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11/16/2022 9:54:56 PM
 
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Section 5: OPA Board Subject: Board Response to Tiffany Knupp Msg# 1177505
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Former OPA board member Josette Wheatley has apparently been outspoken on Facebook about the board on this issue.
A source has provided OceanPinesForum.com a copy of the following letter said to be sent to Wheatley by OPA’s attorney on November 16: ••••••• CEASE AND DESIST NOTICE
Re: Defamatory Comments Posted On Facebook
Dear Ms. Wheatley:
As you know, this office represents Ocean Pines Association, Inc. (“Ocean Pines”). With disillusionment, the Association finds it necessary to send this notice to you, a former Ocean Pines director. As a former director, you know the accuracy and inaccuracy of your statements about Ocean Pines,and the potential harm that false statements can cause to the reputation of Ocean Pines and its many employees.
Ocean Pines is a well-respected business in the community and has spent decades building its positive reputation. Ocean Pines employees over 100 persons and works with dozens of contractors to provide services for Ocean Pines’ members.
The Association acknowledges that members may feel passionate about certain issues and may criticize Association decisions. The directors, as you know, also regrettably understand that by volunteering to serve on the Board they may need to endure vile personal insults. There is a point, however,when critical comments cross the line to defamatory statements. Recent comments that you wrote and posted online crossed this threshold, and will not be tolerated.
In Maryland, a false and defamatory communication is one which is false, and the maker knows is false, yet was made with reckless disregard of the truth. Defamation can also be a communication which, on its face, is defamatory, e.g. a statement that one is a thief.
The defamatory comments you made include two November 9, 2022 posts on Facebook, in which you call the Ocean Pines an “organized crime machine” and refer to Ocean Pines directors as felons, writing “felons are felons folks.”
As a former director, you know the falsity of these statements and yet you made them with reckless disregard of the truth. To the extent you, as a former director, believe that the Ocean Pines is an organized criminal machine, or that the directors are felons, your statements are on their face false and defamatory.
You must immediately cease and desist from making all such comments aimed at defaming Ocean Pines. If you fail to immediately cease and desist, Ocean Pines may pursue all appropriate legal remedies against you.
I suggest you contact me to discussion your intentions.
Yours,
Jeremy M. Tucker |
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For reference, the above message is a reply to a message where: For Immediate Release from OPA Nov. 16, 2022 OPA Board statement in response to recent social media post The following is a statement from the Ocean Pines Board of Directors: “This press release is being issued in response to a social media post by Mrs. Tiffany Knupp. At a meeting held on Monday afternoon with Mrs. Knupp and OPA Directors Colette Horn and Doug Parks, a discussion was had regarding the request for renaming the skate park. Mrs. Knupp held true to her desire for it to be renamed, but added that she had heard the Board was not in full agreement to support the request at this time. Directors Horn and Parks presented the idea of an annual award in Gavin Knupp’s name that would be presented each year at the annual meeting in the same manner as the annual Sam Wilkerson award. The Directors promoted the idea of a partnership with the foundation she and her team created, and that the foundation would drive the selection criteria and details for the award. Mrs. Knupp agreed that it was a good idea and supported the notion that as an annual award her son’s name and legacy would be preserved over time. At the conclusion of the meeting, she agreed that a motion for the annual award be put on the agenda for the upcoming board meeting, then hugged Director Horn and shook hands with Director Parks as she left. We felt that an agreement by all parties had been made at that point. “The concern is the content of the social media comments posted by Mrs. Knupp. Given the discussion at the aforementioned meeting, the Board is both surprised and dismayed with the comments she made. First and foremost, the business relationship that the Association has with the Matt Ortt company has nothing to do with a decision to rename the skate park. The Board takes exception with the patently false and defamatory statement that ‘…We pay our dues and elect official to represent us, not to represent their friends that take them on expensive trips, pay their food and alcohol bill and use that to sway votes…’ Nothing could be further from the truth, as the Matt Ortt company does not oppose the renaming of the skatepark and has informed Ocean Pines on more than one occasion. “The bulk of the remaining comments are opinion and while we may disagree with them, we recognize and respect these statements being made. With regard to the vile and disingenuous statement in the post ‘Please kindly take the meaningless award and shove it up your asses,’ the Board concludes that Mrs. Knupp is not interested in the award concept that she agreed to at the meeting on Monday. However, should she reconsider the issue at some point in the future, the Board is open to reconsider the idea of an annual award in her son’s name.” |
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