NOTE:  Morris was also a developer who had sued to Town regarding the Master Plan, and later became Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.  Lori Fickling was President of the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce and bought the paper from Morris.  Bob Weir was a contributor to the magazine and unsuccessfully ran against DeLuca for Mayor.  The Messenger was created when Lori DeLuca was elected mayor; and was sold when Lori DeLuca left office.

Dallas Morning News / February 23, 2001 / By Annette Fuller

Messenger drops suit against Voters United

          The Messenger and Voters United to Preserve Flower Mound are both claiming victory after a lawsuit between the two was recently dropped. Donna Morris, an attorney and owner of The Messenger, a direct-mail biweekly newspaper, dropped her lawsuit last month against Voters United, a political action committee that promotes managed growth in the town.

          Mrs. Morris claimed in the lawsuit, filed November 9, 1999, that members of Voters United had tried to persuade advertisers with The Messenger to stop buying ads. Mrs. Morris claimed these tactics interfered with the newspaper’s contracts and ability to solicit business.

          The members of Voters United have made no secret of their disdain for the newspaper, which they say prints one-sided and biased news stories against town officials who promote managed growth. They have said Mrs. Morris represents many developers and business people who opposed the controlled-growth philosophy of the town council and mayor.

          Members of Voters United have claimed throughout the life of the lawsuit that the U.S. Constitution permits free speech and that the group did not make an organized attempt to contact advertisers.

          “My feelings haven't changed from the very beginning,” said Vicki Fulfer, president of Voters United. “This was a frivolous lawsuit, and that is why she dropped it.”

          Mrs. Morris said the reason she dropped the lawsuit was because she couldn't prove that the Voters United members’ actions had hurt her newspaper.

          “I couldn't prove damages,” Mrs. Morris said. “We have more advertisers than ever. In the beginning, I was afraid they would shut us down, but they haven't been successful. Every week, I get better advertisers… and I got the relief I wanted, because they're not contacting my advertisers, to my knowledge.”

          Mrs. Fulfer said the publicity surrounding the lawsuit only helped make Voters United a stronger and larger group. The membership is now about 4000, up about 500 members since the lawsuit was filed, she said.

          “The main reason Donna filed this lawsuit was to intimidate us and stifle the managed growth message that we put out,” Mrs. Fulfer said. “But it (the lawsuit) only helped rally our forces, brought in new members, and made everyone aware of what kind of paper The Messenger really is.”

          Mayor Lori DeLuca, who founded the Voters United group 7 years ago, says she considers the now-dropped lawsuit as a manipulation to deplete citizens’ time, energy and finances.

          “Although these frivolous lawsuits are eventually dismissed, they cost to time and money,” Mrs. DeLuca said. “I admire Voters United for not giving in to such bullying tactics.”

          Mrs. Fulfer said the group still owes several thousand dollars to the law firm that represented the group, but that donations are still coming in to pay the legal bills.

          Mrs. Morris says she is glad the lawsuit is over and that it has never been anything personal against Mrs. DeLuca or anyone else in Voters United.

          “My kids go to school with their kids, and she (Mrs. DeLuca) is a mom just like I am,” Mrs. Morris said. “The hatchet is buried for me. I would like to shake hands and move forward. We’ll probably never be best friends, but I also don't want to fight… I just want to be a friend to the business community and get their voice out there, which Town Hall doesn't seem to want.”