Why does Joe Taylor need help?
In May 2002, Joe Taylor was the field paleontologist for a dinosaur dig in Colorado in exchange for partial ownership of the bones excavated. After the dig, there arose a dispute over the ownership of the bones. Joe Taylor agreed to attend a three day mediation with the other parties involved. The first day of mediation was a very long and emotional day in which the other party gave their account of the events. Joe Taylor was unable to bring any witnesses or to present any evidence (written, photographic or videographic) during the mediation which supported his claims. After breaking to discuss the matter with their respective attorneys, Joe Taylor was offered a “take it or leave it deal” in the very early hours of the morning. Feeling pressured to repay those whom he owed money due to expenses related to the dispute, Joe Taylor accepted a deal which included a non-disparagement clause with regards to the parties involved and also agreed not to criticize the film Raising the Allosaur.
Still frustrated with the events that had transpired, Joe Taylor wrote letters of warning to those close to the other party and spoke publicly via the internet regarding the matter. Joe Taylor was then called to attend arbitration for violation of the disparagement clause of the mediation. The arbitrator chose to ignore the definition of disparagement as found in any standard or law dictionary which states disparagement must be false statements and chose instead to create his own definition, which is any negative statement regardless of the validity of the statement.
Joe Taylor was fined $5,000.00 for each violation as determined by the arbitrator, not only about the other party to the mediation, but also about a third party who chose never to sign the settlement agreement. This sum, including the other party’s attorneys fees, totaled $129,399.64 which must be paid to the other party who signed the mediation.
Joe Taylor has had to give up his career as one of the world’s only creationist field paleontologist due to a lack of funding caused by these legal dealings and subsequent fine. Creationists the world over have suffered a great loss.