Correspondence Between My Friend, The Late Gordon T. "Gordy" Pratt, and Chicago Tribune Reporter Lisa Black and Editor Peter Hernon (Sept/Oct 2009)
Correspondence Between My Friend, The Late Gordon T. "Gordy" Pratt, and Chicago Tribune Reporter Lisa Black and Editor Peter Hernon (Sept/Oct 2009)
7 messages
Lisa Black
The Chicago Tribune
I was informed that you're reporting an article about the Save A Life
Foundation and about my ex-wife, Carol Spizzirri, and that you are
interested in reviewing documents about the recent legal action taken
against me by Ms. Spizzirri in Lake County Circuit Court.
Here are the court documents along with a September 11 letter from my
attorney, Richard S. Kopsick of Waukegan, that summarizes the outcome
of the case. Please feel free to contact him if you wish:
http://jumbofiles.com/tv2ctj5ha1y4
The hearing opened with Richard asking Spizzirri if she had filed a
lawsuit against Peter Heimlich, Dr. Robert Baratz, and a blogger. She
replied, "Yes, but that case has already been settled." Richard
replied, "That is not true. You did not settle the case. You dropped
the case. There's a big difference between settling a case and
dropping a case altogether."
Richard then asked Spizzirri if she was aware of the four Chuck Goudie
reports about her and the Save A Life Foundation that aired on ABC7
Chicago. Spizzirri replied she knew of only one report by Chuck Goudie
and that she had never seen or known about the other three. Then
Richard pulled out a DVD containing the four reports and asked
Spizzirri if she would like him to play it in court. Spizzirri said
no, she didn't want him to play it.
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Gmail - Save A Life Foundation, Carol Spizzirri http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=e1a2b66204&view=pt&search=s...
wasn't this cyber stalker who broke into your home?" (One of the
charges in the complaint is that I allegedly broke into her home and
stole her computer.) Spizzirri replied, "I don't know." Then Richard
asked, "Then isn't it also possible that it was the cyber stalker who
made the hundreds of phone calls you claimed to have received?"
(Another charge in the complaint.) Spizzirri said, "I don't know."
Then Richard asked her, "Didn't you claim to be a Registered Nurse and
to have a Bachelor of Science degree?" Spizzirri then denied she had
ever made either claim. Then Richard presented her with these pages
from an April 13, 2004 grant application from the Save A Life
Foundation to the US Centers for Disease Control for $1,005,000,
signed by Spizzirri: http://jumbofiles.com/l5fetgq6ml6e
Richard pointed out that next to her name and signature were the typed
initials "RN" and "BS". Spizzirri then denied she had written those on
the funding application. She said that one of her employees must have
written them or that the CDC had written it in. At that point I saw
Judge Waldeck roll his eyes.
Spizzirri then said, "My ex-husband admitted that he has been writing
letters to newspapers and public officials since 1993, trying to make
me look like a bad person." Judge Waldeck said to her, "Your
ex-husband has the right to write letters. That is covered by the
First Amendment of the Constitution that guarantees us all freedom of
speech and it has nothing to do with this case." Then the judge
dismissed the case saying that the evidence she presented did not meet
the standard to issue a restraining order. The entire hearing lasted
about 20 minutes. I never said a word.
On the way out of the courtroom, Richard and I passed Rita Mullins. (I
recognized her from news photos.) She was sitting in the back of the
courtroom next to the exit door. When Richard passed her, Mullins said
to him in full voice, "Asshole."
You may already know that Carol Spizzirri has a long history of filing
specious legal actions against me and others. This was the fifth legal
action of this kind she has filed against me over the last three
decades. She lost four of the cases and won one case by default
because I was late getting to court.
I have heart trouble and I don't intend to be put through any more of
her abuse so I've prepared the following sworn affidavits in the hope
that she will discontinue this conduct against me and others.
2 of 7 10/19/2009 9:45 AM
Gmail - Save A Life Foundation, Carol Spizzirri http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=e1a2b66204&view=pt&search=s...
As you probably know, five months later Chrissy died in the car
accident. A year after that, Carol Spizzirri twisted the facts of her
death and used those lies to start and promote the Save A Life
Foundation. If the Tribune is interested in reporting those facts,
feel free to contact me anytime.
Thank you for taking the time to review this information. If you have
any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Gordon T. Pratt
Milwaukee, WI
(707)667-1746
Ms. Black:
Gordon T. Pratt
Milwaukee, WI
(707)667-1746
Lisa Black
--------------------------
Lisa Black
Chicago Tribune
[Quoted text hidden]
3 of 7 10/19/2009 9:45 AM
Gmail - Save A Life Foundation, Carol Spizzirri http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=e1a2b66204&view=pt&search=s...
Lisa Black
Chicago Tribune
Re: your October 11, 2009 article, Save-A-Life Foundation in Limbo, I would appreciate your answers to the
following questions.
Per your story's headline, you reported that the Save-A-Life Foundation (SALF) is "in hibernation until the economy
improves" and has "suspend(ed) operations," information you attributed to SALF founder/president Carol Spizzirri.
However, according to the IL Secretary of State's Department of Business Services, the Save-A-Life Foundation
filed for voluntary dissolution on September 17, 2009, thereby ceasing operations in your state. The Secretary of
State's website freely provides that information. Here's a screenshot: http://jumbofiles.com/onxwsttgxp9v Here's a
copy of the Articles of Dissolution, signed and dated by Spizzirri on August 21, 2009: http://jumbofiles.com/
rppazbl2v2g9
1) When you wrote your article, were you aware that the corporation had been dissolved?
