Cauchon Wins! Kraner Throws in Towel on Defamation Suit
Developer William Kraner dismissed his defamation suit against local resident Dennis Cauchon on June 19, abandoning his claim that Cauchon defamed him by criticizing the developer's relationships with former Granville Township Trustee Jim Havens and former Newark Mayor Bruce Bain.
Kraner dropped the lawsuit "with prejudice," meaning it cannot be filed again.
"I consider it total vindication of myself and the First Amendment," Cauchon said. "The suit was dropped. It was not settled."
Kraner sued Cauchon for defamation on October 12, 2007. Click here to view the lawsuit. Cauchon had opposed Kraner's sale of 600 acres to Granville Township for $10 million, saying the property was "grossly overpriced" and the contract terms unfavorable to taxpayers. Click here to view Cauchon's list of 10 reasons why the Kraner purchase was a bad deal for Granville.
Cauchon also wrote that Kraner and then-Trustee Havens, who negotiated the deal for the Township, may have had a prohibited conflict-of-interest because Kraner hired Havens as his private attorney during the negotiations. Havens resigned October 11, 2007.
After voters rejected the deal in February 2007, Newark Mayor Bruce Bain agreed to provide water and sewer service to Kraner's property without requiring annexation into the City of Newark. Annexation would have transferred the land from the Granville school district to the Newark school district and lowered its value. Kraner gave Bain a $10,000 campaign contribution in May 2007 while the two were negotiating the water and sewer deal.
Cauchon reported both potential conflicts to the Ohio Ethics Commission on September 7, 2007. Bain was defeated for re-election in November 2007 and blamed the controversy over the $10,000 contribution for his defeat.
Kraner, in The Advocate article announcing his defamation suit, said: "I feel we have him dead to rights, but we'll let the courts decide."
Cauchon filed a counterclaim on December 19, 2007, accusing Kraner of "intimidation calculated to inspire fear" for contacting Cauchon's children on September 28, 2007 and asking a caretaker, "How can I beat him-"
Kraner moved to have the counterclaim dismissed. A judge upheld Cauchon's right to pursue the counterclaim on June 18. Click here to view the judge's decision on Cauchon's counterclaim. Cauchon dismissed his counterclaim with prejudice on June 19 at the same time Kraner dropped his defamation suit. Lawyers for Kraner and Cauchon filed a joint notice with the court requesting that the lawsuit and counterclaim be dismissed. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Beverly Pfeiffer approved the request. Click here to view Judge Pfeiffer's notice of dismissal.
At Kraner's request, Cauchon agreed that depositions in the case would not be transcribed without a court order.
This was the fourth defamation lawsuit Kraner has filed against local figures. On separate occaisions, he previously had sued Granville Police Chief Steve Cartnal, Newark Mayor Frank Stare and Frank Stare III (the former mayor's son). All cases were settled with the parties agreeing not to say bad things about Kraner.
"The key to my success was being properly insured," Cauchon said. Cauchon had an umbrella liability policy from State Farm that covered his legal fees. The policy was an add-on to his homeowners insurance policy.
"The lawsuit didn't cost me a dime. If I hadn't been insured, he could have driven me into bankruptcy, regardless of how strong my case was," Cauchon said.
Cauchon said his State Farm's claim representative was supportive throughout and even sat in on Kraner's deposition June 17. State Farm hired Columbus attorney Andrew Kielkopf, who Cauchon said Kielkopf did an outstanding job handling the case.
Cauchon said he was deeply appreciative for the many people in Granville who offered support and assistance after Kraner filed the lawsuit.
"I think the lesson here is that you can stand up for what you believe in. I didn't retract a word," Cauchon said. "But it sure helps to have the right insurance."
Decaf please
Can we get some decaf in here for Buckeye Dad and Granville Guy?
Kraner
Right on Granville Guy. The whole story is certainly not being told on this site. Remember the old saying... "it ain't over til the fat lady sings" and knowing Kraner, she ain't even warmin' up. "Cauchon wins"? Ba ha ha ha ha ha
The whole story....?
Ok, so what's the whole story? Kraner changed his mind at every 'final" meeting with the Board and now that his accusations about Cauchon have been settled there's STILL a 'rest of the story". If you guys and Kraner still think he's being misunderstood or picked on then just release the transcripts.I'm sure all you have to do is ask Dennis and he'd be glad to do so.
Just where is the whole story being told if not here?
You all have access to the same data Dennis has...check this out for yourself. If something is not correct then let us know.
Cauchon is a JOKE
There's another old saying that comes to mind and it has to do with getting in a pi--in' match. Cauchon better bring a raincoat.
Granville Guy
I guess Dennis was right
From the sounds of what you have been saying, it looks like Dennis was right on target with his accusations of intimidation by Kraner.
Ask Kraner to okay publishing of the transcript
Since you apparently know Kraner, why don't you ask him to okay publishing a transcript of the deposition(s)?
That would probably pretty well fill out the "whole story."
And while you're at it, ask him which Granville School Board member asked him for a loan.
Thanks.
The depositions would be a great way to end speculation
Why hide them?
And yes, why won't Kraner reveal which school board member asked him for a loan? (This assumes that a board member actually asked for a loan.)
Thanks again Dennis for saving us from the Kraner deal
I reread Dennis' 10 reasons to vote against the Kraner deal. I had forgotten how thorough Dennis' evaluation of the Kraner deal was.
Thanks again Dennis for saving us from that boondoggle.
