Campaign Manager Kush Blasts Client!

[UBERHIPPY]

A bizarre tale – even by the twisted standard of Hudson County Politics!
Campaign Manager Kush Blasts Client!



When push comes to shove: Lipski takes on Kush Associates

By Al Sullivan

Between the lines
09/07/05

An old adage warns that family disputes are the most bitter. But gauging from the conflict between Councilman Steve Lipski and Steve Kush, the head of the firm that helped run his unsuccessful campaign for mayor last year, political feuds run a close second.

In what has been described as a vicious exchange of messages on GetNJ.com, the former allies have become hostile enough for Kush to issue a letter through his attorney telling Lipski to back off, although relatively objective observers claim the feud has escalated to the point in which both sides seem equally hostile.
. . .
This dispute appears to have two sources: a $5,100 debt to a printer Kush got saddled with, which Kush claims were Lipski's responsibility, and the failure of Lipski (according to Lipski) to recommend an associate of Kush to a city job.
. . .
Click the Link below to read the complete story.
http://www.hudsonreporter.com/site/news ... 3584&rfi=8

[UBERHIPPY]

Steve Kush's statement:

Anthony:

You may post this as is (in its entirety), so long as EVERYONE knows I
cannot discuss specifics because there is an ongoing investigation. That
said, I guess I am no longer off limits on your message board, as this will
make news in Hudson County.

As you know, two agencies were/are investigating based on the information
you sent me. They were not (or at least not yet) able to get the intended
target. Unfortunately, after looking at my computer and all my emails,
believe it or not I had a couple saved from the time we were back and forth
with Lipski and Buonocore, one of the investigating agencies discovered
several of the posts were from Lipski.

They asked if I wanted to press charges, even though there isn't much any
charges will do since they will not extradite him to come to trial so
(unless they can get him on the federal statutes, in which case I will
definitely file charges), I told them to let me think about it. I called
Lipski three times and told him, once verbally and twice in messages left on
his cell phone, that it better stop because of the investigation. He said he
did not believe there was an investigation and he was calling you, whether
he did or not I don't know. Anyway, after the posts about my friends and
family started I told him, and left a message that if the posts did not stop
immediately I was issuing him a Cease and Desist Order.

In my message I told him to call me and tell me that it was going to stop. I
waited two whole days and the activity did not stop so I sent him a Cease
and Desist Order via facsimile to his council office, his charter school and
Mayor Healy's office. Apparently, the copy sent to Mayor Healy's office is
the one that got his (and apparently the rest of Jersey City's) attention.

As to charges... I am still deciding if I am going to go with a criminal
action, which as I mentioned previously will do little good (unless they
tell me they want to go with federal charges), or a civil action which would
be in Jersey City and do much more than a criminal action.

Anthony, this man threatened my friends, cost my company money and he
threatened people I refer to as my family (the people I live with). I am
sorry it had to come to this but, I will not stand for the councilman and
his associates attacks on my friends, my family, my associates and my firm.

If he wants to attack me personally, that's fine, I'm a big boy and can
handle myself. You may recall when the child support posts started I told
you to leave it up (that's because I can and will handle myself). The
attacks on the others listed, especially my family, crosses the line, even
in Hudson County. Those attacks are unforgivable and he will get what he
deserves.

As I understand it, he never denied it to the Mayor nor did he deny his
threats to a reporter who is writing a story this week on the issue. I will
never forgive him for what he has done and I will see him in court, be it
civil, criminal or both.

For the record, it was a Cease and Desist Order, I cannot get a restraining
order because he does not live anywhere near me. That said, I will be up
there for the monument's groundbreaking and will get a temporary restraining
order at that time.

The man went so far as to say things about my son, even though he wrote
daughter. The bastard does not know what he is talking about, the support is
paid (and has been) up to date and I continue to make my $400 monthly
payments. He picked the wrong man's family to attack. He'd better hurry up
and get a defense fund started because he is going to need it.

Furthermore, I received several phone calls this morning regarding a post
that claimed I issued a threat to the Mayor. Nothing could be further from
the truth. In fact, I emailed the Mayor's Chief-of-Staff at 6:30pm yesterday
requesting he, ".extend my most sincere apology to the Mayor for sending a
cease and desist order intended for Councilman Lipski to your office."

I continued in the email, "It is with great humility that I humbly request
you pass my most sincere apology along to the Mayor, not only for sending
Councilman Lipski's order to your office but, for the headache he is about
to cause for you."

I sent the email as a professional courtesy because it is no great secret
the councilman has caused problems for the Mayor's administration. It isn't
fair that the councilman's behavior is going to cause someone a headache. As
such, I extended the Mayor's Chief-of-Staff an olive branch by offering to
keep him informed as to what actions I plan to pursue. It's up to him to
pick up the phone and accept the offer.

In closing, and this is important, this matter with Councilman Lipski is not
only about an outstanding balance. At this point that is merely a side
issue. Slander, libel and threats I cannot live with, nor will I. Frankly,
Councilman Lipski's actions toward my family, my firm, associates of my
firm, and me, are not actions I would expect from a member of council in any
city.

He was given many opportunities to correct the matter(s), he chose to ignore
his problems. As I wrote in my email to the Mayor's Chief-of-Staff, "If
history teaches us anything, it teaches us when you ignore your problems
they tend to grow. Councilman Lipski's problems have grown to a point beyond
repair."

