Legal Defense Fundraisers Set Up For Women Being Sued By Bernards BOE Member

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Erica Blackman and Stacy Lettie have each launched fundraisers to cover their legal defense bills after Bernards Board of Education member Kirsten Light filed a lawsuit against them claiming "defamation," "libel," and "slander."

Both women are township residents and Blackman also recently ran for a seat on the school board but lost this past November.

The lawsuit filed in Somerset County Superior Court claims Blackman wrote a Letter to the Editor on Oct. 21 characterizing "Light as, among other things, anti-Semitic and claimed she failed to 'do[] her research' concerning curriculum mandates relating to the Holocaust." Read More: Bernards BOE Member Claims 'Defamation, Libel, Slander' In Lawsuit

The lawsuit also alleges that the letter was shared by Lettie on social media.

Blackman launched her GoFundMe with the description:

"Erica wrote a letter to the editor as a concerned citizen. The subject of that letter is now suing Erica for defamation and conspiracy when there was no defamation. Erica needs help to defend herself and stand up for her beliefs."

As of Wednesday, Blackman has raised close to $12,000 of her $20,000 goal.

Lettie also launched a GoFundMe stating she has been "an outspoken advocate for our children to the BOE for over 10 years."

Lettie addressed the letter in the fundraising page's description:

"I was sent the letter by another resident concerned about its content and reposted the letter on the Parents for Change Facebook page, which I moderated. The Board Member filed a defamation suit against me last week, which we will be forced to defend although I believe it is baseless.

I believe that this lawsuit is an attempt to silence me and anyone else who criticizes her actions and I believe it is an attack on free speech which may continue and the rest of the community will be afraid to speak out on issues that are critical to our children’s education."

As of Wednesday, Lettie has raised just over $5,000 of her $25,000 goal.

Both Blackman and Lettie are being represented by William J. Hughes, Jr. of the small general practice firm - Porzio, Bromberg & Newman.

A request for comment from Hughes was not immediately returned.

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