La Habra Heights mayor sues former candidate for slander

Can you boys play nice please?

Who cares about the radio's anyhow?

This is Vipperman again trying to silence anyone who disagrees with him.

The tactic is out of the Westerhoff playbook. He and his group sued those who disagreed with them in Downey, and even sued to find out who placed an anonymous advertorial in a local paper. The judge ruled against them, but it can chill citizens from speaking out.

We have a thugocracy running the city now.

Pathetic to be taking away radios from a volunteer group who patrol the city.

Someone should sue Vipperman for slander. He called la habra heights residents, who did nothing wrong, "stupid, stupid people" "with bad integrity" from the council table at a televised meeting.

He repeatedly says residents "broke the law" or "are breaking the law" when they do nothing wrong other than disagreeing with him, or trying to say something he doesn't like. Saying someone committed a crime when they did nothing wrong is slander.

What's the address for the legal defense fund for Edwards and his wife?

We need to help him fight the dictatorship.

What is going on? A Mayor sues a rival in a civil matter that should be a small claims matter? Did the Mayor disclose anywhere that he donated monies or bought radios for a non profit group? No record of that to the public anywhere. Is this another retaliation by the Mayor? Need more details, but on the face, this seems very, very, corrupt. How can a mayor sue for slander? Is he not a "public" figure subject to scrutiny? Smells very bad. Very bad.

Vippermans..(yes both of you) you disgust me. What a couple pieces of ....someone has a different opinion than you and you sue them...I am ashamed to have you for our mayor. I hope this is causing you a lot of stress...like the little kids riding their bikes in the park...do you have a shooting pain in your left arm...George Edwards...lets hope just the mention of his name sends your blood pressure shooting through the roof...I here your business is going to ...... bankruptcy around the corner...nothing too good for you...

Email excerpt written by Mrs. Karen Vipperman and circulated on the Internet.

"…I don't really understand that some people are still angry or hateful about the past.

There's a lot of that in this city with the generation that is older than us and I hate to see our generation perpetuate it, but some just will…I really do think that suing people and turning people in for things is not nice. But it is a person's right to choose to act that way…Karen V"

I would conclude by Karen's own written statement Howard Vipperman is not nice. Suing to take property that belongs to a non-profit is bad form. We should question the morals of the Vippermans and their true motivation to go after yet another community group, who will be next?

WAAAAAAA! Give the baby mayor his bottle! What a big hypoocritical crybaby.

If a guy on my block bought a fire truck, and used it to help the neighbors, he should be a hero.

Instead in this little burg the city, the fire department, the cops are all jealous because a guy want to contribute. They all need to buck up and start doing some real work.

In 2007 CoMayor Karen hired an attorney, Spitz, to go after the city staff for allegedly slandering her and making Howard look bad.

Why should the job of city staff be to make the vippermans look good, as if it could be done at any cost?

Why do the vippermans sue people at the drop of a hat?

Lets recall the three amigos...plus one sow named Karen

Past Vip Suing wrote:

In 2007 CoMayor Karen hired an attorney, Spitz, to go after the city staff for allegedly slandering her and making Howard look bad.
Why should the job of city staff be to make the vippermans look good, as if it could be done at any cost?
Why do the vippermans sue people at the drop of a hat?

The Whittier Daily News reports that Mayor Viper is also suing George’s wife.

She is NOT a public figure. She has never run for public office. I do not remember her ever speaking at a city council meeting. I have never even heard of her ever criticizing the Mayor (or anyone else) in private.

It is bad enough to file a frivolous and malicious lawsuit in an attempt to destroy a political opponent.

But what sort of person goes after his opponent’s wife?

Karen sent Firewatch members and others the following email. Can't see how George misrepresented who provided the radios since Karen Vipperman mentions Howard as providing radios in her resignation letter. A couple of good question to ask are, can you legally ask for a donation to be returned and why does Howard want to gain possession of the radios? My guess this is politically motivated and character assignation of an opponent.

