It is important to me to set the record straight. The McCuskers never submitted interrogatories or allowed me to publicly dispute the terrible things that they were saying about me on their fake facebook page. And terrible things they were----they stated that I committed a federal crime, they stated that I am a forger, they stated that I am known for committing crimes in other parts of the world, they stated at various times that I committed burglary and theft, they stated that I am mentally ill and was confined to an "asylum", they stated that I pay for sex, they even made derogatory comments about my personal hygiene.
All the while they knew these things to be untrue.
I had no way to mitigate the terrible damage they were doing to my reputation. Restatement of Torts 2nd recognizes four categories of slander that do not require a showing of "special harm". In other words, they are considered the most serious forms of harm to reputation from which damage may be presumed. The categories are: 1) allegations of criminal conduct or criminal conduct involving moral turpitude; 2) allegations of loathsome disease; 3) allegations that would adversely affect one's fitness for the proper conduct of business, trade, profession, or public or private office; and 4) allegations of serious sexual misconduct. The McCuskers' postings, as well as certain conversations they conducted with mutual friends, fit at least three if not all four of these categories.
Elizabeth A. McCusker created a Facebook character named "Jack Hill" specifically to defame me in these ways. Her husband Stephen R. McCusker, by his own admission under oath, thought it was funny and suggested tweaks to the "Jack Hill" character.
What kind of a person does that? Seriously, that's a question. What kind of a person specifically decides to harm another human being?
It might have been understandable----since she had made it clear that she dislikes me---- if she simply stated facts. But instead Liz McCusker created a fantasy world.
"Jack Hill" purported to be an astronaut (I know, I know) who grew up in South Portland, Maine. Horrifyingly, it turns out that Stephen McCusker helped set up this crazy fake account, according to Steve's own deposition. He stated that he was the one who came up with the "astronaut" idea. Was he hoping it would just be so strange that no one would believe it? It doesn't seem so, because of his subsequent postings.
I so much wish I could have been a fly on the wall during their conversation, because perhaps then I'd understand the train of thought. What was it like? Did Steve get home from work one day and was told, "Hi Honey, I'm going to make a fake facebook account to defame Marjorie Getz. What should I put as my career?". "How about saying you're an astronaut?". "Oh, that sounds great Honey, thanks! xoxoxo"
Astronaut Hill allegedly resides in San Francisco with his screenwriter wife. Astronaut Hill had "conversations" with Liz McCusker.....yes, Liz McCusker, as "Jack Hill", had conversations with herself regarding me. [and the imaginary screenwriter wife , according to "Jack Hill" , would bring him beers whilst he was having these conversations].
How incredibly warped is this-----Liz McCusker, sitting by herself at her computer, makes up conversations between herself and an imaginary astronaut.
It is so hard to write about-----so indicative of a person who sets out specifically to harm another. It's hard for me to write, because that is so different from my own world.
I've heard a lot on this from Steve in the last year or so. He has given me his reasons (at least his reasons in retrospection) as to why he went along with it. I am processing his reasons......once one has been through the harm that I suffered, winning back trust is a very long road.
I want to believe he has indeed turned over a new leaf....but his recent actions seem otherwise. At least if they are truly "his" actions.