For the record, I have never before written a letter to the editor of any newspaper. Selecting a title is tough, too. Like most of you, I typically voice my opinions to friends and relatives in what I assume are private conversations.

I don't take any pleasure in writing this letter because Jim Webb is a neighbor of mine. This is very difficult for me but his recent actions against my family are a gross invasion of privacy. They're just plain wrong. He left me with the choice of remaining silent or speaking out against these kinds of tactics. You can see what I decided to do.

Jim Webb had a process server come to my home in the middle of the afternoon on Friday, March 3. The purpose was to notify my husband by subpoena that he was being deposed as part of the Webb, Stuckey and Lindsey libel suit against Steve Brown, Cal Beverly and The Citizen.

It's no secret that I “telecommute” and am in my home office during business hours. Knowing that my husband's office is in Fayetteville, I can only conclude that Jim wanted me to be the one who greeted the process server at my front door. If he was hoping I'd be intimidated, he was sadly mistaken.

Want to know why my family got dragged into this? What's the connection? This lawsuit involves some of us who are friends with Steve Brown. Yes, we know Steve and his family. His daughter and our daughter have been in preschool together for about a year. I guess there must be something sinister going on between naptime and finger painting.

Have we talked with Steve about city personnel and city business? Absolutely, and we will continue to do so. Thank goodness for people like Steve Brown who dare to publicly voice their opinions because of great concern about the future of this town.

Do you want to know what Jim wants from my husband? Copies of his hard drives, e-mail, and all documents related to a variety of people and topics, many of which have nothing to do with Steve Brown. On April 25, my husband will be questioned about personal conversations he's had with lots of people, possibly including me and maybe even you.

These are people who could never have imagined that their personal comments and opinions will now be documented as part of a legal proceeding. Nothing good will come from all of this, I can promise you. So what is this really about anyway?

Could this be payback for my husband putting in a bid for the Peachtree City solicitor's position? A job for which he is highly qualified and a position that even the Peachtree City Manager recommended him for? Is this an attempt to silence citizens who oppose annexation or any other controversial topic being proposed to our City Council — even those of us who don't write “letters to the editor”?

Why does Jim Webb want all of my husband's e-mail and correspondence about [Fayette Superior Court] Judge Johnny Caldwell? Is he using this as an opportunity to suppress my husband's outspoken opinions of Judge Caldwell, opinions he would gladly have told Jim to his face had he asked?

As you can see, I'm searching for some logic to this burdensome and invasive request since it obviously goes far beyond Steve Brown.

If your family wants to avoid being subjected to lawsuits like this, take my advice:

* Be careful who you compete against for local business opportunities.

* Don't be friendly with anyone who has critical opinions about city personnel or city business.

* Censor what you say or e-mail in private conversations.

* Do a background check on your children's playmates.

Can you say, “Big Brother”? No, it's just another day in Peachtree City, unless we stand up for what's right.

Lee Mrosek
Peachtree City

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