Letter:

I am regretfully giving my resignation from the Board of Directors of Fire Watch as well as my membership. It is a wonderful group with a wonderful concept and a much needed program for our community.
Unfortunately a few members of the group persist in getting up at council meetings and planning meetings and express aggression, anger, agitation, etc. toward many issues. Although there is freedom of speech in this wonderful country, I feel that respect and decorum are important in our choice to exercise our freedom of speech. It has been a very awkward position for me to be in. My husband is on the City Council and as a result of the poor image that Fire Watch has with some of the community due to the aggressive behavior of the few members, it place myself and him in a painful position.
Howard has given much to Fire Watch. He has provided some of the radios that are in the program, I think he helped finance a repeater although I'm not sure of that as he doesn't boast even to me of the kind acts he performs regularly. He has provided us with that lovely classroom, paid for the wonderful treats we bring. He has patrolled on many occasions, manned our fire truck all day on Nov. 15, patrolled all day on the 4th of July as well as many other times. He has protected us against city staff who have, in the past, sent nasty letters out about us or worked to malign the group. He has taken much heat for backing us with some sectors of the community due to the few members whose behavior brings negative light to the wonderful program.
Unfortunately,that image has prevented some people from joining us, who would otherwise. This has been stated to me by many over the past year and a half. It has been stated to some of you as well.
This election has put some strain on some of our relationships as we have some varying political beliefs. Isn't it wonderful that we can have them and express them in America. There were two really nasty hit letters sent out a few days ago against Howard, Layne, and Carl. I am pleased to be able to say that the three candidates I back didn't participate in any of that although there are certainly issues they could have dragged up if they were that kind of person. If they did, I wouldn't have backed them. Things have been said against Howard by a few of you during this time. He may not be perfect and he may occasionally make a mistake, but the good he has done for the group and the community is who he is. He is an honest, kind, generous, caring man.

Fire Watch is a wonderful concept. I will continue to speak well of it in the community. I do hope that the vocal minority in the group may someday understand that it undermines the whole group and puts some of the members in awkward positions when they get up several times at every meeting and act aggressively. It is just bad manners and does compromise the image of the group. It is such a shame. This group has done some wonderful things and has come a long way.
I do hope that we don't continue the same mistakes that some of our older members of the community do. That is to hold onto angers from the past and not be nice to each other or work together on projects that may bring us together. Life is too short and too wonderful. Take care, be good, and do good things.
Sincerely, Karen Vipperman

In a message dated 8/27/2009 11:10:21 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,___writes:

Good morning Karen:

The LHHFW board met last night. While there is clearly much we do not know about the 7/26/07 $4,059 check from Howard (such as what was it intended for - as there is no memo on the check) it is clear that it was written to George Edwards personally before Fire Watch came into existence.

It is also clear, from the documents that I forwarded to you earlier, that six radios were purchased from B&W by East Heights Volunteer Fire Department and paid for by a check drawn on that organization's account dated 8/23/2007 in the amount of $3,864.53. During our meeting last night, George advised that he and Julie owned (EHVFD) and that the radios that were itemized in the B&W invoice (serial numbers 6I140091, 94, 97, 98, 99 and 5N050360) had been loaned, not donated, to LHHFW members.

That being the case, LHHFW has no place in any disagreement over ownership of the radios. I will, in due course, notify the present radio possessors that LHHFW does not own their radios, but that they appear to be on loan to each of them from EHVFD.
To be consistent with our rules, if the radios
leave LHHFW we will have to remove access to our repeaters and network from the unit removed.

This is clearly not a satisfying result from my view but it appears to be the only way LHHFW can remain out of a conflict over ownership in which it
has no true place.
For me, personally, the best result would for each of the Vipperman and Edwards families to do a Deed of Gift of the radios to LHHFW thereby ending
any ownership disputes over these radios. That resolution is neither a win nor loss for either position. Should those decisions occur, only LHHFW
wins. Perhaps not Solomonic but a reasonable result since the one thing that truly unites us all is a desire for Fire Watch to prosper. In an
excess of optimism, I am including a form Deed of Gift which could be used as I suggest.

It also appears that somehow your niece ended up with a radio that Sandy and Jim Dykier purchased (probably switched inadvertently when originally
delivered). I'll find out what serial number Sandy has. If she has 6E080060 than you can either exchange them or simply agree that each of you own the respective radio in your possession. If not we will try to find that serial among our members. I'm not sure that it really matters since the purchases were well over two years ago and I suspect that everyone is used to their possessed radio.

The board will canvas the members and add their unit serial numbers to our roster. I truly hope that this works out as I view both families as
friends and supporters of LHHFW! Best of luck in making your respective decisions.

Karen Vippermans response to a settlement?

"No Comment"

post the lawsuit so we can see what VIP is asking for

Volunteer wrote:

The Whittier Daily News reports that Mayor Viper is also suing George’s wife.
She is NOT a public figure. She has never run for public office. I do not remember her ever speaking at a city council meeting. I have never even heard of her ever criticizing the Mayor (or anyone else) in private.
It is bad enough to file a frivolous and malicious lawsuit in an attempt to destroy a political opponent.
But what sort of person goes after his opponent’s wife?