A University of Chicago doctor later examined the medical records from the 1992 crash near Waukegan.
Despite a county coroner's report to the contrary, he said Christina Spizzirri might not have died had she
received basic first aid for control of hemorrhage.
2) What's the doctor's name? On what date did you interview her/him to obtain or confirm the information you
reported? Approximately when and in what capacity did this doctor examine the medical records of my late daughter
Christina Pratt (whose last name you reported incorrectly)?
Thank you for your attention to my inquiry and I would appreciate receiving your answers in the next few days. If you
require more time, please advise.
Sincerely,
Gordon T. Pratt
PO Box 18121
Milwaukee, WI 53218
Ph/FAX: (707)667-1746
e-mail: [email protected]
cc:
4 of 7 10/19/2009 9:45 AM
Gmail - Save A Life Foundation, Carol Spizzirri http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=e1a2b66204&view=pt&search=s...
If your ex-wife wants to describe the foundation as in hibernation, that is her right. Yes, I know about the
dissolution, but that doesn’t stop her from applying to restart the organization again, if that is what she
chooses to do. I think you already have the answer to your second question, but yes, I have written and
oral verification of Dr. Lance Becker’s conclusions. You can look that up yourself.
We are going to publish a correction concerning your daughter’s legal name. I am sorry, it appears that she
also used the name Spizzirri for other purposes, but if it is important to you, I have no problem clarifying
her name.
If you have any further problems, I suggest that you talk to my editor, Peter Hernon. He is aware of your
concerns.
Lisa Black
Chicago Tribune
Lisa Black
Chicago Tribune
Thank you for your prompt reply to my previous e-mail. You wrote:
>I think you already have the answer to your second question, but yes, I have written and oral >verification of Dr.
Lance Becker’s conclusions. You can look that up yourself.
I've never read anything by Dr. Becker, have never communicated with him, and you have never discussed this or
any other matter with me, therefore it's unclear how you arrived at your conclusion. Also I have no idea what
documents or report by Dr. Becker you're referring to. Since you reported the information, I presume it's on the
record, so would you please send me copies? If not, what types of documents are they, what are the dates of the
documents, and where may I look them up as you suggested?
Also, you failed to answer my questions. Would you please check your notes and advise on what date you contacted
Dr. Becker to verify the information you reported and in what capacity did he examine my daughter's medical
records?
5 of 7 10/19/2009 9:45 AM
Gmail - Save A Life Foundation, Carol Spizzirri http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=e1a2b66204&view=pt&search=s...
>it appears that (your daughter) also used the name Spizzirri for other purposes
I am unaware of my late daughter ever using the name "Christina Spizzirri." For example, in the May 4, 1992
restraining order she filed against her mother* (to which you alluded in your article, albeit obliquely), she identified
herself as Christina J. Pratt. Therefore, please explain how you arrived at your conclusion.
Thank you again for your prompt response and I look forward to receiving your answers to the above questions.
Sincerely,
Gordon T. Pratt
PO Box 18121
Milwaukee, WI 53218
Ph/FAX: (707)667-1746
e-mail: [email protected]
* http://jumbofiles.com/f60bz9vgra6h
cc:
Mr. Pratt,
My editors have instructed me to move on to other assignments. I am finished answering your questions.
Thank you.
Lisa Black
Chicago Tribune
6 of 7 10/19/2009 9:45 AM
Gmail - reader questions re: Lisa Black's Save-A-Life Foundation article http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=e1a2b66204&view=pt&search=s...
Peter Hernon
Chicago Tribune
I copied you on my recent e-mail exchange with reporter Lisa Black in which I attempted to verify information she
reported in an October 11, 2009 Tribune article about the Save-A-Life Foundation. My questions concerned a
medical report about the death of my daughter Christina Pratt that Ms. Black referenced in her article:
A University of Chicago doctor later examined the medical records from the 1992 crash near Waukegan.
Despite a county coroner's report to the contrary, he said Christina Spizzirri (sic) might not have died had
she received basic first aid for control of hemorrhage.
What's the doctor's name? On what date did you interview her/him to obtain or confirm the information you
reported? Approximately when and in what capacity did this doctor examine the medical records of my late
daughter Christina Pratt (whose last name you reported incorrectly)?
LB: I think you already have the answer to your second question, but yes, I have written and oral verification
of Dr. Lance Becker’s conclusions. You can look that up yourself.
GP: I've never read anything by Dr. Becker, have never communicated with him, and you have never
discussed this or any other matter with me, therefore it's unclear how you arrived at your conclusion. Also I
have no idea what documents or report by Dr. Becker you're referring to. Since you reported the
information, I presume it's on the record, so would you please send me copies? If not, what types of
documents are they, what are the dates of the documents, and where may I look them up as you
suggested?
My editors have instructed me to move on to other assignments. I am finished answering your questions.
Thank you.
Ms. Black informed me that you're her supervising editor so I'd appreciate your help regarding this report about my
daughter.
Would you please send me a copy of Dr. Becker's report? Also, would you please inform me in what capacity Dr.
Becker examined my daughter's medical records (as Ms. Black reported). Specifically, who hired him and for what
purpose? Finally, on what date did Ms. Black contact Dr. Becker to verify the information she reported?
Thank you for your attention to my inquiry and I would appreciate receiving your answers in the next few days. If you
require more time, please advise.
1 of 7 10/19/2009 9:52 AM