By John Suayan – June 26, 2018
HOUSTON â The American Postal Workers Union Local 0185 is facing a defamation lawsuit from a former president, per recent Harris County District Court records.
At issue of Jeane Gardinerâs suit against the APWU 0185 and its current head, Al Davison, is a 2017 letter allegedly stating that the union âwas placed under a trusteeship due to the plaintiffâs mishandling of its fundsâ during her term.
More than 2,000 postal employees in the Houston area received the letter, according to court documents filed on June 22 in the Harris County 129th District Court.
Gardiner labeled the letter defamatory âbecause it ambiguously impeached (her) honesty, integrity, virtue, or reputation,â adding she countered with a cease and desist letter.
The APWU 0185 acknowledged that the letter was published and attempted to retrieve and remove all published copies, but its counsel âasserted that the statement was true and alleged that the petitioner had mishandled union funds while she was president prior to January 1999,â the original petition says.
Consequently, Gardiner seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
She is represented by Reginald E. McKamie, Sr. of the Law Offices of Reginald E. McKamie, Sr. in Houston.
Harris County 129th District Court Case No. 2018-41850
Source:Â SE Texas Record
Union and NAME of Local/Branch
APWU Houston Area Local 0185
Office held, if any
Current Secretary-Treasurer
The letter was about me. I, Leslie Taylor, was elected and assumed office January 15, 2017 as the new Secretary-Treasurer for the Houston Area Local replacing an incumbent of over 12 years. I feel the letter was false and extremely political. Jeane Gantt Gardiner stood by me when the Unity Team Trustees filed charges against me and it seemed like anybody who stood by me and supported me, they were going to be attacked by a certain group and the leadership of Houston APWU. I prevailed. Mind you, we have not had an External Audit in at least 12 years, to my knowledge. So, for protection for all, I wanted an External audit of the financial records from the past administration. Only two months in office and was placed on an illegal suspension on March 18, 2017. Went through the whole process and I prevailed. I am still on a paid suspension. When you handle someone else’s money, you have to be accountable and transparent. No questions asked.