Southland Times on the parliamentary fugitives
May 21st, 2012 at 4:00 pm by David FarrarThe Southland Times editorial:
Trevor Mallard and Andrew Little would have us see their machinations to avoid being served court papers as indicative of their sheer scorn for the allegation that they defamed ACC Minister Judith Collins.
But they’re being unwise.
Whatever the merits of the case itself, legal process itself does require respect. And it’s not getting it from this pair.
On top of which, they don’t necessarily emerge as being on the high ground, at all.
Whatever their rhetoric, and it has been loudly and jovially dismissive, the methodology of dodging legal papers requires actions that are liable to look like skulking and hiding.
It’s hardly a good look for men proclaiming they have nothing to fear.
I don’t think they realise how bad it looks to the average member of the public.
This being the case, and given that Mr Little has plans to film any attempt to serve him and post it online, unofficial Nat advisers have already been suggesting that the best thing Ms Collins could do would be to hire the most petite and unthreatening woman available to serve the papers.
I can think of a couple of Auckland Young Nats who would be perfect!
Not that the documents really need to be thrust into the hands of the person being sued.
If the courts can be persuaded that someone is trying to avoid the process – and seldom would a more easy call be made in that regard than this case – the papers can simply be taped to their front door.
And Trevor and Andrew have guaranteed a court would agree. Another own goal.
The place to win an issue like this is in court.
They should welcome the chance to produce their proof. I mean surely they would have done a retraction, if they had no proof at all?
Related posts:
- Trevor goes undercover
- Southland Times on Labour’s stop campaign
- Mallard and Little defamation suit filed in court
- Southland Times on Ministry for Children
May 21st, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Rarely has idiocy been so spontaneously and so expeditiously applied. While both appear to be legends in their own minds, would we have expected anything else from such self-made, self-inflated, self-focused, self-promoting and completely self-deserving specimens of leftist ineptitude?
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 4:08 pm
A member of parliament hiding? its a f*&%ing disgrace.
mallard has been out of touch for years but the new asshole is a brand new MP.
shearer should be kicking their ass.
this crap may play well to the far left and morons at the standard, but the west auckland man aint impressed.
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Little needs to learn that if you go on the radio trying to be tough and scare off Crusher you shouldnt sound like you are shitting your pants.
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 4:26 pm
dime: I had a good mate out for lunch yesterday…a strong labour supporter…his view is that this is a VERY bad look…and the word he hears is that the boys are shitting themselves…my guess is they assumed JC wouldn’t sue because it’s “not done”…Bad mistake…the only defence they have is truth (unless some of my brethren at the bar who know more about defamation can enlighten me)…this is definitely not a possible case of “qualified privilege” in my view..and if they run a truth defence, they are going to have to prove that someone in Collins’ office leaked the e-mail…
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Mallard is not running scared, he’s just not being cooperative.
You know, just like he was when he was outed for ticket scalping
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Just shows how accountable they are doesn’t it. To think we’re forking out thousands and all the while these buffoons shirk their obligation under law to answer charges of defamation.
What arrogance!
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 4:36 pm
Someone remind me please…did Mallard actually say SHE leaked it?? Or just “her office” ??
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 4:41 pm
I don’t think Trevor has been hiding. He’s been tweeting his schedule almost as a dare.
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Can someone remind Judith Collins that nobody from outside Wellington even gives a shit.
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 5:12 pm
@ gazzmaniac – the significant thing here is that Judith Collins gives a shit about her reputation, which is more than either Trevor Mallard or Andrew Little do; about hers or theirs.
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 6:16 pm
David, regarding your lunch, it wasn’t an imaginery friend was it? You know, the kind you confect with falsified documents?
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 6:19 pm
And we are paying these two tossers! For behaving like a couple of kids. How undignified. How shameful. Front up, have the courage of your convictions or crawl to the Minister and apologise.
Vote:Then it may dawn on everyone that people like Key and Collins place a high value on their reputations and their right to privacy.
Good for them.
But what a couple of ludicrous little cowards Little and Mallard are. Why are Labour men such softcocks?
May 21st, 2012 at 6:19 pm
Neither side is comming out of this with any glory. Collins looks like a goose for pursuing a defamation action and the other two are bigger twats for their antics. All of it very childish and frankly who really gives a toss either way.
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 6:25 pm
@Keeping stock : get a grip if Collins reputation is so fragile she can’t take crap from the opposition she has no place in parliament. She has taken a step down my estimation for the sort of tantrum like behaviour a 2 year old would give .
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 7:12 pm
> the best thing Ms Collins could do would be to hire the most petite and unthreatening woman available to serve the papers.
That wouldn’t be Judith then.
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 7:14 pm
@Mark – Judith can afford a small withdrawal on her reputation (and bank) balance. Her handling of the ACC business 9of which the defamation suit is a part) is regarded in some quarters as being masterful. As far as I am concerned judith rocks.
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 7:15 pm
> She has taken a step down my estimation for the sort of tantrum like behaviour a 2 year old would give .
Well, quite. All she has to do is explain why she forwarded Boag’s email to other people when the email was strictly confidential, why she printed out the email, who had access to it, and why she is 100% certain her office is in the clear. Such questions demand answers, not evasion.
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Collins is an ugly cow who seems to be unable to answer questions.
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 7:44 pm
That’s nice joana. Winnie seems to attract some ‘interesting’ critters, no?
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 8:14 pm
the National Party should auction the priviledge of serving papers to this pair of Liarbore twazcocks (thanks to whoever on here enlightened me to use of that word!)
Vote:I think it could be a great earner.
Its hard to know which I would prefer to serve tho, just to see their faces, the coward Mallard or the smarmy git Little.
May 21st, 2012 at 8:52 pm
@ross69- So Trevor and Andrew will be rushing her into court then so they can point out that they are correct in what they said and prove what Collins did. No, wait,……
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 9:02 pm
Little has just been served according to a tweet from Whale.
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 9:03 pm
Little has already been served according to this:
Adam Bennett @AdDeville
Vote:“There aren’t fries with that, but you’ve been served” – A process server’s wee joke when he caught up with Andrew Little this evening.
May 21st, 2012 at 10:03 pm
@ Ross69. – you seem intent on repeating the defamation over and over. Regardless of how many times you repeat it, that doesn’t give your allegation truth.
Vote:May 21st, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Ross69 is demonstrating a mallardish level of bravery. In an unmarked carp.
Vote:May 22nd, 2012 at 8:24 am
You couldn’t make this shit up
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Mallard is a deep cover right wing plant. The best money they have ever spent.
Vote:May 22nd, 2012 at 10:42 am
I hear that Chicken Little has been served – where is the video please ?
Vote: