Background and Update on Rafael Pinchas' Legal Actions Against CISS, Donalda Ammons, Jerald Jordan and John Lovett

This is to provide the CISS members and supporters an update as well as some background on Rafael Pinchas’ continuing legal actions against the CISS and its current and past officers including Donalda Ammons, Jerald Jordan and John Lovett.

In 2001, Mr. Pinchas filed legal action. In response, the defendants asked the court to dismiss the legal action because Pinchas’ complaints were vague and lacked merit. The Court ruled that Pinchas’ complaint was vague, “immaterial” and had unproved accusations, full of a “mass of verbiage.” The Court stated that despite an interpretation to allow the rules to be bent in favor of the plaintiff, the complaint still failed to present a clear statement of his claims. As a result, the Court further ruled that the Plaintiff violated basic rules and procedures warranting the dismissal of his claims.

In 2002, Mr. Pinchas tried again and filed legal action claiming discrimination, rules violations, breach of contract, and breach of agreement, defamation of character and conspiracy, and signature forgery.

Pinchas admitted under oath in a September 2002 deposition that he is an unemployed individual dependent on welfare and that his sole work is to bring defendants to his own version of “justice.” He stated at the deposition that working “as a pro se (represent self) plaintiff is my full time job.”

In late 2002, Pinchas asked the court to allow him to subpoena numerous documents and correspondences from CISS, USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) and its President, Dr. Bobby Beth Scoggins. The defendants opposed this motion. After listening to both sides, the Court rejected Pinchas’ request.

Defendant counsel informed Pinchas that as a result of his disregard and respect of CISS rules and continuing legal actions against CISS and its officers, he is considered personal non grata in CISS. Defendant counsel furthermore instructed Pinchas to have no contact with CISS, its officers, representatives or employees.

Pinchas asked the court to override defendant counsel’s actions. Pinchas also asked the Court to authorize him to be a delegate to the CISS Congress in Sweden. Pinchas furthermore asked the court to allow him to have contacts with CISS officers and employees.

Court rejected Pinchas’ various request and said that the court “will not interfere with the internal affairs of a voluntary membership organization” such as CISS.

Defendant counsel asked the Court to grant defendants CISS, Ammons, Jordan and Lovett summary judgment. Summary judgment is when a court looks at all the facts and arguments and says that a trial is not necessary and closes the matter by ruling in favor of one side.

In mid-April 2003, the Court rejected all of Pinchas’ claims and granted defendants summary judgment. The Court stated that Pinchas “has offered no evidence beyond his own unsupported allegations” and that plaintiff’s descriptions of incidents were “extremely vague and indefinite.” Accordingly, Pinchas’ 2002 claims of discrimination, rules violations, breach of contract, and breach of agreement, defamation of character and conspiracy, and signature forgery were rejected.

In mid-April 2003, Pinchas tried again by filing new charges claiming defamation of character, discrimination, conspiracy, rule violations and human rights violations. As a result, legal matters between Pinchas and the defendants- Jordan and Ammons continue indefinitely.

“Regardless of the plaintiff’s actions, CISS will fully honor its obligations and commitment to serve all its members fairly and ethically while promoting the ideals behind the CISS Motto - “Per Ludos Aequalitas  - Equal Through Sports,” commented CISS Secretary General Donalda Ammons.

The Comité International des Sports Sourds (CISS) is the oldest of international sports organizations for disabled people. Founded in 1924 and given full recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the CISS is the body which controls the Deaflympics. The CISS is composed of national deaf sports organizations and is managed by an executive committee of nine persons, all of whom are deaf.