Gay Campground Sues Neighbors

DOUGLAS COUNTY, MISSOURI - The owners of a gay men's campground in Douglas County have sued their neighbors for alleged harassment that ranges from shooting at campers to raising hogs in order to oust the campground.
Cactus Canyon Campground owners Charles Franzke and James Thideman's suit further alleges that the harassment violates Missouri's hate crime law, which includes crimes based on sexual orientation.
"That is the whole crux of the harassment: that we are gay and that we run a successful gay business," Thideman said.
But Brian Malkmus, a Springfield attorney representing defendants Dan Fish, Rick Moon and Trish and Shannon Watterson, sees the case in another light.
"From my perspective, the case is a land dispute at its heart," Malkmus said.
The fifth defendant, Carrie Linegar Moon, is represented by Ava attorney Roger Wall.
The court filing states that the defendants shot at, threw rocks at, threatened and circulated petitions against the campground owners. It also states that they vandalized campground property, trespassed and started a hog farm on the property line "with the specific intent of creating an environmental degradation and to create hazardous runoff."
"What I want is for my clients to be able to live their life and be free of threats and to not have hog waste running down their hill," said Russ Schenewerk, a Branson attorney representing Thideman and Franzke.
The suit seeks "compensation for seven years of continual harassment," Franzke said.
But Tanis Schertzinger, another neighbor and a friend of Franzke and Thideman, said the men sought legal help as a last recourse.
"They've already tried to talk to (the defendants). That didn't seem to work. What else are you going to do but take them to court?" Schertzinger said.
from News Leader