Damon Gibson
Corpus Christi,#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Sun, December 21, 2008
A failed "writer" in Corpus Christi, Texas, Ms. Chelle, an employee of the Padre Island Charter School, a frightening discovery, has taken on a campaign of lies against me, my company and my associates. It is the result of a disputed invoice for writing work we hired her to do earlier this year. She has gone so far as to actually make up people who do not exist, like "Sarah from San Antonio" whom I'm never met, hired, nor known to exist. Here is my entire case in the original dispute: Having employed writers and having been a professional writer for many years, Chelle Yarbrough has proven to be the least responsible and least professional person I have met portraying a writer. My email, which she has attached to her complaint, clearly though strongly states my position with regard to her claim. 1. Chelle failed to complete the assignments to which she committed, and actually LIED REPEATEDLY to me about emailing a story that she did not complete. 2. The work she did submit was of a high school level at best, and required over three hours of re-writing and editing to render it suitable for publication. 3. All of her work was late. 4. Having voiced my complaints, she has steadfastly refused to accept any responsibility for her poor work, and has admitted not a single error or shortcoming in her work. 5. While we pay the highest freelance writing rate in our market, we require professional work -- I have asked for a "reasonably adjusted invoice" for Chelle's defective work, and she has refused. 6. I have a requested a hard copy invoice for her work, which she has also refused to send. 7. Based on her apparent void of knowledge regarding copyright law, Chelle attempted to alter our agreement in retribution for my complaint and demand for credit. I notice that while Chelle was quick to attach my email to her complaint, she neglected to include her remarkably insulting and unprofessional email to me -- this seems in character for her, considering the troubling level of dishonesty and deceit with which she has conducted herself with me. Our publication has earned a reputation as one of the best produced local magazines in Texas, if not the United States, and we are in the process of expanding to other markets. We have earned that reputation in part by working with professional writers -- Chelle Yarbrough has been our worst disappointment since starting our magazine. As I have stated, I will be happy to pay a reasonable fee for the work in question, but the full, premium rate Chelle has billed us is not qualified by her work. -- Damon Gibson, Publisher