Seattle, Washington, September 11, 1998 - A. Stephen Anderson of Seattle was awarded the WSBA Courageous Award at its annual Awards Luncheon held today at the Seattle Space Needle. The Courageous Award is presented to a lawyer who has displayed exceptional courage in the face of adversity.

Mr. Anderson is recognized for his work on behalf of his client David Calof in Calof v. Noah and Calof v. Casebeer, Noah, et al. David Calof is a Seattle psychotherapist who is a noted author, lecturer and editor.

Chuck Noah, Francie Casebeer and others belong to or support an organization called the False Memory Syndrome Foundation (FMSF). Members of FMSF claim to have been falsely accused by their children and blame therapists for eliciting false repressed memories of sexual abuse. Although Mr. Anderson's client, David Calof, never treated any of these people or their children, he was targeted as a subject of attack because of his writings. Mr. Noah and members of FMSF repeatedly harassed Mr. Calof, his staff and his clients. Although other therapists also were being subjected to picketing, harassment, defamation and the like, Mr. Calof appeared to be the main target.

Mr. Anderson went to court numerous times to obtain and enforce protective orders to try to prevent his client's practice from being destroyed and protect client access to his services. Because of these actions on behalf of his client, Mr. Anderson came under attack by Mr. Noah and his group. These attacks, which occurred over a period of several months, included picketing of his home and office, keeping him under surveillance, disseminating disparaging literature, yelling taunts at his family, and filing a false claim of assault against him (which the City Attorney's office refused to prosecute for lack of credible evidence). The harassment of Mr. Anderson intensified to the point where it became necessary for him to go to court to obtain an anti-harassment order protecting his family and his home. Finally, in July 1997, Judge Monica Benton issued an order prohibiting harassment and further contact with Mr. Anderson or his family. After extensive litigation and trial preparation, Mr. Anderson obtained a settlement through mediation for his client; however, some of the defendants renounced the settlement, fired their lawyers, and picketed the mediator's office. On April 14, 1998, Mr. Anderson obtained from Judge Richard Eadie an order to enforce the settlement after a two-day hearing.

In his letter nominating Mr. Anderson for this award, Seattle attorney Jan Eric Peterson writes: "With a family to support and a practice to protect, he [Mr. Anderson] never wavered in his devotion to his client, despite the personal attacks on him, his practice and his family. His courage to stand by his client to the end, at all costs, in the face of being outnumbered, and at considerable personal and professional sacrifice, is inspiring as a professional example of courage and commitment to one's client."

Also honored at the Awards Luncheon were: the Benton-Franklin Legal Aid Society with the Pro Bono Award; Julian C. Dewell with the Award of Merit; Junko Charity Louise Gerard with the Courageous Award; the King County Prosecutor's Office with the Affirmative Action Award; J.J. Leary, jr. with the President's Award; Hon. J. Dean Morgan with the Outstanding Judge Award; Lewis H. Orland with the Lifetime Service Award; Jack G. Rosenow with the Board of Governors Award for Professionalism; Hon. John A. Schultheis with the Outstanding Judge Award; Joseph E. Shorin III with the Angelo Petruss Award for Lawyers in Public Service; and Scott A. Smith with the Pro Bono Award.

The Washington State Bar Association is a non-profit organization authorized by the Washington State Supreme Court to license the state’s 24,000 lawyers. The WSBA also administers the bar exam, provides continuing legal education for attorneys, and carries out disciplinary functions, in addition to numerous educational and member-service activities. The mission of the WSBA is to promote justice and serve its members and the public.

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