to seek more funding for firefighters, he said, and will work with city staff to see if the budget will allow for it. Another project Sandoval is proud of during his time in office, was being a part of the Wool Bowl Softball Complex, he said. The new $1.4 million facility includes four fields and has garnered national recognition. “I’m happy for that because I was part of that process,” Sandoval said.
Most dangerous temps RPD hosts viewing of stolen goods this week in decades across US
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The coldest, most dangerous blast of polar air in decades gripped the Midwest and pushed toward the East and South on Monday, closing schools and day care centers, grounding flights and forcing people to pull their hoods and scarves tight to protect exposed skin from nearly instant frostbite. Many across the nation’s midsection went into virtual hibernation, while others dared to venture out in temperatures that plunged well below zero. “I’m going to try to make it two blocks without turning into crying man,” said Brooks Grace, who was out to do some banking and shopping in downtown Minneapolis, where temperatures reached 23 below with wind chills of minus 48. “It’s not cold — it’s painful.” The mercury also dropped into negative territory in Milwaukee, St. Louis and Chicago, which set a record for the date at minus 16. Wind chills across the region were 40 below and colder. Records also fell in Oklahoma, Texas and Indiana. Forecasters said some 187 million people in all could feel the effects of the “polar vortex” by the time it spread across the country on Monday night and Tuesday. Record lows were possible in the East and South, with highs in the single digits expected Tuesday in Georgia and Alabama. Subzero wind chills were forecast up and down the coast, including minus 10 in Atlanta and minus 12 in Baltimore. From the Dakotas to Maryland, schools and day care centers shut down. See FREEZE, Page A3
HIGH 54 LOW 24
TODAY’S FORECAST
The Roswell Police Department will give citizens the opportunity to view stolen items on Wednesday and Thursday. According to RPD Public Information Liaison Sabrina Morales, the items were located on Friday when of ficers served a warrant in the 300 block of East Ballard Street. “They found tens of thousands of dollars worth of items,” she said. The stolen goods include seven weed eaters, miscellaneous tools, tool boxes, wheel barrows, a generator, a dollie, some DVDs, some jewelry and drivers’ licenses. The police have invited any victim of a vehicle, residential commercial burglary or a larceny to come see what was found during the warrant search and perhaps recover their possessions. The viewing will last from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both Wednesday and
Courtesy Photo
The concrete alien is only one item of many which are believed to be stolen in area burglaries. Other items are more mundane, such as tires, shop vacs and planters.
Thursday. People are asked to bring a copy of any police reports they have filed.
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A6
• TOMMY J. BRITT • JAMES ARTHUR BURNSIDE • RUTH ANNA HAY • GENIE LYONS • ETHEL REASER
See SANDOVAL, Page A3
• HAROLD PAUL • KIM BELYEU VILLENEUVE • MARCELINA CERECERES • NINA AUDINE CALE
Those who have not reported the crime should be prepared to file a report and will be
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6 COMICS .................B5 ENTERTAINMENT .....A8 FINANCIAL ..............B4
required to bring proof of purchases or serial numbers for the items they are claiming.
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2
OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8