June 20, 2000

Moan/Buchanan Reform Organization
Temporary Injuction Plea Denied

REFORM PARTY of the United States of America

MEDIA RELEASE for immediate publication September 6, 2000

Hearing on Cross-Action To Be Held Wed. 9/13 in Long Beach

In a second blow to Pat Buchanan's attempts to wrest control of the Reform Party and with it grab $12.6 million in federal campaign funds, an effort to get a temporary injunction preventing the John Hagelin faction of the party from use of the party name and resources and to keep Hagelin from campaigning as the party candidate failed today in Long Beach, CA.

At an emergency hearing this morning, CA Superior Court Judge James L. Wright ruled that Atty. Dale Cooter, the Washington, D.C. attorney representing the Buchanan faction of the Reform party led by Gerry Moan, had presented insufficient evidence to suggest that his case could prevail on its merits, and therefore no grounds for granting a temporary injunction exists.

Just last week, a similar action brought by Cooter in Federal Court in Lynchburg, VA, was thrown out by Judge Norman Moon, who stated that the case was improperly brought to his court, which lacked jurisdiction over the matter.

"This is one more win for the good guys, one more for democracy" said a jubilant Reform Party Chairman Jim Mangia. "Pat Buchanan and his cohorts have tried to bully their way in to take over this party and turn it into a right-wing money machine. Well, bullying doesn't work in the courtroom, where justice turns on the truth and the merits—not threats. God bless America!"

Yesterday, a cross-complaint was filed in Judge White's court in Long Beach by attorneys representing Mangia and other Reform Party officers, and Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates John Hagelin and Nat Goldhaber. Mangia and the other cross-plaintiffs are represented by the firms of GODWIN WHITE & GRUBER, P.C of Dallas, and WISE PEARCE YOCIS & SMITH of Long Beach.

A preliminary hearing to consider granting a temporary injunction against the Moan/Buchanan group will take place before Judge White in Long Beach next Wednesday, Sept. 13, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Mangia and the other cross-plaintiffs also seek a permanent injunction against the defendants to keep them from portraying themselves as party officers, and to prevent Buchanan and Foster from representing themselves as the party's candidates. In addition, they seek declaratory judgments against the defendants and a declaration that the convention staged by them was invalid and without legal force or effect. Finally, Mangia and the others seek damages from the defendants for wrongful use of party funds, all costs and attorneys' fees.

The entire text of the lawsuit can be viewed on the official Reform Party website at: http://reformparty.org/news/crosscomplaint.html.

###

For information: Jim Mangia, Chairman 213-216-0055
Donna Donovan, Press Secretary 860-659-9487