Campus Crest Communities (Charlotte) hires big guns to silence blogger critic?

Don't you just love it when one of North Carolina's most prestigious law firms goes to work on behalf of a Big Business CEO in order to quash the voices of Little People? It makes a person wonder what the Big Business CEO may be trying to keep under wraps.

Correspondence from Poynter Spruill below the fold.

September 23, 2011

VIA EMAIL

Chad W. Essick
Attorney at Law

D: 919.783.2896F: 919.783.1075
cessick@poynerspruill.com

Mr. Roger Shuler

RE: Mr. Ted Rollins and Campus Crest Communities

Dear Mr. Shuler: Please be advised this firm represents Mr. Ted Rollins in his capacity as the Chief Executive Officer of Campus Crest Communities. It has come to our attention that you have written articles and blog posts regarding Mr. Rollins and Campus Crest Communities that contain false and/or misleading information. It is also our understanding that you plan on writing another article in the near future and recently sent Mr.Rollins a list of questions in which you make accusations that are not true. Mr. Rollins has responded to your e-mail and informed you that your allegations are false.

To which Mr. Shuler responds:

Mr. Essick:

I am in receipt of your letter, via e-mail, dated Sept. 23, 2011. Please be advised that every article I have written about Ted Rollins and Campus Crest Communities has been thoroughly researched and is supported by public documents and/or multiple press reports. The same will hold true for every article I write about Ted Rollins and Campus Crest Communities in the future.

Your letter alleges that my articles include false or misleading information, but it provides nothing to support that charge. That's because there is nothing to support that charge. You also allude to "allegations" in my e-mails that Mr. Rollins claims are false. In fact, my e-mail contains questions, sent at Mr. Rollins request, not allegations. The questions are based on reports from multiple witnesses who were present in Jamaica at the time, and I have written documents upon which I based these questions.

One of the questions in my e-mail is based on a public document from a South Carolina court, citing information that Mr. Rollins himself provided. In essence, Mr. Rollins now is claiming that information he provided in a court of law is false. What does that say about Mr. Rollins' credibility?

I am a professional reporter and editor, with a degree in journalism and more than 30 years of experience in the field. I also am well acquainted with communications law.

Please be advised that if anyone files a groundless lawsuit against me, I will immediately respond with a countersuit for abuse of process and any other applicable torts against the party and his attorney. I also will seek sanctions and costs against the attorney under Rule 11.

Rest assured that I will protect my rights as a journalist and a citizen. I'm hopeful that the actions noted above will not be necessary.

In the meantime, I would suggest that you actually research my articles, and the public documents and press reports upon which they are based, before firing off a threatening letter that is not supported by fact or law.

Sincerely,

Roger Shuler

I have a feeling that Campus Crest Communities, Inc., and a whole boatload of shareholders are going to be very unhappy that their unfortunate Chief Executive Officer chose to pick a fight with Mr. Shuler. To my knowledge.