SANDLER v. CALCAGNI et al

Filing 36

SANDLER v. CALCAGNI et al

Doc. 36

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MAINE SHANA SANDLER, Plaintiff v. MIA CALCAGNI, RALPH CALCAGNI, MAUREEN CALCAGNI, PETER MARS, and BOOKSURGE, LLC, Defendants ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Case No. 07-CV-00029-DBH

RESPONSIVE PLEADING TO AMENDED COMPLAINT OF DEFENDANTS MIA CALCAGNI, RALPH CALCAGNI, AND MAUREEN CALCAGNI The Calcagni Defendants respond to Plaintiff's complaint as follows: AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES 1. Each count of Plaintiff's complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. 2. Plaintiff may have failed to mitigate her damages. 3. Any statement made by any of the Calcagni Defendants was true. 4. Any statement made by any of the Calcagni Defendants was privileged. 5. Any statement made by any of the Calcagni Defendants was an opinion. 6. Any statement made by any of the Calcagni Defendants was a fair comment on a matter of public interest. 7. Plaintiff's complaint against the Calcagni Defendants is barred by provisions of the constitutions of the United States of the State of Maine. 8. Plaintiff was comparatively negligent.

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9. Plaintiff's claims against the Calcagni Defendants are barred by conduct constituting waiver, laches, estoppel, or other act or failure to act on her part that is legally preclusive of the relief she seeks. 10. Plaintiff's claims against the Calcagni Defendants are barred by applicable statutes of limitations. 11. Plaintiff's claims against the Calcagni Defendants were caused by the intervening and/or supervening conduct of persons or entities other than the Calcagni Defendants. WHEREFORE, the Calcagni Defendants request entry of judgment on their behalf, with an award of costs. ANSWER 1. The Calcagni Defendants admit the allegations in Paragraph 1 of Plaintiff's complaint. 2. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 2 of Plaintiff's complaint. 3. The Calcagni Defendants admit the allegations in Paragraph 3 of Plaintiff's complaint. 4. The Calcagni Defendants admit the allegations in Paragraph 4 of Plaintiff's complaint. 5. The Calcagni Defendants admit the allegations in Paragraph 5 of Plaintiff's complaint. 6. Paragraph 6 of Plaintiff's complaint states a legal conclusion to which no response is required from the Calcagni Defendants. To the extent a response is required, the Calcagni Defendants do not challenge jurisdiction. 7. Paragraph 7 of Plaintiff's complaint states a legal conclusion to which no response is required from the Calcagni Defendants. To the extent a response is required, the Calcagni Defendants do not challenge venue. 8. Paragraph 8 states an intention to which no response is required by the Calcagni Defendants. 9. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 9 of Plaintiff's complaint.

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10. The Calcagni Defendants admit Mia Calcagni was convicted of a juvenile offense arising out of vandalism to street signs. The Calcagni Defendants otherwise deny every allegation in Paragraph 10 of Plaintiff's complaint. 11. The Calcagni Defendants acknowledge that the Attorney General of the State of Maine brought an action on behalf of the State of Maine that resulted in a Consent Decree. The Calcagni Defendants deny any further or inconsistent allegation in Paragraph 11 of Plaintiff's complaint. 12. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 12 of Plaintiff's complaint. 13. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 13 of Plaintiff's complaint. 14. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 14 of Plaintiff's complaint. COUNT I Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress ­ Defendant Mia Calcagni 15. The Calcagni Defendants repeat their responses to Paragraphs 1 through 14 above. 16. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 16 of Plaintiff's complaint. 17. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 17 of Plaintiff's complaint. 18. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 18 of Plaintiff's complaint. WHEREFORE, the Calcagni Defendants request entry of judgment on their behalf, with an award of costs. COUNT II Libel ­ All Defendants 19. The Calcagni Defendants repeat their responses to Paragraphs 1 through 18 above. 20. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 20 of Plaintiff's complaint.

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21. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 21 of Plaintiff's complaint. 22. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 22 of Plaintiff's complaint. 23. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 23 of Plaintiff's complaint. WHEREFORE, the Calcagni Defendants request entry of judgment on their behalf, with an award of costs. COUNT III Libel Per Se ­ All Defendants 24. The Calcagni Defendants repeat their responses to Paragraphs 1 through 23 above. 25. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 25 of Plaintiff's complaint. WHEREFORE, the Calcagni Defendants request entry of judgment on their behalf, with an award of costs. COUNT IV False Light ­ All Defendants 26. The Calcagni Defendants repeat their responses to Paragraphs 1 through 25 above. 27. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 27 of Plaintiff's complaint. 28. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 28 of Plaintiff's complaint. 29. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 29 of Plaintiff's complaint. WHEREFORE, the Calcagni Defendants request entry of judgment on their behalf, with an award of costs. COUNT V Private Facts ­ All Defendants

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30. The Calcagni Defendants repeat their responses to Paragraphs 1 through 29 above. 31. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 31 of Plaintiff's complaint. 32. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 32 of Plaintiff's complaint. 33. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 33 of Plaintiff's complaint. WHEREFORE, the Calcagni Defendants request entry of judgment on their behalf, with an award of costs. COUNT VI Punitive Damages ­ All Defendants 34. The Calcagni Defendants repeat their responses to Paragraphs 1 through 33 above. 35. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 35 of Plaintiff's complaint. 36. The Calcagni Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 36 of Plaintiff's complaint. WHEREFORE, the Calcagni Defendants request entry of judgment on their behalf, with an award of costs. Dated: August 2, 2007 /s/ Bruce C. Mallonee Bruce C. Mallonee, Esq. RUDMAN & WINCHELL Attorney for Mia Calcagni, Ralph Calcagni, and Maureen Calcagni 84 Harlow Street, P.O. Box 1401 Bangor, Maine 04402-1401 Telephone: [phone] [e-mail]

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I, Bruce C. Mallonee, hereby certify that on August 2, 2007, I filed the foregoing Responsive Pleading to First Amended Complaint with the Clerk of the United States District Court using the CM/ECF system , which will send notification electronically to the registered participants as identified on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF). /s/ Bruce C. Mallonee Bruce C. Mallonee, Esq. RUDMAN & WINCHELL Attorney for Mia Calcagni, Ralph Calcagni, and Maureen Calcagni 84 Harlow Street, P.O. Box 1401 Bangor, Maine 04402-1401 Telephone: [phone] [e-mail]

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