[UBERHIPPY]

CEASE AND DESIST ORDER
August 24, 2005

Councilman Lipski:

This CEASE AND DESIST ORDER is to inform you that your and/or your associates harassing and intimidating actions against Kush and Associates, LLC and/or any associates of Kush and Associates, LLC has become unbearable. Such anti-social behavior is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in any way, shape or form. This letter is to demand that you and/or your associates continuing involvement in, planning and encouragement of, information gathering, harassment and intimidation must CEASE AND DESIST immediately. Should you and/or your associates continue to pursue these activities in violation of this CEASE AND DESIST ORDER, we will not hesitate to pursue further legal action against you and/or your associates including, but not limited to, civil action and/or criminal complaints.

You and/or your associates continued information gathering, harassment and intimidation of Kush and Associates, LLC and/or associates of Kush and Associates, LLC includes, but is not limited to, statements made by you in public locations regarding Kush and Associates, LLC and/or associates of Kush and Associates, LLC. Additionally, you and/or your associates post libelous remarks on a popular internet message board about Kush and Associates, LLC and/or associates of Kush and Associates, LLC. You and at least one of your associates is aware there is an official investigation regarding these libelous remarks and all internet protocol (IP) addresses of the previously mentioned remarks are forwarded to the investigative agencies.

Kush and Associates, LLC and/or associates of Kush and Associates, LLC have legal rights to remain free from information gathering, harassment and intimidation by you, your associates and other persons and Kush and Associates, LLC and/or associates of Kush and Associates, LLC will take the responsibility upon ourselves to protect that right. Note that a copy of this letter and a record of its delivery will be stored. Also note, that it is admissible as evidence in a court of law and will be used as such if need be in the future.

This CEASE AND DESIST ORDER demands that you immediately discontinue and do not at any point in the future under any circumstances do the following to Kush and Associates, LLC and/or associates of Kush and Associates, LLC: speak to (except in connection with making arrangements to settle your debt with Kush and Associates, LLC), contact (except in connection with making arrangements to settle your debt with Kush and Associates, LLC), pursue, harass, attack, strike, bump into, brush up against, push, tap, grab, hold, threaten, telephone (via cellular or landline), instant message, page, fax, email, follow, stalk, shadow, disturb our peace, keep us under surveillance, gather information about Kush and Associates, LLC and/or associates of Kush and Associates, LLC and/or conduct any actions that may interfere with the work of Kush and Associates, LLC, its associates and its clients.

You and/or the behavior of your associates acting on your behalf is a violation of New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice Title 2C:12-10 - Stalking, Title 2C:33-34 - Harassment. Additionally, you and/or the behavior of your associates acting on your behalf is a violation of Federal laws 18 USC Subsection 2261A Interstate Stalking, 18 USC Subsection 875(c) Interstate Communications.

Should you and/or your associates willfully choose to continue your current course of action, I will not hesitate to file a complaint with the Jersey City Police Department and the proper federal authorities for your ongoing violations of the Criminal Laws noted previously.

This letter does not constitute exhaustive statement of my position nor is it a waiver of any of my rights and/or the rights of Kush and Associates, LLC and/or associates of Kush and Associates, LLC and/or remedies in this and/or any other related matter.

We demand your immediate compliance, and furthermore that you confirm in writing that all violative activity will cease immediately.

Very truly yours,

Steven N. Kush
Sent via facsimile to Councilman Lipski at:
(201) 547-4678 Council Office
(201) 547-4288 Mayor's Office
(201) 413-1900 C.R.E.A.T.E. Charter High School

[LEGAL REVIEWER]

Anthony, the letter posted above is hardly an "order" issued by a court of law in NJ. It's simply an "in terrorem" letter, not even signed by an attorney, but probably written by one as a prelude to litigation, which is long in coming on this matter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_terrorem

In terrorem, Latin for "in [order to] frighten," is a legal term used to describe a warning, usually one given in hope of compelling someone to act without resorting to a lawsuit or criminal prosecution. For example, many intellectual property attorneys send in terrorem letters, which threaten litigation absent compliance with the written request, to persons that are violating their clients' trademark rights before resorting to court proceedings.

[GETNJ]

Anthony, the letter posted above is hardly an "order" issued by a court of law in NJ. It's simply an "in terrorem" letter, not even signed by an attorney, but probably written by one as a prelude to litigation, which is long in coming on this matter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_terrorem

In terrorem, Latin for "in [order to] frighten," is a legal term used to describe a warning, usually one given in hope of compelling someone to act without resorting to a lawsuit or criminal prosecution. For example, many intellectual property attorneys send in terrorem letters, which threaten litigation absent compliance with the written request, to persons that are violating their clients' trademark rights before resorting to court proceedings.

The text -- title and all -- is as submitted by Steve Kush.

[Guest]

So if Kush submitted a document with "LEASE TO THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE" at the top, that's good enough for Anthony!

What a loser.

Anthony, the letter posted above is hardly an "order" issued by a court of law in NJ. It's simply an "in terrorem" letter, not even signed by an attorney, but probably written by one as a prelude to litigation, which is long in coming on this matter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_terrorem

In terrorem, Latin for "in [order to] frighten," is a legal term used to describe a warning, usually one given in hope of compelling someone to act without resorting to a lawsuit or criminal prosecution. For example, many intellectual property attorneys send in terrorem letters, which threaten litigation absent compliance with the written request, to persons that are violating their clients' trademark rights before resorting to court proceedings.

The text -- title and all -- is as submitted by Steve Kush.