“This effort appears to be part of Ms. Hammett’s litigation playbook, as it is not the first time she has claimed that a transcript did not accurately reflect proceedings in a trial court and made significant efforts to change the content of that transcript in anticipation of appellate proceedings. See Dkt. Nos. 133-134, 136 ¶¶ 4, 11, 18-19, 22.” – Attorneys with Rose Law Firm and Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders, LLP.

The attorneys for Mega Debt Buyer Portfolio Recovery Associates were opposing a motion to settle the record. My claim is that I asked Judge Lee P. Rudofsky to explain the limits of what PRA was allowed to designate as confidential if I stipulated to what I contended was an overbroad protective order. He gave a thorough answer that gained my confidence, so much so that I wrote about what an honorable man he was soon after the hearing.

Chuckle.

Fast forward to when I receive the transcript of the hearing in order to quote the judge directly and the dialogue is non-existent. There is no oral argument against approving the protective order from me at all, in contrast to my adamant written objection to turning this case into a “star chamber”.

It took little imagination to expect PRA to try to make me sound like a whack job, instead of a person who excels on comprehension exams, but suffers from traumatic and chronic stress. That is right out of the Defense Attorney Playbook. The best defense is a good offense. And, if you have nothing bad to say, say anything at all.

I made a pre-emptive strike and subpoenaed the recording of hearings in the case PRA referred to that were also fictionalized. The judge on that case, the dishonorable Susan Weaver, refused to settle the record and denied my FOIA request for one recording. (I will FOIA the other two recordings if the Arkansas Court of Appeals does not reverse Weaver’s decision and ensure the return of my property rights to me.)

I subpoenaed the recordings in the PRA case to use as evidence of the stressful position I was in when PRA made hundreds of calls to me. There are few things more stressful than having a corrupt judge and corrupt court reporter changing up the record against your interests.

Judge Lee P. Rudofsky said Court Reporter Jana Perry would not be ordered to produce the recordings because he dismissed my case on summary judgment.

PRA did not need to use the argument to convince Judge Rudofsky to rule against me. They could probably cry “she’s a witch, burn her” and he would agree.

All they accomplished was to give me another chance to ask for the recordings to be played and let Judge Rudofsky show his true colors. Again.

What does it say to you when someone refuses to hand over the tapes? Too bad we can’t throw the red instant replay flag like on the commercials on Sunday Night Football.

Where this is headed is to a Constitutional Challenge of the court rule disallowing litigants to record their own hearings. The methods used by the courts to capture a verbatim record are antiquated. The courts consistently strike down rules and statutes that prohibit videotaping arrests and other police interactions. Why not let us video interactions in the courthouse? What are they trying to hide?

It is a sad day, but the courts have brought ill repute upon themselves, and the common person has had enough!

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