Julie has in the past spoke at council meetings and has met with city managers, this said she has always been professional. The better question is what sort of electd official would let his wife create anger and hostility between residents. The various groups were existing peacefuly until she started getting involved right before Howard was elected to the council. I feel sad for Howard that he can't see the source of his problems right under his own roof; it's not George or Stephen. I also think this lawsuit is a symptom of the personal relationship that went bad between the Edward and Vipperman family.

If anyone really stops to think; let's look at this. The Vip's have started outright war on numerous citizens. Started with Blagden, then Edwards, then Zezula, then many other members of Firewatch and other volunteer groups. A large number of people who use to be friends are now enemies and public "hit" targets. They campaign vehemently to destroy these innocent people and are making a mockery out of this city and it's fine citizens whom they hate. Talk about vindictive and vengeful, I cannot believe how foolish, hateful and mean these Vipperman's are. They are committing nothing but hate crimes. Their actions surely are going to backfire. They are not satisfied enough with their power as Mr. and Mrs. Mayor, but they have to take it absurdly further into citizen imprisonment and slavery. I am calling the DA today. I am embarrased to live in this city with our current Mayor and his wife.

so obvious wrote:

If anyone really stops to think; let's look at this. The Vip's have started outright war on numerous citizens. Started with Blagden, then Edwards, then Zezula, then many other members of Firewatch and other volunteer groups. A large number of people who use to be friends are now enemies and public "hit" targets. They campaign vehemently to destroy these innocent people and are making a mockery out of this city and it's fine citizens whom they hate. Talk about vindictive and vengeful, I cannot believe how foolish, hateful and mean these Vipperman's are. They are committing nothing but hate crimes. Their actions surely are going to backfire. They are not satisfied enough with their power as Mr. and Mrs. Mayor, but they have to take it absurdly further into citizen imprisonment and slavery. I am calling the DA today. I am embarrased to live in this city with our current Mayor and his wife.

Amen, but why call the DA?

Resident wrote:

<quoted text>Amen, but why call the DA?

The Vippermans are using their position and money to subvert open government and free speech.

His fellow councilmembers are unable or unwilling, to stop him.

So, a higher enforcement agency is needed to maintain the rule of law in the City.

Resident 2 wrote:

<quoted text>
The Vippermans are using their position and money to subvert open government and free speech.
His fellow councilmembers are unable or unwilling, to stop him.
So, a higher enforcement agency is needed to maintain the rule of law in the City.

Good luck with that.

Corrections:
Karen has never sued anyone.
The letter mentioned to the city was actually to the ex-fire chief, Nielsen. When Karen was working with other East side residents to try to get the church location reactivated as a fire station, Nielsen sent out an e-mail to the city manager at that time, telling a lie about the action that Karen had taken and implicated Howard. Howard wasn't involved in the conversation Karen had with the church. Karen had an attorney send a cease and desist letter to the chief. It was an action to help get the East side station re-opened. In fact, there have been many incidents in her life that she could have sued and many people would have and she didn't. One example: A neighbor's dog mauled her 18 mos. old son and Karen took no action. That mauling left her son scarred for life. Car accident that was someone elses fault. No suit. So, as usual, the few participants on this site lie and exaggerate truths. The Vipperman's have never sued anyone in this city for anything.

Howard and Karen's businesses are doing fine. So the lie about business going bankrupt. Just another lie to spread rumors.

The issues about the radios. The business of those involved in the suit. The facts will surface as the suit progresses.

George and Blagden write really nasty things about many people and organizations in this community. To paint them as innocent victims who get picked on is a little silly and not very believable. Many people in this community are afraid of them because they know they could get horrible things written about them on this website.

Are the Vipperman's terribly upset by this stuff. No. I know them quite well and they just consider the source. They are actually very busy in their lives with their own business and families.

Karen stated to me about this. Life is good. Our children are healthy. Our grandchildren are beautiful and healthy. Our businesses are picking up. The few people that want to hurt us are people who just seem to enjoy this sort of thing. We aren't perfect, but we do sincerely want to serve our community and will continue to do so.

I'm sure this entry will elicit some very spirited, nasty response. That's fine. I don't read it anyway, nor does any of the respectable people of the community that we know. No one I know wants to fight, just this few.

JA

Close friend wrote:

Corrections:
I'm sure this entry will elicit some very spirited, nasty response. That's fine. I don't read it anyway, nor does any of the respectable people of the community that we know. No one I know wants to fight, just this few.
JA

Dear Close Friend, I'm so glad you are wearing the rose colored glasses Karen gave you. Sounds like Karen was a different person before she married Howard and moved to LHH. Correction: Actually if you posted this message above you do in fact read it.