Kraner and Cauchon
You are all a bunch of fools if you believe for one minute that a little carpet-bagging rat like Cauchon could ever get the best of Bill Kraner. Why doesn't this rag of yours have a quote from Kraner or cover his side at all. Did you even call him before you published your laughable fairy tale?
Those of us who have been around Granville for any amount of time know a couple of things about Kraner for sure. First, he never gives up on anything he wants and almost always gets exactly what he wants. Second, he is not the villain that some hacks like Cauchon want to make him. Bill Kraner has given more to this community over the years than any other single person. It is disgusting to see him maligned by someone like Cauchon who knows nothing about the history of our community and Kraner's generosity over the years.
Your pathetic smear won't work. Even the Newark Advocate (by whom Cauchon is employed) verifies that the nonsense on your site is pure folly.
Granville Guy
Ad hominem attacks aren't helpful
"a little carpet-bagging rat like Cauchon"
If you've got a problem with Dennis' actions and believe he is a "little carpet-bagging rat" why not detail his misdeeds for all to see? This would be much more convincing than an anonymous name calling post.
Name calling and ad hominem attacks are frequently used when one doesn't have a sound argument to make their case. I don't care if you are talking about Habig, Cauchon, Bush or Obama. It is unhelpful.
"Even the Newark Advocate
"Even the Newark Advocate (by whom Cauchon is employed) verifies that the nonsense on your site is pure folly."
A reporter you're not. He doesn't work for the Advocate.
It's okay, please, tell us how you really feel
It's okay, please, tell us how you really feel.
Agreed.
Maybe Fox News is looking for another objective and unemotional reporter? Factcheck needed on some of the info, however.
Havens, Kraner, Bain, and the old school board
Thank goodness we have proceeded past that era. What a disaster they wrought. What with a check for $10,000 to a city official when negotiating a water and sewer deal and a township trustee/attorney representing Kraner while negotiating with him for the township on a $12,000,000 purchase, it is not hard to understand why Kraner might want to secure Dennis' commitment to not have the transcript transcribed.
What remains startling is that it never clicked for the old school board. They never realized that getting into bed with that group would be very dangerous.
By the way, whatever happened with Kraner's accusation that a member of the old school board asked him for a loan? Did anyone ever investigate that one?
Kraner's claim regarding loan request never verified
I looked into it, but frankly got the runaround. I've heard rumors about who allegedly asked for the loan, but don't have proof. I will not pass along the name because I can't verify its accuracy. This issue will likely remain unresolved.
Bill Kraner finally met his match - Thanks Dennis
"At Kraner's request, Cauchon agreed that depositions in the case would not be transcribed without a court order." -- hummm, now I just wonder what was in there. Was it something about Bain, Havens, or both?
The check is wonderful. $10,000 is a lot of money for that sort of local race.
Looks like Bill Kraner finally met his match. It is about time that bully fell.
Doesn't seem good at all that Havens was representing Kraner as an attorney at the same time Kraner was negotiating with the township trustees. That could pose problems both from an Ohio Ethics Law perspective as well as Code of Professional Responsibility problems as an attorney. It also makes one wonder why the other trustees did not put a stop to it.
I'm glad the Kraner/Cauchon lawsuits have been resolved
Regardless of your feelings regarding the Kraner deal, Kraner's frequent lawsuits seem like a bullying tactic designed to keep people from speaking out against him. Tactics like this are despicable and should be vigorously opposed. If people can squash dissent because they can afford to file frivolous lawsuits, our society is damaged.
"At Kraner's request, Cauchon agreed that depositions in the case would not be transcribed without a court order." This is a shame. I would have loved to read those transcripts.
In any event, I'm glad that Kraner didn't get any money and that Dennis has put this behind him.
good news!
This is fantastic news. Kraner is a bully with a big checkbook,plain and simple. Too bad he took Bain and now possibly Jim down with him.
This guy is in his own world and now he has to face the fact that not everyone is scared of him....it must be very upsetting to such a narcissistic and probably borderline personality. The final insult would have been a $10 million settlement payable to Dennis. Maybe the controversial property he's developing will turn into a sinkhole when they break ground!
Don't you love that check?
$10,000 to Bain and we're supposed to believe that didn't influence the Mayor to give sewer and water to Kraner?
It was sewer and water to Kraner without annexation as required by a decades old Newark policy. Maybe the Mayor just forgot about the policy and the money had nothing to do with it.
I love that check!
If only the School Board had listened to him
Congratulations to Cauchon!
But, isn't it too bad the old school board didn't listen to him when they too could have beaten Kraner?
Anyway, I'm glad he won and knew all along that Kraner was just blowing smoke - that's all he ever does. Just sorry Dennis had to go through all this but glad he was willing to do it for the rest of us.
Congratulations
You da man, Cauchon. You da man.
Towel
The Granville Press claims to run stories that are "factual"
and "without bias" then it publishes crap like this. What a title for an unbiased report?!
National Enquirer anyone?
Actually, it is quite accurate
But, if Kraner disagrees, then at any time he can ask that the transcript be produced and distributed.
That's all it would take.
No way...
he'll never ask that the info be released .It's easier for him to be 'quoted" in The Advocate that he kicked Cauchon's ass. Like all bullies he'll never ok the one item that would verify what happened: release of the transcript.
Everyone: Let this guy go. He will turn on ANYONE if it suits his purposes. Bain is history....He has let Havens out to dry....who knows which Granville School Board members he has on the line...